Context Clues
Hayley is a very ____________ girl. She knows where she wants to be in five years' time and how she is going to get there.
a. arrogant
b. ambitious
c. snobby
d. wealthy
What is ambitious?
what the text is mostly about (thesis statement)
What is the central idea?
appeal to emotion
What is pathos?
I was glad of it; I never liked long walks, especially on chilly afternoons
What is first person?
The purpose of the psychiatrist is to mitigate the suffering of the patient. What is the meaning of the word mitigate as used in the sentence?
a. make milder
b. beautify
c. increase
d. banish
What is make milder?
Now, a new study suggests that there may be another reason to embrace the new technology: substantial reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. As it is used in the passage, “embrace” most nearly means:
A. grasp
B. cradle
C. welcome
D. wrap
What is welcome?
the underlying message, lesson, or insight of a story
What is the theme?
appeal to credibility
what is ethos?
the narrator tells a story about other people ("He went to the store")
What is third person?
There is a large demand all over the United States for plants indigenous to the desert. Many people in Arizona have made a good business of growing and selling cacti and other local plants. What is the meaning of the word indigenous as used in the sentence?
a. native
b. necessary
c. foreign
d. alien
What is native?
The goal is to track the density of these pollutants and how they change during the day, so that city residents have a sense of what they’re inhaling and can adapt their habits. As it is used in the passage, “track” most nearly means
A. monitor
B. permit
C. define
D. extend
What is monitor?
who is telling or narrating the story
What is the point of view?
A teenager tries to convince his parents to buy him a new car by saying if they cared about their child's safety they'd upgrade him.
What is pathos?
Eventually you ascend the stairs to the street. You think of Plato's pilgrims climbing out of the cave, from the shadow world of appearances toward things as they really are, and you wonder if it is possible to change in this life.
What is second person?
There is no doubt that the idea of living in such a benign climate was appealing. The islanders seemed to keep their vitality and live longer than Europeans. What is the meaning of benign as used in the sentence?
a. tropical
b. not malignant
c. kind
d. favorable
What is not malignant?
They’re a legacy and living link to an ancient past – not only capable of bearing some 5,000 pounds but also empowered by profound spiritual strength. As it is used in the passage, “bearing” most nearly means
A. delivering
B. transporting
C. supporting
D. authorizing
What is supporting?
a persons thoughts, beliefs or feelings about a particular topic
What is perspective?
More than 14 million new jobs, the strongest two years of job growth since the ‘90s, an unemployment rate cut in half. Our auto industry just had its best year ever.
“Harry sat up and examined the jagged piece on which he had cut himself, seeing nothing but his own bright green eye reflected back at him.”
What is third person limited?
Many years before, Caesar’s men had tried and failed to invade Britain. No doubt this contributed to the xenophobia of the Romans. They were cautious about strangers who entered their country. What is the meaning of the word xenophobia?
a. honesty
b. fear of foreigners
c. kindliness
d. stubbornness
What is fear of foriegners?
The mobile sensors monitor a host of environmental pollutants: nitrogen dioxide, nitric oxide, ozone, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, methane, black carbon, particulate matter and volatile organic compounds. As it is used in the passage, “host” most nearly means
A. division
B. array
C. unit
D. formation
What is an array?
the author is trying to get the reader to believe a certain opinion
What is claim/Argument?
“Over the past twenty-five years, I have worked persistently on issues relating to women, children, and families. Over the past two and a half years, I’ve had the opportunity to learn more about the challenges facing women in my own country and around the world.”
What is ethos?
“Rupunzel, Rupunzel” the Prince called, “Let down your hair!” Rupunzel unbraided her hair and slung it out the window. The Prince climbed her locks into the tower.
Third person omniscient
His lucid lectures, along with his clearly presented explanations, made him a popular professor. What is the meaning of the word lucid?
a. irrational meaning
b. hard to understand
c. easy to understand
d. lubricant
What is easy to understand?