RUNNING OUT OF TIME

Vocabulary Chapters 17 - 20

ATROCIOUS

Determine the meaning of the word in the following

sentence

“But this is atrocious,” Mr. Neely continued. “Simply

atrocious, if you’re right. Are you sure it’s diphtheria?

Are you sure there is no medicine?

Atrocious – extremely or shockingly

wicked, cruel, or brutal.

HOOLIGANS

Read the following sentence, use context clues to

determine the meaning.

“They sound like ordinary hooligans. Has anyone

else tried to stop you?”

Hooligans – a young person that displays

inappropriate behavior; thug.

THRUMMED

Read the following sentence:

“Another turn, and different music thrummed out, loud and

raucous. Mr. Neely switched back to the flowing fiddles.”

What do you think THRUMMED means?

How do you know?

Thrummed – to play a string instrument,

as a guitar, by plucking the strings.

RAUCOUS

In the following sentence, determine the meaning of the

word raucous:

“Another turn, and different music thrummed out, loud

and raucous. Mr. Neely switched back to the flowing

fiddles.”

Have your ever heard this word before?

Raucous –harsh, rowdy, or wild

STIFLE

Determine the meaning of the word STIFLE by

using context clues in the sentence below:

“Jessie gasped out loud, then clapped her hand

over her mouth to stifle the noise.”

What noise was Jessie trying to stifle?

Stifle – to end by force.

HUFFY

Have you heard this word before?

What does it mean in the sentence below?

“Then Mr. Neely, sounding huffy: “All right, all right.

I’ll double check. I’ll lock her in if it makes you feel

better---”

Huffy – touchy or snobbish

HESITATEDRead the sentence below:

“Jessie switched positions, hesitating.

Her left leg began to tremble under her

weight.”

What does it mean to hesitate?

Have you ever hesitated?

Hesitate – to pause or wait .

MURMURED

“This is easy”, she murmured to her pretend

audience. “I could climb down the whole wall this

way.”

When or why would a person murmur?

Murmur – a mumble or indistinct voice

PEERING

Read the following sentence:

“She half expected to see Mr. Neely’s face peering

down.”

What does it mean when the sentence says “peering

down”?

Peering – viewing intently or curiously

RASPY

In the sentence below, determine the meaning of

the word raspy.

“Her throat was dry and raspy, and she realized

she hadn’t had anything to drink since the KFC

restaurant the night before.”

Turn and talk - demonstrate a raspy voice

Raspy – harsh or grating