The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street
V O C A B U L A R Y
L I S T
PEAI Sixth Grade
1. precisely (priˈsīslē) adv. in exact terms; exactly
At the sound of the roar and the flash of the light, it will be precisely six-forty-three P.M. on Maple Street. (p. 138)
CONTEXT ANALYSIS:
SENTENCE:
2. flick (flik) v. to move (sth.) with a short, quick movement
Another man is working on an electric power mower. He plugs in the plug, flicks the switch of the power off and on, but
nothing happens. (p. 138)
CONTEXT ANALYSIS:
SENTENCE:
3. fluster (ˈfləstər) v. to make (someone) nervous and confused
Well, why don’t you go downtown and check with the police, though they’ll probably think we’re crazy or something. A
little power failure and right away we get all flustered and everything— (p. 139)
CONTEXT ANALYSIS:
SENTENCE:
4. assent (əˈsent) n. the act of agreeing to or approving of sth. especially after carefully thinking about it
It’s just as if (pause) as if everything had stopped. (Then he turns toward Steve.) We’d better walk downtown. (Another
murmur of assent to this.) (p. 140)
CONTEXT ANALYSIS:
SENTENCE:
5. persistent (pərˈsistənt) adj. continuing to do sth. or to try to do sth. even though it is difficult
Tommy (persistent but a little frightened). It’s always that way, in every story I ever read about a ship landing from outer
space. (p. 141)
CONTEXT ANALYSIS:
SENTENCE:
6. optimistic (ˌäptəˈmistik) adj. having or showing hope for the future; expecting good things to happen
He turns to the group, now trying very hard to sound more optimistic than he feels. (p. 141)
CONTEXT ANALYSIS:
SENTENCE:
The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street
PEAI Sixth Grade
7. antagonism (anˈtagəˌnizəm) n. a strong feeling of dislike or hatred; a desire to oppose sth. you dislike
Sally (in a whisper, sensing the antagonism of the crowd). Tommy, please son...honey, don’t talk that way—
CONTEXT ANALYSIS:
SENTENCE:
8. revelation (revəˈlāSHən) n. a usually secret or surprising fact that is made known
He got the car started somehow. He got his car started. The people continue to stare, caught up by this revelation and
wildly frightened. (p. 142)
CONTEXT ANALYSIS:
SENTENCE:
9. oddball (ˈädˌbôl) n. a person who behaves in strange or unusual ways
He always was an oddball. Him and his whole family. Real oddball. (p. 142)
CONTEXT ANALYSIS:
SENTENCE:
10. incriminate (inˈkriməˌnāt) v. to cause (someone) to appear guilty of or responsible for sth. (e.g., a crime)
Now that’s supposed to incriminate me, huh? The car engine goes on and off, and that really does it, doesn’t it? (He
looks around at the faces of the people.) I just don’t understand it...any more than any of you do! (p. 143)
CONTEXT ANALYSIS:
SENTENCE:
11. contort (kənˈtôrt) v. to twist into an unusual appearance or shape
Charlie (looks around at the circle of faces, his eyes frightened, his face contorted). But...but I didn’t know who he was.
CONTEXT ANALYSIS:
SENTENCE:
12. prejudice (prejədəs) n. an unfair feeling of dislike for a person or group because of race, sex, religion, etc.
Narrator. The tools of conquest do not necessarily come with bombs and explosions and fallout. There are weapons that
are simply thoughts, attitudes, prejudices—to be found only in the minds of men. For the record, prejudices can kill and suspicion
can destroy. (p. 148)
CONTEXT ANALYSIS:
SENTENCE: