Name: _______________________________ Advisory: _________________: Date: ___/___/___

7th Grade Vocabulary Dictionary

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Word:

Part of Speech:

frantic

Connotation
(Charge):

adj

Definition (Denotation):

Acting in a panicked, disordered, rushed way.

1)

What is the connotation of the word (Is it a positive word? Negative? Or Neutral?) Write it
above.

2)

Read the sentence from page 16, The Color of My Words: It was like a madhouse. Papi and
Guario and Roberto and Angela and my little cousins were throwing everything out the front door in
their frantic search. Draw a picture of how a family frantically searching for
something:

3) What might cause you to act frantically in the morning before school?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
4) Why might a parent be frantic? Describe a situation.
__________________________________________________________________________________
5) How is frantic different from being hectic or busy?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

Name: _______________________________ Advisory: _________________: Date: ___/___/___

7th Grade Vocabulary Dictionary

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Word:

survey

Part of Speech:

Connotation:

Verb,
Noun

Definition (Denotation):

Verb: To look at or consider someone or something

carefully (ex: They got out of the car to survey the damage.)
Noun: a set of questions that you ask a large
number of people (ex: I filled out a survey about the restaurant)
1) What is the connotation of the word (Is it a positive word? Negative? Or Neutral?) Write it above.
2) Read the stanza from the poem The Gri Gri Tree in The Color of My Words which uses survey.
I like to sit high
in my gri gri tree
where I can survey
all below me.
How does Ana Rosa survey her community? What does she do? Where does she go?
________________________________________________________________________________
3) Which example describes the word survey better?
Sentence 1: A man peers out of his second-floor window and looks over the neighborhood.
Sentence 2: A man goes to his second-floor bedroom and then lies on his bed.
Sentence _____ describes survey better because _______________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
4) How is a surveying something different from just looking at or seeing something?
__________________________________________________________________________________
5)

Why might an American soldier in Afghanistan need to survey an area?

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Name: _______________________________ Advisory: _________________: Date: ___/___/___

__________________________________________________________________________________
7th Grade Vocabulary Dictionary
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Word:

inquire

Part of Speech:

Connotation:

verb

Definition (Denotation):

to ask for information about it

(ex: I will inquire at the diner about getting a job as a waitress).
1) What is the connotation of the word (Is it a positive word? Negative? Or Neutral?) Write it above.
2) Draw a visual/picture that makes you think of the word inquire.

3)

Create a caption (describe the picture) using the word inquire.

_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
4) Which example describes the word inquire better? Why?
Sentence 1: A student understood the directions for the homework assignment.
Sentence 2: A student asked her teacher a question about the homework assignment.
Sentence _____ describes inquire better because _______________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
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Name: _______________________________ Advisory: _________________: Date: ___/___/___

7th Grade Vocabulary Dictionary

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Word:

venture

Part of Speech:

Connotation:

verb

Definition (Denotation):

to take a risk, to do something/go somewhere

even though there risk or danger.
1) What is the connotation of the word (Is it a positive word? Negative? Or Neutral?) Write it above.
2) Read and paraphrase the sentence with venture (page 26, The Gri Gri Tree, The Color of My
Words).
Not even Guario understood, although he tried. He asked me once what I did up there [in the
Gri Gri Tree]. That was more than anyone else had ventured to inquire.
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
3) Rewrite this sentence in your own words: Lucy ventured out into the storm to look for her dog.
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
4) Create a caption (describe the picture) using the word venture.
Caption:
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
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Name: _______________________________ Advisory: _________________: Date: ___/___/___

__________________________________________________
7th Grade Vocabulary Dictionary
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Word:

meander

Part of Speech:

Connotation:

verb

Definition (Denotation):

1) To move slowly, bending or curving rather

than going in a straight line.
2) To wander without a definite direction or
goal (ex: She meandered through the woods).
1a) What is the connotation of the word (Is it a positive word? Negative? Or Neutral?) Write it
above.
1b) Why did you choose this connotation? ________________________________________________
2) Read and paraphrase (put in your own words) the sentence with meander.
I could see the river, meandering over rocks, hungry for rain (27, The Color of My Words)
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
3)

Draw someones path as they are meandering to their desk.

