DesPrez, Last Children of Mill Creek Vocab

Question 1

define the bolded word

“The tales recount rarely heard American history and culture through the family and community experiences that shaped the lives of the children living in a declining, segregated urban enclave” (16).

Answer 1

a distinct territorial, cultural, or social unit enclosed within or as if within foreign territory.

noun

Many St. Louisans today are unaware that for almost a century, there was a Chinese enclave called Chinatown in downtown St. Louis where Busch Stadium now stands.

Question 2

define the bolded word

“Considering the overt scare tactics used to control the migration of the city’s black citizens amid renewed attempts to reclaim desirable downtown real estate, there was surprisingly little protest.”(14)

Answer 2

done or shown openly; plainly or readily apparent, not secret or hidden

adjective

She used overt ways such as making fun of people in front of teachers to bully people.

Question 3

define the bolded word

“I remember a few stories from when Mama and her older sister would laugh and reminisce about their childhood” (10)

Answer 3

indulge in enjoyable recollection of past events

verb

I sometimes reminisce about my past vacations and fun times I have had outside of school.

Question 4

define the bolded word

“Nonetheless, they considered their move a step up from the impoverished sharecropping life they’d left behind, just one state away “’in the South.’” (11)

Answer 4

describes being really, really poor, either from having no money or being in bad health.

adjective

A person who lives on the street is impoverished, and a country may become impoverished after a devastating war.

Question 5

define the bolded word

“Its contents change depending on her project, but usually include straight pins, tape measures, various sizes and shapes of needles, spools of crochet and sewing thread.” (31)

Answer 5

a cylindrical device on which film, magnetic tape, thread, or other flexible materials can be wound; a reel.

noun

My grandma makes cool things with her spools of thread.

Question 6

define the bolded word

“Teetering on the edge of the table was a cup of tepid tea that she [Mama] sipped from throughout the day” (42).

Answer 6

(of liquid) slightly colder than lukewarm; moderately warm

adjective

His subpar performance evoked a tepid smattering of applause from the audience.

Question 7

define the bolded word

“The weekly practices and the choir members who attended them made up a large part of Daddy’s social life. You could feel the air of camaraderie and frivolity, mixed with pride in their musicality.” (37)

Answer 7

lack of seriousness; lightheartedness.

noun

Jeffery let his frivolity show as he was partying the night away.

Question 8

define the bolded word

“Their [Aunt Bette and Mama] resentment of entrenched racism was assuaged only briefly by dressing up, boarding streetcars, and crossing the color line at will.” (34)

Answer 8

to lessen the intensity of (something that pains or distresses) : EASE

transitive verb

Maria has always found a way to assuage any situation, even if the situation is death.

Question 9

define the bolded word

“She rarely looked up from whatever she was crafting, but she would always answer, explain, console, or cajole in the same even, confident tone that left me feeling rewarded.” (46)

Answer 9

persuade (someone) to do something by sustained coaxing or flattery

verb

I was able to cajole my dad into buying me a Batman jersey by complementing his cooking everyday.

Question 10

define the bolded word

“Daddy was the fulcrum of which both women rested-central to their coexistence and function in our household.” (48)

Answer 10

something that supports or sustains something else. (more specifically, the pivot around which a lever turns).

noun

I saw fulcrums on the seesaws when I went to the park.

Question 11

define the bolded word

“The worn wooden risers and treads of the steps created a perfect work desk for cutting out BetsyMcCall paper dolls.” (49).

Answer 11

vertical section between the treads of a staircase.

noun

I accidentally stubbed my toe on the riser while walking up the stairs

Question 12

define the bolded word

“When the daylight began to wane, children of all ages knew where they were supposed to be.” (54)

Answer 12

to decrease in size, extent, or degree or to fall gradually from power, prosperity, or influence.

verb

Since the pen was used so much, its ink began to wane.

Question 13

define the bolded word

“When daddy, our teachers, some neighbors, even pastors in church whooped our butts, they said it was for our own good, that they were trying to keep us on the straight and narrow path to safety in an unfair and intolerant society.” (65).

Answer 13

not tolerant of views, beliefs, or behavior that differ from one’s own or unable to be given (a medicine or other treatment) or to eat (a food) without adverse effects

adjective

The school is intolerant to bullying.

