Question

vocabulary crossword puzzle \the gift of the magi\
directions: using the clues below and your vocabulary list, complete the crossword puzzle with vocabulary words found in the short story, \the gift of the magi.\
word bank
imputation mendicancy ransacking scrutiny
parsimony agile meretricious inconsequential
shabby depreciate prudence illuminated
coveted
down

1. being very careful with money and not wanting to spend much
2. careful examination or close attention to detail
3. a suggestion or claim that someone did something wrong; an accusation
4. having little importance or impact; having little to no consequence
5. the act of asking for help or charity, especially for money or food
6. able to move quickly and easily
7. greatly desired or wanted

across

1. something that looks attractive but has no real value
2. to reduce the value or price of something
3. searching wildly to find something, often causing disorder in the process
4. care and wisdom in making decisions
5. lit up or made something clear and easy to understand
6. looking old, worn out, or in bad condition

Explanation:

To solve the crossword, we match each clue with the appropriate word from the word bank:

Across Clues:

• 3. "Something that looks attractive but has no real value" → meretricious (matches the definition of showy but valueless).
• 7. "To reduce the value or price of something" → depreciate (means to decrease in value).
• 9. "Searching wildly to find something, often causing disorder" → ransacking (implies a chaotic search).
• 11. "Care and wisdom in making decisions" → prudence (refers to careful judgment).
• 12. "Lit up or made something clear" → illuminated (means to light or clarify).
• 13. "Looking old, worn out" → shabby (describes a worn-out appearance).

Down Clues:

• 1. "Being very careful with money" → parsimony (means frugality).
• 2. "Careful examination of detail" → scrutiny (refers to close inspection).
• 4. "A suggestion of wrongdoing; an accusation" → imputation (means an accusation or attribution).
• 5. "Having little importance" → inconsequential (means unimportant).
• 6. "Act of asking for help/charity" → mendicancy (relates to begging or seeking charity).
• 8. "Able to move quickly" → agile (means quick and nimble).
• 10. "Greatly desired" → coveted (means longed for).

For example, if we take Down 1: The clue is about being careful with money. The word "parsimony" in the word bank means extreme frugality, so it fits. For Across 3, "meretricious" means superficially attractive but lacking real value, matching the clue.

Answer:

Across:

1. meretricious
2. depreciate
3. ransacking
4. prudence
5. illuminated
6. shabby

Down:

1. parsimony
2. scrutiny
3. imputation
4. inconsequential
5. mendicancy
6. agile
7. coveted