Go to
next page
-->

4) Which
example
describes
the word
meander better? Why?
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Name: _______________________________ Advisory: _________________: Date: ___/___/___

Sentence 1: A stream has a lot of gentle twists and turns.
Sentence 2: A flowing river flows toward a waterfall.
Sentence _____ describes meander better because _____________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
5) Create a caption (describe the picture) using the word meander or meandering:
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
____________________________________________

7th Grade Vocabulary Dictionary

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Name: _______________________________ Advisory: _________________: Date: ___/___/___

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Word:

emerge

Part of Speech:

Connotation:

verb

Definition (Denotation):

To come into view; to come out from behind,

under, or inside a place.
1) What is the connotation of the word? Write it above. Is it a positive word? Negative? Or Neutral?
Why did you choose this connotation?______________________________________________
2) Read and paraphrase the sentence with emerge.
As I kept on looking, a black shape emerged out of the fountain of water (31, TCOMW).
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
3) Which example describes the word better? Why?
Sentence 1: The bear slowly crept out from the cave.
Sentence 2: The bear slowly crept into the cave.
Sentence _____ describes emerge better because ______________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
4) Draw a picture below: In the morning, what did the sun look like as it emerges on the horizon?

7th Grade Vocabulary Dictionary

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Name: _______________________________ Advisory: _________________: Date: ___/___/___

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Word:

hover

Part of Speech:

Connotation:

verb

Definition (Denotation):

To stay in the same place in the air

1) What is the connotation of the word? Write it above. Is it a positive word? Negative? Or Neutral?
Why did you choose this connotation? _____________________________________________
2) Read and paraphrase the sentence with hovered.
It hovered in between heaven and ocean for a few seconds and then fell back into the water
with a splash that sprayed salt drops as high as the pearl-pink clouds (32, TCOMW).
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
3) A helicopter hovers in the air. What do you think it means to be a helicopter parent?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Is it a positive or negative thing to be a helicopter parent? _________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
4) Which example describes the word hover better? Why?
Sentence 1: A butterfly zoomed quickly through the yard on its way to a flower.
Sentence 2: A butterfly seemed to hang in the air while it drank from a flower.
Sentence _____ describes hover better because _____________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
7th Grade Vocabulary Dictionary
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Name: _______________________________ Advisory: _________________: Date: ___/___/___

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Word:

Part of Speech:

subtle

Connotation:

adj

Definition (Denotation):

Not obvious or not easy to notice

1) What is the connotation of the word (Is it a positive word? Negative? Or Neutral?) Write it above.
2) What might be a subtle way to get someones attention from across a quiet room?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
3) Which example describes the word subtle better? Why?
Sentence 1: The changes in his style were noticeable.
Sentence 2: The changes in his style were barely noticeable.
Sentence _____ describes subtle better because _______________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
4) What are some subtle ways to be mean to someone in school?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

7th Grade Vocabulary Dictionary

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Name: _______________________________ Advisory: _________________: Date: ___/___/___

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Word:

sprawl

Part of Speech:

Connotation:

verb

Definition:

To lie down with your body stretched out in a

careless manner
1) Write in the connotationneutral, negative or positive.
2) Paraphrase (put in your own words) the sentence replacing the word sprawled.
Some of the bigger children were sprawled out on a blanket on the floor and the merengue
music was a background lullaby for them (39, TCOMW).
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
3) My brother was so tired from swimming that he sprawled out on the blanket and let no room for
anyone else. In detail, describe how your brother is sprawled out on the blanket:
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
4) Sprawl, the noun, describes a large area of buildings
that are spread out in an unattractive way. For example,
we drove through miles of urban sprawl
before we finally got out into the countryside.
Why do people use the phrase urban sprawl? How is it
related to our vocabulary word sprawl?
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
7th Grade Vocabulary Dictionary
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Name: _______________________________ Advisory: _________________: Date: ___/___/___

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Word:

10

Part of Speech:

frolic (past tense: frolicked)

Connotation:

verb

Denotation:

To play in a happy, lively way

1) Write in the connotationneutral, negative or positive.
2) Connections (What does this word remind you of?)_______________________________________
3) Draw a picture of the sentence from middle of page 43, The Color of My Words:
For two weeks our humpback whale jumped and frolicked about in the Sosa Bay until finally
heading east to Saman to join the other three thousand humpbacks that go there every winter.

