Read each sentence below and write down the closest meaning type of context clue (contrast/antonym, restatement/synonym, example or general knowledge) that helps you define the meaning[r]
(1)Vocabulary in Context
Context clues are words and phrases in a sentence which help you reason out the meaning of an unfamiliar word Oftentimes you can figure out the meanings of new or unfamiliar vocabulary by paying attention to the surrounding language The table below gives the types of clues, signals and examples of each clue
Type of Context
Clue Definition Signals Examples
Antonym or Contrast Clue Phrases or words that indicate opposite
but, in contrast, however, instead of, unlike, yet
Unlike his quiet and low key family, Brad is garrulous. Definition or Example Clue Phrases or words that define or explain
is defined as, means, the term, [a term in boldface or italics] set off with commas
Sedentary individuals, people who are not very active,
often have diminished health General Knowledge The meaning is derived from the experience and backgroun d knowledge of the reader; "common sense" and logic the information may be something basically familiar to you Lourdes is always sucking up to the boss, even in front of others That sycophant just doesn't care what others think of her behavior
Restatemen t or Synonym Clue Another word or phrase with the same or a similar meaning is used
in other word, that is, also known as, sometimes called, or
The dromedary, commonly called
a camel, stores
fat in its hump
(2)In addition to context clues are word parts: prefixes, roots and suffixes Some textbooks refer to this as word analysis These come into the English language from several other languages, and many of the oldest are Greek or Latin in origin There are many books which you can use to study word analysis You may also find several online sites that are excellent resources
Practice Context Clues
Read each sentence below and write down the closest meaning type of context clue (contrast/antonym, restatement/synonym, example or general knowledge) that helps you define the meaning of the key term
1 Joan loves to buy exotic foods: vegetables and herbs from China, spices from India, olives from Greece, and cheeses from France
expensive seasonings rare from otherplaces
2 Emotionally disturbed people may be troubled by morbid
thoughts For instance, they may often think about suicide or murder disturbing dealing with death psychologically ill scary
3 At first, the surgery seemed to be successful But several hours later, the patient’s condition began to deteriorate, and it continued to worsen over the next few days
stabilize everyonesurprise change decay ordecline
4 In Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge is visited by three spirits who changed him into a generous man
cheapskate single and elderly unhappy wealthy
5 Raul is an indulgent father For instance, he lets his daughter stay up as late as she likes and he never insists that she does her homework
lazy and caring
stupid and kind
strict and mean
(3)6 Languages evolve over time, as you can see if you open a page of The Canterbury Tales, written about six hundred years ago by the English poet Chaucer It is barely recognizable as English today
develop age increase complexity regress
7 The decision Veronica made to study instead of going out for pizza with her friends was prudent She got an A on the exam, while her friends all got D’s
anti-social careful andwise selfish calculating
8 Whenever something bad happens to Jane, she ways it’s the fault of destiny But I prefer to take charge of my own life rather than simply blaming fate
bad luck evil caused by someone
poor planning
event that happens regardless
9 My father died when I was a baby, but Mom told me so many stories about him that I feel I knew him well For example, one
anecdote was about how he cried with joy when I was born medicine or
cure
biographical
account example joke
10 Ivan is a wonderful piano player But Jerri is more versatile; she sings, acts, paints and writes poetry, and also plays the piano
talented show off superiorskills abilitiesmany
11 This third grade was full of precocious children One child had learned to read at two and another could algebra at age
backward active ahead pretty
12 I expected truthfulness from a doctor; I was shocked by his
mendacity
duplicity meanness candidness knowledge
(4)rudeness scholarliness illiteracy age
14 When going to an office party you should show your best
decorum, for example, dress your best, drink and eat moderately, and be sure to thank the host before you leave
civility decorations party moves rudeness
15 We thought that the mother would be very distraught at hearing of her husband's accident; however, she took the news quite calmly
tranquil angry disgusted anxious
16 It is refreshing to see students so excited, so zealous in doing their homework
zany dedicated indifferent jealous
Practice Context Clues Answers
Read The answers to the multiple choice are coded red, the context is in green, and the type of context clue is in purple text
1 Joan loves to buy exotic foods: vegetables and herbs from China, spices from India, olives from Greece, and cheeses from France EXAMPLE
from other places
2 Emotionally disturbed people may be troubled by morbid
thoughts For instance, they may often think about suicide or murder EXAMPLE
dealing with death
3 At first, the surgery seemed to be successful But several hours later, the patient’s condition began to deteriorate, and it continued to worsen over the next few days RESTATEMENT
(5)4 In Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge is visited by three spirits who changed him into a generous man
CONTRAST cheapskate
5 Raul is an indulgent father For instance, he lets his daughter stay up as late as she likes and he never insists that she does her homework EXAMPLE
lenient and tolerant
6 Languages evolve over time, as you can see if you open a page of The Canterbury Tales, written about six hundred years ago by the English poet Chaucer It is barely recognizable as English today GENERAL KNOWLEDGE
develop
7 The decision Veronica made to study instead of going out for pizza with her friends was prudent She got an A on the exam, while her friends all got D’s GENERAL KNOWLEDGE
careful and wise
8 Whenever something bad happens to Jane, she ways it’s the fault of destiny But I prefer to take charge of my own life rather than simply blaming fate* GENERAL KNOWLEDGE/RESTATEMENT*
event that happens regardless
9 My father died when I was a baby, but Mom told me so many stories about him that I feel I knew him well For example, one
anecdote was about how he cried with joy when I was born* RESTATEMENT/EXAMPLE*
biographical account
10 Ivan is a wonderful piano player But Jerri is more versatile; she sings, acts, paints and writes poetry, and also plays the piano
EXAMPLE
(6)abilities
11 This third grade was full of precocious children One child had learned to read at two and another could algebra at age EXAMPLE
active
12 I expected truthfulness from a doctor; I was shocked by his
mendacity CONTRAST duplicity
13 When my grandfather meets someone with that much knowledge in a field, he finds that their erudition frightens him and he is inclined to withdraw RESTATEMENT
scholarliness
14 When going to an office party you should show your best
decorum, for example, dress your best, drink and eat moderately, and be sure to thank the host before you leave EXAMPLE
civility
15 We thought that the mother would be very distraught at hearing of her husband's accident; however, she took the news quite calmly CONTRAST
anxious
16 It is refreshing to see students so excited, so zealous in doing their homework RESTATEMENT