Context Clues
Maya was hesitant and reluctant to speak in front of the class because she was nervous about making a mistake.
What does reluctant most likely mean?
Unwilling, hesitant
During a science project, James finishes his part early and starts playing a game on his Chromebook. His group partner, Eli, becomes frustrated because the slides are not organized yet. James says, “I already did my part. You can finish the rest.” Eli feels that James is not being a team player, but James thinks he is being treated unfairly because he completed his assigned work.
Why does James think he has done enough work?
Why might Eli feel frustrated with James?
James completed his assigned portion and believes he is not responsible for the other tasks.
Eli feels that he is left to organize the slides and finish the project alone.
The girls' basketball team was down by 12 points at halftime. During the break, the coach reviewed the team's defensive strategy and encouraged the players to move the ball more quickly. In the third quarter, the team began making more successful passes and forcing the opposing team to take difficult shots. With two minutes remaining, the score was tied. The team's point guard stole the ball and passed it to a teammate, who scored a three-pointer just before the buzzer.
Why did the coach likely change the team's strategy at halftime?
The coach likely noticed that the original strategy was not working well enough, so the coach wanted the players to improve their passing and defense.
Maya had always dreamed of seeing a Broadway musical in New York City. When her school’s theater club announced a trip to see The Lion King, she immediately signed up. Before the performance, the group attended a backstage tour led by a theater employee named Jordan.
Jordan explained that a Broadway production requires many people to work together. Actors memorize their lines and practice their songs, while costume designers create outfits that match each character. Lighting technicians use different colors and angles to create the mood of a scene. Stage crew members move large pieces of scenery between scenes, often in complete darkness.
Maya was especially interested in the costumes. She learned that some costumes included lightweight materials that allowed actors to move comfortably while dancing. After the show, Maya told her teacher that she wanted to join her school’s costume design team.
What city did Maya visit to see a musical?
New York City
Marcus had been preparing for the championship basketball game for weeks, but as he stepped onto the court, his stomach was in knots. The opposing team had a reputation for being difficult to beat, and the gym was packed with cheering fans. During the first half, Marcus missed two shots and began to lose confidence. His teammate Jordan reminded him not to let one bad quarter get in his head and encouraged him to keep his eye on the prize. Marcus took a deep breath, focused on the game, and made several important passes in the second half before scoring the winning basket. After the game, his coach told him that he had risen to the occasion.
What does the phrase “his stomach was in knots” mean?
He felt nervous or anxious
Unlike her friendly and welcoming classmates, Ava's hostile behavior made others feel unwelcome.
What does hostile most likely mean?
Unfriendly
Jordan sends his friend Tyler a message asking if he wants to hang out after school. Tyler reads the message but does not respond for several hours. Jordan assumes Tyler is ignoring him and becomes annoyed. Tyler has been helping his younger brother with homework and plans to respond when he has more time.
Why might Jordan jump to a negative conclusion?
Jordan may feel rejected or assume that a delayed response means someone is upset with him.
A community garden had produced large quantities of tomatoes, cucumbers, and strawberries for several years. Recently, gardeners noticed that fewer fruits and vegetables were growing, even though the plants received enough water and sunlight. One gardener observed that fewer bees were visiting the flowers. The garden group planted more native flowers and stopped using certain chemical pesticides. Over the next few months, more bees began visiting the garden, and the number of vegetables produced increased the following season.
Why did the gardeners suspect that the decrease in bees was connected to the smaller harvest?
The gardeners noticed fewer bees visiting the flowers, and many plants depend on pollination to produce fruits and vegetables.
Ariana was a talented singer who began posting song covers online when she was fourteen years old. She recorded videos in her bedroom using a basic microphone and her phone. At first, only her friends and family watched her performances. However, one video of her singing a popular song received thousands of views after a well-known music creator shared it.
A few months later, a record producer contacted Ariana about recording original music. She spent the summer working in a recording studio, where she learned how to use professional microphones and headphones. She also worked with a songwriter to develop lyrics that reflected her own experiences.
Ariana released her first single in September. The song became popular on streaming platforms, and she was invited to perform at a local music festival. Although she was excited about her growing audience, Ariana continued practicing every day. She believed that improving her skills was just as important as becoming famous.
How old was Ariana when she began posting song covers online?