4) Which example describes the word frolic better? Why?

Sentence 1: The children laughed as they played tag on the field.
Sentence 2: The children played a game of baseball on the field.
Sentence _____ describes frolic better because _______________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
5) Which example best describes something frolicking?
a) A duck splashing in a pond
b) A turtle floating on top of the pond
Why did you choose this one? _______________________________________________________
7th Grade Vocabulary Dictionary
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Name: _______________________________ Advisory: _________________: Date: ___/___/___

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Word:

11

tormented

Part of Speech:

Connotation:

adj

Denotation:

Extremely & painfully troubled by something.

1) Write in the connotationneutral, negative or positive.
2) What might a celebrity be tormented by?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
3) Which example describes the word tormented best? Why?
Sentence 1: She was really bothered by all the loud noise.
Sentence 2: She couldnt sleep or hear her own thoughts because of the noise.
Sentence _____ describes tormented best because _____________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
4) Write a caption for the picture below, using the word tormented.
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________

7th Grade Vocabulary Dictionary

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Name: _______________________________ Advisory: _________________: Date: ___/___/___

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12

Word:

Part of Speech:

mutilate

Connotation:

verb

Denotation:

To destroy or injure severely.

1) Write in the connotationneutral, negative or positive.
2) Write a caption for the picture using the words mutilate or mutilated.
__________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________

3) How is tormenting someone different from mutilating someone? Which is worse?

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
4) Ana Rosa, in The Color of My Words, tries to squirm away from [her dads] mutilating breath
(83). Why do you think she does this? Whats wrong with his breath?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

7th Grade Vocabulary Dictionary

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Name: _______________________________ Advisory: _________________: Date: ___/___/___

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Word:

13

Part of Speech:

rickety

Connotation:

adj

Denotation:

not sturdy, safe or secure

1) What is the connotation of the word (Is it a positive word? Negative? Or Neutral?) Write it above.
__________________________________________________________________________________
2) Antonym (opposite) _______________________________________________________________
3) Paraphrase the sentence below from The Color of My Words (pg 80)
In the middle of the porch was a rickety table full of bottles of liquid gold shining in the sunlight.
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
4) Write a caption about the elephant and the bridge, using the word rickety.
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
5) What items can become rickety?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
7th Grade Vocabulary Dictionary
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Name: _______________________________ Advisory: _________________: Date: ___/___/___

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Word:

14

lurch

Part of Speech:

Connotation:

verb

Denotation:

To walk or move in an unsteady way

(people, animals and automobiles can lurch)
1) What is the connotation of the word (Is it a positive word? Negative? Or Neutral?) Write it above.
__________________________________________________________________________________
2) Antonym (opposite) __________________________
3) Synonym (similar) ___________________________
4) Read the sentence below. Why was Ana Rosas dad lurching?
By the time Papi arrived on Sous Beach, he could hardly walk. He would stumble along,
tripping over my friends towels and baskets. Hed lurch toward me and hug me tightly saying
Do you love your Papi? (81, TCOMW)
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
5)

Lurch is the name of a character from The Addams Family TV show. He is a 6'9" tall,
clumsy, gloomy butler who somewhat resembles Frankenstein's monster. Why do you think was
named Lurch?
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________

15

Name: _______________________________ Advisory: _________________: Date: ___/___/___

7th Grade Vocabulary Dictionary
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Word:

15

insist

Part of Speech:

Connotation:

verb

Denotation:

to say something firmly and repeatedly, to

force
1) What is the connotation of the word (Is it a positive word? Negative? Or Neutral?) Write it above.
2) Antonym (opposite) __________________________
3) Synonym (similar) ___________________________
4) Paraphrase the sentence: The man who insisted I was his daughterwhat was Mami saying? (pg
88, The Color of My Words).
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
5) What do teachers insist students do on their homework so that they dont get poor quality?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
6) Some celebrities make ridiculous demands when they are traveling to different places. Come up
with a sentence using a celebrity and made-up demands. Use the word insist!
Example (dont use this one): Mariah Carey insists a new toilet seat and gold faucets are
installed in her hotel suite before she checks in.
_________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
7) How is insist different from ask?
_________________________________________________________________________________
7th Grade Vocabulary Dictionary
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Name: _______________________________ Advisory: _________________: Date: ___/___/___

