Language: Grammar and Vocabulary in “The Most Dangerous Game”
Vocabulary in Context
Vocabulary Practice: Choose a word from the list that best completes each sentence.
1. As Rainsford swam ashore, the air was so humid it was almost
________.
2. He spoke in a/an ____ way in order to try not to anger
Zaroff’s guard.
3. For his own safety, Rainsford felt it___not to come across as
an intruder.
4. Zaroff’s love of fine food and wine made him seem a/an
___person.
5. His house offered every___ that could make a guest
comfortable.
6. In the morning, Zaroff inquired___ whether Rainsford had
slept well.
7. Zaroff lacked the ___ that moral people have.
8. He saw nothing wrong with hunting a human _____.
9. Actually, with an odd a/an_____, smile he stalked his
prisoners.
10. Rainsford strongly disagreed with Zaroff and refused to ___
his hunting.
11. Zaroff was ____ in tracking down his victims.
12. Rainsford soon found that Zaroff has a/an ___ ability to
follow difficult trails.
Word List
amenity
condone
cultivated
disarming
droll
imperative
quarry
scruple
solicitously
tangible
uncanny
zealous
Academic Vocabulary in Writing
-analyze
-element
-infer
-sequence
-structure
Write a paragraph discussing the story’s plot, or structure. Describe how the structure
helped the author build suspense and tension throughout the story. Use three of the
Academic Vocabulary words.
Strategy for Vocabulary: Denotation and Connotation
Common Core Standard: L.5b Analyze nuances in the meaning of words with similar
denotations.
A word’s denotation is its basic dictionary meaning and its connotations are the
overtones of meaning that it may possess. For instance, the vocabulary word cultivated
means “cultured”, and so does highbrow. However, cultivated has mostly positive
connotations, while highbrow has negative connotations of pretentiousness or
snootiness.
Practice: Use the context of each sentence to determine which of the two words convey
a negative connotation and use that word to fill in the blank.
1. The pitcher’s ____move lost his team the game. (bold/reckless)
2. My sister was punished for her _____ answer to having his privileges taken away.
(conservative/ reactionary)
3. I would ask my dad for money to buy that scooter, but he is very ______.
(tightfisted/thrifty).
4. The magician’s ____ act was too much for the kids I babysit, so we left.
(unique/bizarre)
5. Janie has a tendency for getting into trouble with the teacher because she is often
________. (outspoken / imprudent).
Language: Grammar and Style
Adding Descriptive Details
To see a list of prepositions visit:
http://www.abcteach.com/free/l/list_prepositions.pdf
Authors often use prepositional phrases to enhance descriptive details that show what
events are taking place and where, when, and how they are taking place. There is an
example in the box below. The prepositional phrases are highlighted.
“He executed a series of intricate loops; he doubled on his trail again and
again, recalling all the lore of the fox hunt, and all the dodges of the fox.
Night found him leg-weary, with hands and face lashed by the branches,
on a thickly wooded ridge.
Now look at the two student diary entries below. The first draft has not been edited, but
the second draft has, and it includes prepositional phrases that help the reader
understand what is happening. Study the two drafts to understand how descriptive
details help readers understand what the writer is experiencing. The changes are in blue.
Draft #1: Even though it’s been many days, I still wake up, trembling with fear.
The feeling of panic is painful, and I can’t move.
Draft #2: Even though it’s been many days, I still wake up in a cold sweat in the
middle of the night, trembling with fear. The feeling of panic is like a chill in my
veins and I can’t move.
You can see that adding descriptive details via prepositional phrases greatly enhances
the writer’s entry.
For more on prepositions visit:
http://donnayoung.org/homeschooling/games/preposition-bingo.htm
Making the Connection: Reading – Writing
The writing task below will help you to explore the themes in “The Most Dangerous
Game.” Use the writing tip to improve your own writing.
Writing Prompt
Revising Tip
Short Constructed Response – Diary Entry
When the story first begins, Whitney
emphasizes with hunted animals. What
does Rainsford learn about the emotions
and feelings of hunted animals, prey, from
his own experience of being hunted by
Zaroff? In one-to-two paragraphs, create a
diary entry that Rainsford might write on
this subject was he is safely back home.
When you have completed your diary
entry, go back and look for prepositional
phrases. Do you include prepositional
phrases that help the reader get a better
sense of what happened, where, when, and
how? If not, go back and revise.