L 5.4 Using Context Clues
Question:
The desert sun was relentless, beating down on the travelers without a single break.
What does relentless mean as used in the sentence?
2. Continuing without stopping
Multiple‑Meaning Words
What does current mean in the sentence below?
“The current of the river pulled the boat downstream.”
A. Present time
B. A flow of water
C. A type of fruit
D. A leader
B. A flow of water
Question:
“Her voice was as smooth as melted chocolate.”
What does this simile suggest?
3. Her voice was soft and pleasant.
“I told you a million times to clean your room!”
This is an example of—
A. A metaphor
B. A simile
C. Hyperbole
D. Personification
C. Hyperbole
Correct Verb Tense
Question:
Which sentence uses the correct verb tense?
2. She ran to the store yesterday.
Misplaced Modifiers
Which sentence is correct?
A. Flying high above the trees, the eagle spotted its prey.
B. Flying high above the trees, its prey was spotted by the eagle.
C. The eagle spotted its prey flying high above the trees.
D. The eagle flying high above the trees spotted its prey.
A. Flying high above the trees, the eagle spotted its prey.
Using Greek/Latin Roots
Question:
The scientist used a microscope to study the tiny crystals.
Based on the root micro‑, what does the word microscope most likely mean?
2. A tool for viewing small things
Context Clues
The old house was dilapidated, with broken windows and a sagging roof.
A. Brand new
B. Falling apart
C. Haunted
D. Empty
B. Falling apart
Question:
“Time is a thief that steals our favorite moments.”
What does the metaphor mean?
2. Time passes quickly and moments don’t last.
Nuances
Which word has the most negative tone?
A. Curious
B. Nosy
C. Interested
D. Observant
B. Nosy
Correct Use of Conjunctions
Question:
Which sentence uses the conjunction because correctly?
1. I wore my boots because it was raining.
Prepositions
Which sentence uses the preposition correctly?
A. The cat jumped between the table.
B. The cat jumped under the table.
C. The cat jumped inside the table.
D. The cat jumped above the table to hide.
B. The cat jumped under the table.
Multiple‑Meaning Words
The word charge has several meanings. In the sentence below, what does charge mean?
“The coach told the players to charge toward the ball as soon as the whistle blew.”
2. To rush forward quickly
Word Relationships
Which pair shows a part‑to‑whole relationship?
A. Leaf → tree
B. Hot → cold
C. Run → jog
D. Loud → quiet
A. Leaf → tree
Word Relationships
Question:
Which pair of words shows a cause‑and‑effect relationship?
1. Freeze → shiver
Analogies
Puppy : dog :: kitten : ______
A. Cat
B. Lion
C. Mouse
D. Tiger
A. Cat
Correct Punctuation
Question:
Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
4. My brother, who is ten, loves soccer.
Subject‑Verb Agreement
Which sentence is correct?
A. The group of students are excited.
B. The group of students were excited.
C. The group of students is excited.
D. The group of students be excited.
C. The group of students is excited.
Context Clues
The hikers trudged up the steep hill, stopping often to catch their breath.
What does steep mean?
A. Very tall
B. Very slippery
C. Very sharp
D. Very high and difficult to climb
D. Very high and difficult to climb
Context Clues
The campers were parched after hiking for hours in the hot sun.
What does parched mean?
A. Excited
B. Very thirsty
C. Confused
D. Lost
B. Very thirsty
Shades of Meaning
Question:
Which word has the strongest meaning?
4. Roar
Figurative Language
“Lightning danced across the sky.”
What type of figurative language is this?
A. Simile
B. Personification
C. Metaphor
D. Hyperbole
B. Personification
Correct Capitalization
Question:
Which sentence uses capitalization correctly?
3. We visited the Grand Canyon last summer.
Formal vs. Informal English
Which sentence uses formal English?
A. I ain’t going to the meeting.
B. I’m not gonna go to the meeting.
C. I am not going to attend the meeting.
D. Not going to the meeting.
C. I am not going to attend the meeting.
Multiple‑Meaning Words
Which meaning of pitch fits the sentence?
“The pitcher threw the ball with perfect pitch.”
A. A sticky substance
B. A place to set up a tent
C. The highness or lowness of a sound
D. A throw in baseball
D. A throw in baseball
Multiple‑Meaning Words
What does the word bark mean in the sentence below?
“The bark of the tree felt rough under my hand.”
A. The sound a dog makes
B. The outer covering of a tree
C. A type of boat
D. A loud shout
B. The outer covering of a tree
“Her smile was as bright as the morning sun.”
This simile suggests her smile was—
A. Faint
B. Warm and cheerful
C. Cold
D. Hidden
B. Warm and cheerful
“The clouds were giant cotton balls drifting across the sky.”
What does this metaphor suggest about the clouds?
A. They were heavy and dark.
B. They were soft and fluffy.
C. They were moving very fast.
D. They were shaped like animals.
B. They were soft and fluffy.
Verb Tense
Which sentence uses the correct verb tense?
A. She run to the bus stop.
B. She ran to the bus stop.
C. She running to the bus stop.
D. She runs yesterday.
B. She ran to the bus stop.
Subject–Verb Agreement
Which sentence is written correctly?
A. The pack of wolves run across the field.
B. The pack of wolves runs across the field.
C. The pack of wolves running across the field.
D. The pack of wolves are running across the field.
B. The pack of wolves runs across the field.
Greek/Latin Roots
The word transport contains the root port.
What does port mean?
A. To write
B. To carry
C. To break
D. To change
B. To carry
Greek/Latin Roots
The word autograph contains the root auto‑. What does autograph mean?
