Context Clues
We walked along the narrow trail,
Past rocks and trees and winding bends.
At last we reached the highest point,
Standing proudly at the ridge.
What does the word ridge most nearly mean?
A. a low valley
B. the top edge of a hill or mountain
C. a flat road
D. a group of trees
B. the top edge of a hill or mountain
Read the lines:
The bees buzzed like tiny engines,
their wings shining like glass.
Which TWO answers show what is being compared?
A. Bees to engines
B. Wings to glass
C. Bees to glass
D. Engines to wings
E. Glass to bees
A, B
Why might an author put certain words in bold print in a text?
A. To show important ideas or headings
B. To make the story funny
C. To tell who is talking
D. To make the text longer
A. To show important ideas or headings
Read the sentence:
The fruit is edible when it is fully ripe.
What does edible mean?
A. The fruit grows quickly
B. The fruit is sweet
C. The fruit can be eaten
D. The fruit is colorful
C. The fruit can be eaten
Read the stanza:
The sun began to slowly dip,
Its golden light grew soft and dim.
Soon darkness covered all the land,
At the quiet hour of dusk.
What does the word dusk most nearly mean?
A. early morning
B. midday
C. evening, when the sun sets
D. a stormy time
C. evening, when the sun sets
Read the stanza:
The wind was gentle, soft, and light,
It brushed the trees with quiet delight.
Leaves began to sway and bend,
In the breeze that seemed to glide.
What does the word glide most nearly mean in this stanza?
A. move smoothly and quietly
B. make a loud noise
C. stop suddenly
D. fall to the ground
A. move smoothly and quietly
Which sentence shows a word written in bold?
A. The river flows quickly.
B. The river flows QUICKLY.
C. The river flows quickly.
D. The river flows quickly.
C. The river flows quickly.
The class worked together on a project to reduce pollution in their community, taking small steps to make the air and water cleaner for everyone.
Think about the suffix -ion. What is the meaning of pollution above?
A. the act of making something dirty
B. the place where people live
C. something that is very clean
D. the way something is built
A. the act of making something dirty
Read the stanza:
The water moved in steady waves,
Rising high, then falling low.
It crashed against the rocky shore,
With a powerful current below.
What does the word current most nearly mean?
A. the color of the water
B. the movement of the water
C. the temperature of the water
D. the depth of the water
B. the movement of the water
Read the lines:
The waves reached up to greet the sky,
stretching as far as they could.
What do these lines show about the waves?
A. The waves are very tall
B. The waves are very quiet
C. The waves are very cold
D. The waves are very slow
A. The waves are very tall
Which sentence shows words written in italic?
A. The sky is blue.
B. The sky is blue.
C. THE SKY IS BLUE.
D. The sky is blue.
A. The sky is blue.
Read the sentence:
The community showed great cooperation by working together to clean the park and make it a better place for everyone to enjoy.
Think about the suffix -ion. What is the meaning of cooperation above?
A. the act of working together
B. the act of being alone
C. the act of building something
D. the act of playing a game
A. the act of working together
Read the stanza:
Tall trees stood in quiet rows,
Their branches reaching far and wide.
We walked beneath their shady leaves,
Through the forest’s cool canopy.
What does the word canopy most nearly mean?
A. the roots under the ground
B. the top layer of leaves and branches
C. the trunk of the tree
D. the forest floor
B. the top layer of leaves and branches
Read the line:
The garden glowed with purple, pink, and golden blooms.
What image do these words help create?
A. The flowers are all one color
B. The flowers are bright and colorful
C. The flowers are very small
D. The flowers are hard to see
B. The flowers are bright and colorful
Which statement is TRUE about italic and bold text?
A. Both are used to make words disappear
B. Italic leans letters, and bold makes letters darker
C. Bold leans letters, and italic makes them darker
D. Both are used only in math
B. Italic leans letters, and bold makes letters darker
Read the sentence:
The beach is safe and swimmable, so families often visit to enjoy the water and cool off during hot summer days.
What does the word swimmable mean in this sentence?
A. The water is deep and dangerous
B. The water is clear and blue
C. People are able to swim in the water
D. People are learning how to swim
C. People are able to swim in the water
Read the sentence:
The beach is safe and swimmable, so families often visit to enjoy the water and cool off during hot summer days.
What does the word swimmable mean in this sentence?
A. The water is deep and dangerous
B. The water is clear and blue
C. People are able to swim in the water
D. People are learning how to swim
C. People are able to swim in the water