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16

Word:

Part of Speech:

utter

Connotation:

verb

Denotation:

to say something, usually quietly

1) Write the connotation of this word (neutral? negative? positive?) Explain why you chose this
Connotation:
__________________________________________________________________________________
2) Antonym (opposite) __________________________
3) Synonym (similar) ___________________________
4) Rewrite these sentences in your own words: Finally Roberto would appear to lead Papi over to the
almond tree and help him sit next to Mami. She never once uttered a word. Not to him and not to us
(82, TCOMW).
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
5) What can you infer about Mamis feelings from #4?
__________________________________________________________________________________
6) Write a caption for the picture, using the word utter.
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
7th Grade Vocabulary Dictionary
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Name: _______________________________ Advisory: _________________: Date: ___/___/___

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Word:

17

swiftly

Part of Speech:

Connotation:

adverb

Denotation:

Happening or moving very quickly

1)

Write the connotation of this word (neutral? negative? positive?) Explain why you chose this
Connotation:
__________________________________________________________________________________
2) Antonym (opposite) __________________________
3) Synonym (similar) ___________________________
4) Rewrite the sentence in your own words: When we reached the colmado, Mami spoke so swiftly
to Senor Garcia that I could hardly understand a word (top of page 86, The Color of My Words).
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
5) Why was Mami speaking so swiftly? What can you infer about her feelings?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
6) Draw a picture of the word swift or swiftly

7t

Grade Vocabulary Dictionary

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Name: _______________________________ Advisory: _________________: Date: ___/___/___

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Word:

18

Part of Speech:

fortify (past tense = fortified)

Connotation:

verb

Denotation:

To strengthen (a person, object or place)

1) Write the connotation of this word (neutral? negative? positive?) Explain why you chose this
Connotation:
__________________________________________________________________________________
2) Related words (hint: think of a castle) _________________________________________________
3) Antonym (opposite) ______________________
4) Synonym (similar) ________________________
5) Read the following sentence. Why did the rum and Coke make Papi feel stronger?
From his place next to Mami, Papi would shout at us, demanding that we bring cups of rum
and Coke from friends coolers. Fortified with that, he would shake Mami by the shoulders
(82, TCOMW).
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
6)
Fill in the sentence below using our vocabulary word and
another word that you see in this picture.
China built th ______________________________________________
in order to ________________ its defenses and keep it safe from invaders.

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Name: _______________________________ Advisory: _________________: Date: ___/___/___

7th Grade Vocabulary Dictionary
#

Word:

19

sensible

Part of Speech:

Connotation:

adj

Denotation:

Reasonable;
Showing good judgment and making sense.
1)

Write the connotation of this word (neutral? negative? positive?) Explain why you chose this
Connotation:
__________________________________________________________________________________
2)

Antonym (opposite) __________________________

3) Synonym (similar) ___________________________

4) Read the following sentence. Rewrite only the bolded sentences, using your own words.
When we reached the colmado, Mami spoke so swiftly to Senor Garcia that I could hardly
understand a word. For five minutes the words fell around me in places I
couldnt reach. I gave up trying to gather [the words] into anything sensible (86,
TCOMW).
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
5) Describe a person you know who is sensible? What makes them sensible?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

20

Name: _______________________________ Advisory: _________________: Date: ___/___/___

7th Grade Vocabulary Dictionary
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Word:

20

defy

Part of Speech:

Connotation:

verb

Denotation:

to go against
1)

Related words (ex: passionate passion) ______________________________________________

2) Write the connotation of this word (neutral? negative? positive?) Explain why you chose this
connotation:
__________________________________________________________________________________
3) Antonym (opposite) __________________________
4) Synonym (similar) ___________________________
5) What is a rule that most students want to defy in school? Why?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
6) Youve heard of the phrase death-defying tricks like sword-swallowing or fire-breathing. Why are
these called death-defying tricks?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
7) Rewrite using your own words: The man defied the odds and survived his cancer diagnosis.
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

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