Vocabulary of the Monkey's Paw

I once was a person given to credulity. I would believe in anything—tall tales, rabbits’ feet, rumors, and stories of all kinds. But that was before Mrs. Dekker gave me the gold coin as compensation for weeding her garden. She told me it was magic, and, of course, I believed her. I carried it with me wherever I went, and my life did seem to go better. I felt that surely, the coin was directing fate to shine on me. Then, one day, with the coin in my pocket, I stepped off the curb and twisted my ankle. With a grimace I tried to walk on it, but the pain was too much. Also, I didn’t realize that my life was in immediate peril because a car was zooming toward me at high speed. Luckily, I looked up just in time and hopped back on the curb. With a sigh of resignation, I felt for the gold coin in my pocket. I planned to use it to buy a candy bar as soon as I could hobble to the store.

what does "credulity" mean?

I once was a person given to credulity. I would believe in anything—tall tales, rabbits’ feet, rumors, and stories of all kinds. But that was before Mrs. Dekker gave me the gold coin as compensation for weeding her garden. She told me it was magic, and, of course, I believed her. I carried it with me wherever I went, and my life did seem to go better. I felt that surely, the coin was directing fate to shine on me. Then, one day, with the coin in my pocket, I stepped off the curb and twisted my ankle. With a grimace I tried to walk on it, but the pain was too much. Also, I didn’t realize that my life was in immediate peril because a car was zooming toward me at high speed. Luckily, I looked up just in time and hopped back on the curb. With a sigh of resignation, I felt for the gold coin in my pocket. I planned to use it to buy a candy bar as soon as I could hobble to the store.

what does "compensation" mean?

I once was a person given to credulity. I would believe in anything—tall tales, rabbits’ feet, rumors, and stories of all kinds. But that was before Mrs. Dekker gave me the gold coin as compensation for weeding her garden. She told me it was magic, and, of course, I believed her. I carried it with me wherever I went, and my life did seem to go better. I felt that surely, the coin was directing fate to shine on me. Then, one day, with the coin in my pocket, I stepped off the curb and twisted my ankle. With a grimace I tried to walk on it, but the pain was too much. Also, I didn’t realize that my life was in immediate peril because a car was zooming toward me at high speed. Luckily, I looked up just in time and hopped back on the curb. With a sigh of resignation, I felt for the gold coin in my pocket. I planned to use it to buy a candy bar as soon as I could hobble to the store.

what does "fate" mean?

I once was a person given to credulity. I would believe in anything—tall tales, rabbits’ feet, rumors, and stories of all kinds. But that was before Mrs. Dekker gave me the gold coin as compensation for weeding her garden. She told me it was magic, and, of course, I believed her. I carried it with me wherever I went, and my life did seem to go better. I felt that surely, the coin was directing fate to shine on me. Then, one day, with the coin in my pocket, I stepped off the curb and twisted my ankle. With a grimace I tried to walk on it, but the pain was too much. Also, I didn’t realize that my life was in immediate peril because a car was zooming toward me at high speed. Luckily, I looked up just in time and hopped back on the curb. With a sigh of resignation, I felt for the gold coin in my pocket. I planned to use it to buy a candy bar as soon as I could hobble to the store.

what does "grimace" mean?

I once was a person given to credulity. I would believe in anything—tall tales, rabbits’ feet, rumors, and stories of all kinds. But that was before Mrs. Dekker gave me the gold coin as compensation for weeding her garden. She told me it was magic, and, of course, I believed her. I carried it with me wherever I went, and my life did seem to go better. I felt that surely, the coin was directing fate to shine on me. Then, one day, with the coin in my pocket, I stepped off the curb and twisted my ankle. With a grimace I tried to walk on it, but the pain was too much. Also, I didn’t realize that my life was in immediate peril because a car was zooming toward me at high speed. Luckily, I looked up just in time and hopped back on the curb. With a sigh of resignation, I felt for the gold coin in my pocket. I planned to use it to buy a candy bar as soon as I could hobble to the store.

what does "peril" mean?