14 years old
Darius and his classmates were creating a documentary about the history of hip-hop music, and Darius was responsible for editing the video. Two days before the deadline, the editing software crashed, and several hours of work disappeared. Darius worried that the entire project was hanging by a thread, but his classmate Malik wanted to throw in the towel and give up. Darius encouraged the group to keep trying, and they worked together to rebuild the missing sections. By the end of the day, they had recovered most of their work. Although the project had been a roller coaster of emotions, the students submitted it on time, and their teacher praised them for keeping their cool when things went wrong.
Why does the author describe the project as “a roller coaster of emotions”?
The group experienced changing emotions, including stress, frustration, and relief.
Because the team had not practiced and the other team was well prepared, losing the game seemed inevitable.
What does inevitable most likely mean?
Certain to happen; unavoidable
During lunch, Noah jokes about another student's low score on a math test. Noah thinks everyone will find the comment funny because he often jokes with his friends. The student who received the low score becomes quiet and stops participating in the conversation.
How might the student who got a low score feel?
What is Noah's perspective?
Embarrassed, hurt, uncomfortable, or discouraged.
He sees the comment as harmless humor and assumes others will find it funny.
Jasmine signed up for a 5K race that would take place in six weeks. During her first training session, she had to stop running after only five minutes because she was out of breath. Instead of giving up, she began following a schedule that alternated running and walking. Each week, she increased the amount of time she spent running. By the fifth week, she could run for 25 minutes without stopping. On race day, Jasmine finished the course slower than some of the other runners, but she crossed the finish line without taking a walking break.
Why did Jasmine alternate between running and walking during her early training sessions?
Alternating running and walking allowed Jasmine to build endurance gradually without becoming exhausted too quickly.
When a new science-fiction movie was announced, film fans were excited to learn that it would feature futuristic cities, advanced robots, and exciting space travel. However, creating the movie required much more than hiring actors and filming scenes.
The director, Elena Brooks, began by reviewing the script with the screenwriters. Together, they discussed how the characters should behave and what the audience should understand about the story. The production team then built several sets, including a spaceship interior and a laboratory.
During filming, actors wore special costumes and practiced their movements before each scene. Some scenes required green screens, which allowed the visual effects team to add computer-generated backgrounds later. After filming ended, editors selected the best takes and arranged them in the correct order. Sound designers added music, background noises, and sound effects to make the scenes more realistic.
The movie took nearly eighteen months to complete. When it premiered, viewers praised its detailed visual effects and exciting storyline. Elena explained during an interview that the final product was the result of cooperation among hundreds of people.
What type of movie was being created?
A science-fiction movie
Ethan enjoyed posting videos of his skateboard tricks online, but after one video received thousands of views, he became obsessed with checking his account. His phone was practically glued to his hand, and he spent more time editing videos than completing homework. Soon, his grades began to slip, and his friends noticed that he rarely joined them at the skate park anymore. His older brother warned him that social media could be a double-edged sword because it could provide entertainment and connection while also distracting him from important responsibilities. Ethan initially brushed off the advice, but after missing an assignment deadline, he realized his brother had a point. He began putting his phone away while studying and limiting his time online, eventually feeling as though he had regained control of the steering wheel.
What does “a double-edged sword” mean in this passage?
Social media can have both positive and negative effects.
During the drought, clean drinking water was scarce, so families had to limit how much they used each day.
What does scarce most likely mean?
Limited; not plentiful
During a presentation, a teacher tells Andre that he needs to speak more clearly and make more eye contact with the audience. Andre feels embarrassed because he practiced for several days. He thinks the teacher is criticizing him unfairly. The teacher believes Andre has strong ideas and wants him to communicate them more effectively.
Why does Andre interpret the feedback negatively?
What is the teacher's perspective?
He worked hard and feels embarrassed that his performance was criticized.
The teacher believes in Andre and wants him to communicate his ideas more effectively. The teacher believes they are helping Andre improve.
Before her history exam, Priya spent three hours rereading every page of her textbook. During the test, she recognized many of the terms but struggled to explain important events without looking at her notes. For the next exam, she tried a different approach. She created flashcards, answered practice questions without checking her book, and explained major historical events aloud in her own words. She studied for shorter periods over several days rather than trying to review everything in one evening. On the next test, she was able to explain the causes and effects of historical events more clearly.
Why did Priya struggle to explain information during her first exam even though she recognized the terms?
Rereading helped Priya recognize information, but she had less practice recalling it and explaining it independently.
Every year, new fashion and beauty trends become popular on social media. Last spring, a makeup style featuring bright eyeliner and glossy lips began appearing in videos posted by beauty creators. Within weeks, thousands of people were recreating the look and sharing their own versions online.
