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The Pact
Cutlural literacy and vocabulary terms from the book The Pact
Question | Answer |
---|---|
Pact | an agreement |
Peer pressure | influence from individual or groups with whom one shares common characteristics |
Mentor | a person who teaches, coaches, or trains |
Co-op | individuals who operate a business to their mutual benefit |
Auxiliary | supplementary; providing support |
Boisterous | Energetic, lively, active |
Susceptible | vulnerable, liable to receive |
Leniency | being permissive, indulgent |
Deprived | to do without |
Upheaval | turmoil, disorder, disruption |
Stucco | the exterior coating on a house, often with a bumpy texture |
Aspire | to strive for |
Rhetoric | use of language to persuade |
Intervene | to step in; interfere; |
Magnet high school | an educational institution with a specialty that draws students from outside areas. |
Menial labor | work requiring little education and a lot of muscle |
Switchblade | a knife with the blade secured until a release button is pushed |
Nonchalance | cool indifference, lack of concern |
Brownstone | a row house. It is narrow and very close to its neighbors with a stone front. |
Bravado | a display of courage |
Subtly | delicate; not readily noticed |
Feigning | to pretend |
Compassion | kindness, caring |
Activist | one who speaks out about important issues; one who organizes a group about important issues |
Dichotomy | division into two parts; sometimes the parts are mutually exclusive. |
Sanction | to approve; to punish |
Histology | in biology, the study of tissues |
Meticulous | very precise, careful |
Torrential | heavy, severe, violent |
Dilemma | a choice between two solutions, both of which are bad |
Surreal | disorienting, dreamlike, unreal |
Desensitized | to become oblivious of, to decrease awareness of |
Vouched | to speak for another’s character , ability, or whereabouts |
Haven | a safe or secure place |
Pro bono | Latin for without charge |
Nurturing | to care for, provide support |
Persevere | to continue against challenging circumstances |
Diligently | working hard |
Cirrhosis of the liver | a disease of the liver associated with alcohol and drug use |
Aneurysm | a weak spot in the blood vessel, subject to rupture |
Gastroenterology | the study of the digestive system |
Ancillary | additional, secondary |
Racial Profiling | committed by law enforcement, the act of detaining or questioning suspects based on racial assumptions. |
Motown | a record company founded by Barry Gordy |
Sean Combs | Howard University graduate who became a rap singer, then professional businessman |
Kool and the Gang | funk music group lead by |
Wyclef Jean | former Haitian refugee; singer |
Kwanzaa | Pan-African holiday celebration based on seven principles |
Tuskegee Airmen | a segregated branch of the Air force that successfully performed many dangerous missions. |
Carl Lewis | Olympic athlete famous for winning a total of 8 medals in a single Olympics |
A Raisin in the Sun | A play by Lorraine Hansberry; the title comes from a poem by Langston Hughes |
Scrooge | a stingy miser in Charles Dickens’ The Christmas Carol |
Amiri Baraka | former Poet Laureate of New Jersey |
The Wiz | an adaptation of The Wizard of Oz. First it was a play, then a movie. |
High on the hog | living in luxury |
Pandora’s Box | a mythical box that contained all evils. When it opened the evils escaped into the world. |
Keds | rubber soled shoes ( known as sneakers) made by Bridgestone Tire Co. |
Nation of Islam | a religious organization |
Temptations | Musical group from the 1960-70s. |
Dixie Hummingbirds | a gospel group |
Count Basie | Jazz band leader from the 1940’s; jazz pianist, composer |
Ray Charles | famous pianist and singer who was became blind at a very young age |
Kool and the Gang | a funk group started by the bell brothers |
Woolworths | a discount store known as a five and dime |
Annie | Play based on a young orphan |
Daddy Warbucks | Rich man who adopts Annie in the comic strip Little Orphan Annie |
Smoky Robinson | he and his group the Miracles helped Barry Gordy create the Motown sound. |
The Projects | government provided low income housing |
Muhammad Ali | Boxing champion; now has Parkinson’s disease. |