Question 14

define the bolded word

“It [the cat] strode, brushing against the fences between the yards and the back alley, a predator methodically patrolling itis territory.” (55)

Answer 14

walk with long, decisive steps in a specified direction.

verb

The tall man strode across the office, cutting off the woman.

Question 15

define the bolded word

“Beverly really liked boys and equated outrunning them with flirting.”

Answer 15

consider (one thing) to be the same as or equivalent to another.

verb

The cat and the chihuahua’s weight were equated.

Question 16

define the bolded word

“She was not a gusher; when you overcame your challenge, no matter how small, and were successful, her metered smile was the equivalent of a knowing wink, as if she was patiently waiting for the inevitable.” (63)

Answer 16

(adj) certain to happen; unavoidable or (noun) a situation that is unavoidable.

adjective, noun

After he failed his math test, it was inevitable that he would have to meet with his teacher.

Question 17

define the bolded word

“Beverly and Tootie were fast runners and could beat mostly any boy in a foot race in their bare feet on hot asphalt.” (58)

Answer 17

a mixture of dark bituminous pitch with sand or gravel, used for surface, roads, flooring, roofing,

noun

For the marathon they were running on the streets that were like asphalt because it looked like a normal road.

Question 18

define the bolded word

“‘Whooping’” is likely one of the first that black people garned from slave traders throughout the African diaspora.” (65)

Answer 18

the dispersion or spread of a people from their original homeland

noun

European western languages have Latin infused words due to Roman diaspora.

Question 19

define the bolded word

“Whooping” is likely one of the first words that black people garnered from the language of slave traders throughout the african diaspora.” (65)

Answer 19

gather or collect (something, especially information or approval).

verb

I worked really hard on a painting to GARNER my art teacher approval for a good grade.

Question 20

define the bolded word

“So vexing was that new growth of undulating hair, it evolved into its own one-word insult: ‘edges.’” (69)

Answer 20

rising and falling in a wavelike pattern

adjective

Montana has undulating hills that appear like the land goes on forever and is so peaceful and calm.

Question 21

define the bolded word

“Mama’s name for the paint we’d spread far and wide, like many of her casual utterances, soon reflected her keener insight.”

Answer 21

a spoken word, statement, or vocal sound

noun

The students carefully listened to the teacher’s utterances.

Question 22

define the bolded word

“We ran up and down the sidewalk for the rest of the afternoon with outstretched arms, gyrating our pretend steering wheel and growling the sound of a revving motor.” (90)

Answer 22

Move or cause to move in a circle or spiral, especially quickly.

verb

I was at the party gyrating with my friends when I was drunk.

Question 23

define the bolded word

“Occasionally, when no one was around, I pilfered the packets and let the crystals flow from the torn openings into little mounds on my outstreched tongue, closing my eyes as the sweetness melted in my mouth.”(88)

Answer 23

steal (typically things of relatively little value).

verb

She stealthily pilfered her friend’s homework because she needed the answers.

Question 24

define the bolded word

“Grandmama, as the owner of our old house, received payment for its sale and a one hundred dollar relocation allotment from the city.” (137)

Answer 24

an amount of something given to someone to use or have

noun

In the Osage Allotment Act of 1906, the U.S. Government gave allotments of land, as well as rights to minerals (such as oil) under that land, to individual enrolled members of the Osage Tribe in Oklahoma.

Question 25

define the bolded word

“The top entrance sat at the top of three sets of wide stone steps, separated by two broad landings, in front of it, a terraced lawn with a line of trees stretched from one end of the building to the next.”

Answer 25

having been formed into a number of level areas resembling a series of steps.

adjective

The slope was so steep, it had to be terraced in order to walk.

Question 26

define the bolded word

“It replaced the former Maple Avenue Methodist Episcopal church, which had moved its dwindling white congregation of St. Louis County.”

Answer 26

gradually diminishing in size, amount, or strength.

verb

My stock has dwindled 50% since 2019, due to the stock market crash.

Question 27

define the bolded word

“Many in the Jewish community rented and sold homes they vacated on the north side to a burgeoning professional class of black citizens.” (13)

Answer 27

beginning to grow or increase rapidly; flourishing

adjective

Burgeoning artificial intelligence sector, there is a shortage of the powerful chips needed to train AI language models.