A. A picture of someone
B. A signature written by oneself
C. A story about someone else
D. A message sent far away
B. A signature written by oneself
“The classroom was a zoo during free time.”
A. Students were acting wild.
B. Animals were in the room.
C. The room was dirty.
D. The teacher left.
A. Students were acting wild.
Word Relationships — Synonyms
Which pair of words are synonyms?
A. Silent → quiet
B. Bright → dull
C. Begin → end
D. Heavy → light
A. Silent → quiet
Conjunctions
Which sentence uses although correctly?
A. Although it rained, we still played outside.
B. Although we won the game was fun.
C. We although played outside.
D. Although the sun was shining we wore coats because.
A. Although it rained, we still played outside.
Commas with Introductory Elements
Which sentence uses a comma correctly?
A. After the movie we went out for ice cream.
B. After the movie, we went out for ice cream.
C. After, the movie we went out for ice cream.
D. After the movie we, went out for ice cream.
B. After the movie, we went out for ice cream.
Using Synonyms
In the sentence, “The puppy was timid around strangers,” which word best replaces timid?
A. Brave
B. Shy
C. Angry
D. Wild
B. Shy
Using Context Clues
The scientist observed that the liquid began to solidify as the temperature dropped.
What does solidify mean?
A. Turn into a gas
B. Turn into a solid
C. Turn invisible
D. Turn into a liquid
B. Turn into a solid
“The wind whispered secrets through the trees.”
What is being personified?
A. Trees
B. Secrets
C. Wind
D. Whispering
C. Wind
Idiom
“Jamal decided to break the ice by telling a funny story.”
What does the idiom break the ice mean?
A. Start a conversation in an uncomfortable situation
B. Break something frozen
C. Make someone angry
D. Tell a secret
A. Start a conversation in an uncomfortable situation
Commas in a Series
Which sentence is correct?
A. We bought apples bananas and grapes.
B. We bought apples, bananas and grapes.
C. We bought apples, bananas, and grapes.
D. We bought, apples, bananas and grapes.
C. We bought apples, bananas, and grapes.
Correct Verb Tense
Which sentence uses the correct verb tense?
A. We swimmed in the lake last weekend.
B. We swam in the lake last weekend.
C. We swimming in the lake last weekend.
D. We swims in the lake last weekend.
B. We swam in the lake last weekend.
Using Antonyms
When food is scarce, people starve.
Which word is the opposite of scarce?
A. Rare
B. Plentiful
C. Hidden
D. Small
B. Plentiful
Using Synonyms
Which word is closest in meaning to glimpse?
A. Stare
B. Peek
C. Ignore
D. Search
B. Peek
Shades of Meaning
Which word is the most intense?
A. Look
B. Glance
C. Stare
D. Peek
C. Stare
Shades of Meaning
Which word has the weakest meaning?
A. Sprint
B. Jog
C. Dash
D. Race
B. Jog
Capitalization
Which sentence is correct?
A. My aunt Sarah lives in texas.
B. My Aunt Sarah lives in Texas.
C. My aunt Sarah lives in Texas.
D. My Aunt sarah lives in Texas.
C. My aunt Sarah lives in Texas.
Capitalization
Which sentence is capitalized correctly?
A. My cousin moved to north Carolina last year.
B. My Cousin moved to North carolina last year.
C. My cousin moved to North Carolina last year.
D. My Cousin moved to north carolina last year.
C. My cousin moved to North Carolina last year.
Context Clues
The magician’s trick was so baffling that the audience gasped.
What does baffling mean in the sentence above?
A. Funny
B. Confusing
C. Annoying
D. Predictable
B. Confusing
Using Antonyms
Which word is the opposite of fragile?
A. Weak
B. Delicate
C. Strong
D. Tiny
C. Strong
Word Relationships
Which pair shows a synonym relationship?
A. Brave → courageous
B. Hot → cold
C. Cat → dog
D. Run → sit
A. Brave → courageous
“The tired old house groaned as the wind pushed against it.”
Which part of the sentence is personification?
A. Tired old house
B. Groaned
C. Wind pushed
D. As the wind
B. Groaned
Punctuation
Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
A. “Stop” said Mom.
B. “Stop,” said Mom.
C. “Stop”, said Mom.
D. “Stop” said, Mom.
B. “Stop,” said Mom.
Punctuation in Dialogue
Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
A. “I can’t find my backpack” said Jordan.
B. “I can’t find my backpack,” said Jordan.
C. “I can’t find my backpack”, said Jordan.
D. “I can’t find my backpack.” said Jordan.
B. “I can’t find my backpack,” said Jordan.
Affixes
What does unpredictable mean?
A. Not able to be predicted
B. Able to be predicted
C. Predicting again
D. Predicting before
A. Not able to be predicted
Context Clues
The students were eager to begin the field trip and lined up quickly.
What does eager mean?
A. Nervous
B. Uninterested
C. Very excited
D. Confused
C. Very excited
“After the long hike, I was running on empty.”
A. I was hungry.
B. I was tired.
C. I was excited.
D. I was lost.
B. I was tired.
Analogies
Feather : bird :: scale : ______
A. Fish
B. Dog
C. Bear
D. Horse
A. Fish
Pronoun Agreement
Choose the correct sentence.
A. Each of the players brought their uniform.
B. Each of the players brought his or her uniform.
C. Each of the players bring their uniform.
D. Each of the players bringing their uniform.
B. Each of the players brought his or her uniform.
Pronoun Case
Which sentence uses the correct pronoun?
A. Mom gave the tickets to Maya and I.
B. Mom gave the tickets to Maya and me.
C. Mom gave the tickets to Maya and myself.
D. Mom gave the tickets to I and Maya.
B. Mom gave the tickets to Maya and me.