Sure! Here’s how a 12-year-old might approach this vocabulary exercise from "The Outsiders."
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“Did he have a kid brother who idolized him?” I think idolized means: to look up to someone a lot or think they’re really cool
Actual definition: to regard with admiration or love; to worship -
“If the judge decides Darry isn’t a good guardian or something, I’m liable to get stuck in a home somewhere.” I think liable means: likely or probably
Actual definition: responsible or subject to something; likely to happen -
“Randy shook his head...‘You almost drowned...Bob scared [Johnny] into doing it. I saw it’. I was bewildered.” I think bewildered means: confused or really surprised
Actual definition: to confuse or make someone puzzled -
“Darry said ‘Yes, sir,’ looking straight at the judge, not flinching.” I think flinching means: to jump back because you’re scared or surprised
Actual definition: to suddenly move back in fear or pain -
“Then he said I was acquitted and the whole case was closed.” I think acquitted means: to be found not guilty
Actual definition: to clear someone of a charge; to declare not guilty -
“I used to make A’s in English, mostly because my teacher made us do compositions all the time. I mean, I know I don’t know good English..., but I can write it good when I try.” I think compositions means: writing assignments like essays
Actual definition: pieces of writing; a work of writing -
“I was sitting on the fender of Steve’s car, smoking and drinking a Pepsi.”
I think fender means: part of a car that covers the wheels
Actual definition: the part of a car that sits above the wheels; a protective part of the vehicle -
“‘Taking into consideration the circumstances’ -- brother, was that ever a way to tell me he knew I was goofing up because I’d been in a lot of trouble. At least that was a roundabout way of putting it.” I think roundabout means: not straightforward, kind of tricky to understand
Actual definition: not direct; using more words than necessary to say something
Hope this helps!