One popular creator, Jasmine Lee, posted a tutorial explaining how to achieve the style using affordable products. She demonstrated how to apply blue eyeliner, add a layer of clear lip gloss, and finish the look with a light coat of mascara. Her video received more than 500,000 views in three days.
Several beauty companies noticed the sudden interest in the trend. Some released new products in similar colors, while others partnered with creators to promote existing makeup collections. Although the trend eventually became less popular, Jasmine continued making tutorials about skincare, makeup techniques, and product reviews.
Jasmine believed that social media could help people discover new styles and express their creativity. However, she reminded her viewers that they did not need to follow every trend to enjoy fashion or feel confident about their appearance.
What two features were part of the makeup style?
Bright eyeliner and glossy lips
When Andre transferred to a new high school, he felt like a fish out of water because everyone seemed to know where to go, who to talk to, and which teachers were the strictest. During lunch on his first day, he sat alone and kept his eyes on his phone because he was unsure how to approach other students. A classmate named Chris invited him to join a group playing cards, and Andre gradually began to feel more comfortable. Over the next few weeks, he came out of his shell by joining the school's gaming club, talking to classmates, and volunteering to help organize a school event. By the end of the semester, the unfamiliar hallways no longer felt like a maze, and Andre realized that stepping outside his comfort zone had opened doors he never knew existed.
Explain what “stepping outside his comfort zone had opened doors he never knew existed” means.
Taking social risks helped Andre discover new friendships and opportunities.
The teacher's directions were ambiguous because they could be understood in several ways; some students thought they should write one paragraph, while others wrote an entire page.
What does ambiguous most likely mean?
Unclear; having more than one possible meaning
During a busy shift at a fast-food restaurant, Devin finishes wiping down the tables. He sees his coworker, Chris, struggling to prepare several orders. Devin decides to check his phone because his own task is complete.
What are two different perspectives in this scenario?
Chris becomes frustrated because he is falling behind and believes Devin should offer assistance.
Devin thinks that helping with orders is not his responsibility.
Marcus wanted to make homemade pizza for his family. He followed a recipe but added extra flour because the dough seemed too sticky. When he tried to stretch the dough, it kept shrinking back into a small circle. He searched for advice and learned that kneading the dough helps develop its structure, while allowing it to rest makes it easier to shape. The next time he made pizza, Marcus measured the ingredients carefully, kneaded the dough, and let it rest before stretching it. This time, the dough spread easily across the baking tray, and the crust baked evenly.
Why did adding extra flour make it harder for Marcus to shape the dough?
Adding extra flour changed the dough's proportions, potentially making it too dry or stiff to stretch easily.
Sofia wanted to earn a leading role in her school’s upcoming production of The Wizard of Oz. Auditions were scheduled for Thursday afternoon in the school auditorium. Students were required to prepare a short monologue and sing a section of a song from the musical.
For two weeks, Sofia practiced after school with her older sister, who had experience performing in community theater. Her sister helped her speak clearly, project her voice, and use facial expressions to communicate emotions. Sofia also recorded herself practicing so she could identify areas that needed improvement.
On audition day, Sofia arrived thirty minutes early. She brought a printed copy of her monologue, a bottle of water, and a folder containing her music. Although she felt nervous when she saw the other students waiting, she took several slow breaths and reviewed her opening lines.
When Sofia entered the auditorium, the director asked her to introduce herself before beginning. She performed her monologue and sang her selected song. A week later, the cast list was posted outside the auditorium. Sofia was excited to discover that she had earned the role of the Scarecrow. She thanked her sister for helping her prepare and decided to continue taking acting lessons.
What two things were students required to prepare?
A short monologue and a section of a song from the musical
For months, Jayden had been training for a regional track competition, pushing himself to run faster and build his endurance each afternoon. Some days, his legs felt like lead, and he wondered whether all his effort was worth it. His coach reminded him that progress is a marathon, not a sprint, explaining that improvement takes time and that he needed to trust the process. Jayden continued practicing even when his progress seemed slow, and on the day of the competition, he felt butterflies in his stomach as he approached the starting line. During the race, he focused on his own pace instead of worrying about the other runners and crossed the finish line with a personal-best time. Although he did not win first place, he knew he had reached a major milestone, and all his hard work had finally paid off.
What does the coach mean when she says, “Progress is a marathon, not a sprint”?
Improvement takes time and consistent effort.