Context Clues
"Gigi hesitated at the creaky fence, but her curiosity urged her to peek over." What does "hesitated" most likely mean?
pause or stop briefly
The root "tele" means "far." What could "telegraph" or "telephone" mean based on that root?
"telegraph" = sending messages across long distances; "telephone" = sending sound across long distances
"The bakery's donuts looked scrumptious." Which choice best replaces "scrumptious"?
A) tiny B) delicious C) ordinary D) loud
B) delicious
Give a synonym for "happy" that fits in this sentence:
"Xavier was ___ when he got the award."
"joyful" or "pleased"
"The sky was gloomy after the storm, with low clouds and little sunlight."
Use the word "gloomy" in your OWN sentence that helps a reader infer its meaning.
Gloomy =
"The room smelled of stinky cheese, so Ricky opened the window to ventilate the room." What does "ventilate" most likely mean?
to let fresh air in or out
The prefix "un-" usually means "not." What is the meaning of "unpredictable" using this prefix and the word "predictable"?
"unpredictable" = not able to be predicted; changeable
"After the fierce storm, the town was devastated." Which best matches "devastated"?
A) cheerful B) ruined C) decorated D) tidy
B) ruined
Give an antonym for "ancient" that fits in this sentence:
"The museum displayed both ancient and ___ artifacts."
"modern" or "new"
"Steven was reluctant to join the race because he was afraid he might fall."
Use "reluctant" in your OWN sentence that helps a reader infer its meaning.
Reluctant = unwilling and hesitant; disinclined.
"I was reluctant to loan my friend $5, as they aren't known for paying others back."
"The ancient map was tattered and torn, but the treasure location was still clear." What does "tattered" most likely mean?
torn, worn, ragged
Combine root and context: The root "bio" means "life" and "-logy" means "study of."
What does "biology" mean? Provide a one-sentence context clue that would help a reader infer this meaning.
"biology" = the study of life;
(example context sentence: "In biology class we study plants, animals, and how living things grow.")
"Because the recipe calls for a scant amount of sugar, add only a little." Which best matches "scant"?
A) generous B) small C) heated D) overflowing
Provide evidence to support your answer.
B) small
Use context to pick the best synonym:
"The teacher praised Austin for his meticulous notes." Which synonym best matches "meticulous"?
(A) careful (B) messy (C) hasty (D) loud
Provide evidence to support your answer.
A) careful
"The boisterous crowd cheered loudly and bumped into each other at the concert."
Use "boisterous" in your OWN sentence that helps a reader infer its meaning.
Boisterous = (of a person, event, or behavior) noisy, energetic, and cheerful; rowdy.
"The children were boisterous at the birthday party, running and cheering loudly."
"Elliot scoured the shelves for the missing book; he checked every nook and cranny until it appeared."
What does "nook and cranny" mean, and which words/clues show that?
small hidden places;
clues: "checked every" and "until it appeared"
Explain the meaning of "misinterpret" by breaking it into parts and using an example sentence that gives context clues for "mis-".
"mis-" means wrongly; "interpret" = understand;
"misinterpret" = to understand wrongly
(example: "I misinterpreted the directions and turned the wrong way.")
"Evelyn frowned at the ambiguous instructions, unsure how to begin." Which best matches "ambiguous"?
A) clear B) confusing C) short D) cheerful
Provide evidence to support your answer.
B) confusing
Choose an antonym using context:
"Although the forest seemed tranquil, the sudden noise made everyone alert." Which antonym best fits "tranquil"?
(A) calm (B) noisy (C) peaceful (D) quiet
Provide evidence to support your answer.
B) noisy
"Skeptical, Jasper raised an eyebrow and asked for proof, because the claim seemed too good to be true."
Use "skeptical" in your OWN sentence that helps a reader infer its meaning.
Skeptical = not easily convinced; having doubts or reservations.
"The students were deeply skeptical about some of the teacher's proposals."
"After days of torrential rain, the river overflowed its banks, inundating the low-lying fields and leaving a muddy, sodden mess."
What does "inundating" mean? Cite two context clues from the sentence that support your answer.
flooding or covering with water;
clues: "overflowed its banks" and "muddy, sodden mess"
The word "telemetry" includes "tele" (far) and "metry" (measure).
Using context clues, explain what "telemetry" might be and create a sentence that helps a student infer its meaning.
"telemetry" = measuring from a distance
(example sentence: "The satellite sent telemetry about the weather back to Earth, reporting temperatures and wind speeds from far away.")
"The diplomat's conciliatory remarks calmed the crowd and opened the way for a negotiation." Which best matches "conciliatory"?
A) hostile B) neutral C) peacemaking D) secretive
Provide evidence to support your answer.
C) peacemaking
Provide a synonym for "frugal" and explain why that synonym fits better than a similar word like "stingy." Use the sentence below for context clues. Provide evidence to support your answer.
"Mr. Kelly is thrifty with his money, comparing prices and avoiding waste, but he still donates to charity."
synonym: "thrifty";
Explanation: "Thrifty" suggests careful saving and wise spending, while "stingy" suggests unwillingness to spend at all.
"The students were exuberant after the surprise party, laughing, shouting with joy, and high-fiving one another. Their energy filled the room, and everyone felt excited."
Use "exuberant" in your OWN sentence that helps a reader infer its meaning.
Exuberant = filled with or characterized by a lively energy and excitement.
"The Packers fans were exuberant after beating the Steelers in Super Bowl LX!"