I once was a person given to credulity. I would believe in anything—tall tales, rabbits’ feet, rumors, and stories of all kinds. But that was before Mrs. Dekker gave me the gold coin as compensation for weeding her garden. She told me it was magic, and, of course, I believed her. I carried it with me wherever I went, and my life did seem to go better. I felt that surely, the coin was directing fate to shine on me. Then, one day, with the coin in my pocket, I stepped off the curb and twisted my ankle. With a grimace I tried to walk on it, but the pain was too much. Also, I didn’t realize that my life was in immediate peril because a car was zooming toward me at high speed. Luckily, I looked up just in time and hopped back on the curb. With a sigh of resignation, I felt for the gold coin in my pocket. I planned to use it to buy a candy bar as soon as I could hobble to the store.

what does "resignation" mean?

Vocabulary Practice

A. Directions: Choose the word that correctly completes each sentence.

1. At first, the magical monkey’s paw strained the _______________ of the Whites.

2. They didn’t believe that making a wish could control the _______________ of their family.

3. Readers may have been surprised to know that Herbert faced such _______________ at his job.

4. Mr. and Mrs. White accepted the loss of Herbert with _______________ and sorrow.

5. Readers can almost picture the _______________ on Mrs. White’s face as she wept for her son.

6. The money Herbert’s job provided as _______________ for the Whites’ loss could never replace their sadness.

Number 1

Vocabulary Practice

A. Directions: Choose the word that correctly completes each sentence.

1. At first, the magical monkey’s paw strained the _______________ of the Whites.

2. They didn’t believe that making a wish could control the _______________ of their family.

3. Readers may have been surprised to know that Herbert faced such _______________ at his job.

4. Mr. and Mrs. White accepted the loss of Herbert with _______________ and sorrow.

5. Readers can almost picture the _______________ on Mrs. White’s face as she wept for her son.

6. The money Herbert’s job provided as _______________ for the Whites’ loss could never replace their sadness.

Number 2

Vocabulary Practice

A. Directions: Choose the word that correctly completes each sentence.

1. At first, the magical monkey’s paw strained the _______________ of the Whites.

2. They didn’t believe that making a wish could control the _______________ of their family.

3. Readers may have been surprised to know that Herbert faced such _______________ at his job.

4. Mr. and Mrs. White accepted the loss of Herbert with _______________ and sorrow.

5. Readers can almost picture the _______________ on Mrs. White’s face as she wept for her son.

6. The money Herbert’s job provided as _______________ for the Whites’ loss could never replace their sadness.

Number 3

Vocabulary Practice

A. Directions: Choose the word that correctly completes each sentence.

1. At first, the magical monkey’s paw strained the _______________ of the Whites.

2. They didn’t believe that making a wish could control the _______________ of their family.

3. Readers may have been surprised to know that Herbert faced such _______________ at his job.

4. Mr. and Mrs. White accepted the loss of Herbert with _______________ and sorrow.

5. Readers can almost picture the _______________ on Mrs. White’s face as she wept for her son.

6. The money Herbert’s job provided as _______________ for the Whites’ loss could never replace their sadness.

Number 4

Vocabulary Practice

A. Directions: Choose the word that correctly completes each sentence.

1. At first, the magical monkey’s paw strained the _______________ of the Whites.

2. They didn’t believe that making a wish could control the _______________ of their family.

3. Readers may have been surprised to know that Herbert faced such _______________ at his job.

4. Mr. and Mrs. White accepted the loss of Herbert with _______________ and sorrow.

5. Readers can almost picture the _______________ on Mrs. White’s face as she wept for her son.

6. The money Herbert’s job provided as _______________ for the Whites’ loss could never replace their sadness.

Number 5

Vocabulary Practice

A. Directions: Choose the word that correctly completes each sentence.

1. At first, the magical monkey’s paw strained the _______________ of the Whites.

2. They didn’t believe that making a wish could control the _______________ of their family.

3. Readers may have been surprised to know that Herbert faced such _______________ at his job.

4. Mr. and Mrs. White accepted the loss of Herbert with _______________ and sorrow.

5. Readers can almost picture the _______________ on Mrs. White’s face as she wept for her son.

6. The money Herbert’s job provided as _______________ for the Whites’ loss could never replace their sadness.

Number 6

Which of the following words or phrases is closest in meaning to the word perils?

Sinister means

Having the tendency to believe things too quickly is

What is the definition of the underlined word? While Mr. White and his son were playing chess, Mr. White put his king into " . . . sharp and unnecessary perils that . . ."

What is the definition of the underlined word? While Mr. White and his son were playing chess, Mr. White put his king into " . . . sharp and unnecessary perils that . . ."

I am confident to use the vocab words I learned today.