Context Clues
Read this sentence: "The old, dilapidated house stood empty on the hill." What does "dilapidated" mean?
A) Beautiful and well-kept
B) Falling apart and in poor condition
C) Tall and impressive
D) Surrounded by trees
B) Falling apart and in poor condition
A writer describes the steps for making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
What is the author's primary purpose?
A) To entertain
B) To inform/explain
C) To persuade
D) To inspire
B) To inform/explain
"Dogs are popular pets. Many families have dogs at home. Dogs can be friendly and loyal."
What is the main idea?
A) Dogs eat food
B) Dogs are popular pets that families enjoy
C) Some dogs are small
D) Dogs live outside
B) Dogs are popular pets that families enjoy
"Sally looked out the window and saw dark clouds rolling in. She grabbed an umbrella before leaving the house."
What can you infer about what Sally expects?
A) Snow
B) Wind
C) Sunshine
D) Rain
D) Rain
Which word is a synonym for "happy"?
A) Sad
B) Tired
C) Angry
D) Joyful
D) Joyful
"The chef's culinary skills were renowned throughout the city." What does "culinary" mean based on the context?
A) Related to cooking
B) Related to art
C) Related to music
D) Related to sports
A) Related to cooking
A story tells about a boy who refused to listen to his parents' warnings and got lost in the woods. By the end, he learns the importance of listening.
What is the moral of the story?
A) Never go into the woods
B) Getting lost is fun
C) It's important to listen to advice from people who care about you
D) Parents are always right
C) It's important to listen to advice from people who care about you
"Plants need sunlight to grow. They also need water and soil. Without these three things, plants cannot survive."
What is the main idea?
A) Soil is the most important thing for plants
B) Plants can grow anywhere
C) Sunlight is more important than water
D) Plants need three basic things to survive: sunlight, water, and soil
D) Plants need three basic things to survive: sunlight, water, and soil
"Marcus studied hard for three weeks. He practiced math problems every night. On test day, he felt confident walking into the classroom."
What can you infer about Marcus's likely test result?
A) He will probably fail
B) He will probably do well
C) He will probably get sick
D) He will probably be late
B) He will probably do well
In the sentence "The brave firefighter rushed into the burning building," what does "brave" mean?
A) Foolish
B) Running fast
C) Showing courage
D) Tired
C) Showing courage
"After the long hike, Maya was famished and ate three sandwiches." Based on context clues, what does "famished" mean?
A) Tired
B) Very hungry
C) Sick
D) Happy
B) Very hungry
An article argues that schools should require students to wear uniforms because it reduces bullying and improves focus.
What is the author's purpose?
A) To persuade readers that uniforms are a good idea
B) To entertain readers with a funny story
C) To inform readers about what uniforms look like
D) To describe different types of clothing
A) To persuade readers that uniforms are a good idea
"Bees are important for our environment. They pollinate flowers and crops, which helps plants reproduce. Without bees, many plants would disappear, and food sources would decrease. Bees also make honey, which humans use."
Which detail best supports the main idea that bees are important?
A) Bees pollinate flowers and crops, helping plants reproduce and providing food sources
B) Bees make honey
C) Bees are yellow and black
D) Some people are allergic to bees
A) Bees pollinate flowers and crops, helping plants reproduce and providing food sources
"The restaurant was packed with customers. The wait for a table was two hours. Every plate that came out of the kitchen looked delicious, and customers were smiling as they ate."
What can you infer about the restaurant?
A) The food is probably not very good
B) The restaurant is probably going out of business
C) The food is probably popular and high quality
D) The restaurant serves only breakfast
C) The food is probably popular and high quality
Which word is an antonym for "generous"?
A) Kind
B) Giving
C) Selfish
D) Friendly
C) Selfish
"The politician's obfuscated explanation confused the reporters even more." What does "obfuscated" most likely mean?
A) Clarified and explained clearly
B) Made confusing or unclear
C) Made shorter
D) Made more interesting
B) Made confusing or unclear
A fable tells the story of a tortoise and a hare who race. The tortoise wins by staying steady and focused while the hare gives up.
What lesson does this fable teach?
A) Slow animals always win races
B) Speed is the only thing that matters
C) Racing is dangerous
D) Persistence and steady effort are more valuable than natural talent
D) Persistence and steady effort are more valuable than natural talent
"The Amazon rainforest is home to millions of species of plants and animals. It produces about 20% of the world's oxygen. The forest also stores massive amounts of carbon, which helps regulate Earth's climate. However, deforestation is destroying this vital ecosystem at an alarming rate."
What is the main idea?
A) The Amazon rainforest is wet
B) The Amazon rainforest is crucial to Earth's health, but it is being threatened by deforestation
C) Many animals live in the rainforest
D) Trees produce oxygen
B) The Amazon rainforest is crucial to Earth's health, but it is being threatened by deforestation
"Jamal had always been afraid of heights. His friends invited him to go rock climbing. After thinking about it, he decided to go. During the climb, his hands were shaking, but he kept going. When he reached the top, he felt proud."
What can you predict about Jamal in the future?
A) He will be more willing to face his fears
B) He will never try anything difficult again
C) He will be afraid of everything
D) He will only do easy activities
A) He will be more willing to face his fears
The word "book" can have multiple meanings. Which sentence uses "book" to mean "to reserve"?
A) I read a book yesterday
B) I need to book a hotel room for my vacation
C) The book fell off the shelf
D) She wrote a book about her travels
B) I need to book a hotel room for my vacation
"The entrepreneur's perspicacious business decisions led to tremendous of growth in just two years." Based on context clues, what does "perspicacious" mean?
A) Reckless and impulsive
B) Lucky and fortunate
C) Dishonest and sneaky
D) Showing good insight and good judgment
D) Showing good insight and good judgment
An essay gives multiple perspectives on climate change, including information from scientists and concerns from different communities, without ever saying which side is "right."
What is the author's primary purpose?
A) To persuade readers that climate change is real
B) To entertain readers with stories
C) To inform readers about different viewpoints on a complex issue
D) To convince readers that one group is wrong
C) To inform readers about different viewpoints on a complex issue
"Polar bears are endangered due to climate change. Melting ice means less hunting ground for seals, their main food source. Without enough food, polar bears cannot survive in the Arctic."
Which detail best supports why polar bears are endangered?
A) Melting ice reduces their access to food
B) Polar bears are white
C) The Arctic is cold
D) Polar bears are large animals
A) Melting ice reduces their access to food
"The town council voted to eliminate funding for the public library due to budget cuts. The library had served the community for 50 years. Within weeks, community members began organizing petitions and attending council meetings to protest the decision."
What can you infer about the community's values?
A) They don't care about education
B) They value the library as an important community resource
C) They support the council's decision
D) They want fewer public services
B) They value the library as an important community resource
In the sentence "The politician's mendacious claims were quickly fact-checked and corrected by journalists," what does "mendacious" most closely mean?
A) Truthful and honest
B) Clever and witty
C) Interesting and engaging
D) False and dishonest
D) False and dishonest