Context Clues
Sara was ecstatic when she won first place—she jumped up, screamed, and hugged everyone in sight.
What does ecstatic mean?
extremely happy
If a story says, “The sky darkened and thunder rumbled,” what is likely to happen next?
storm
How many continents are on Earth?
7
A word that means “easy to break.”
fragile
I have keys but no locks.
I have space but no room.
You can enter, but you can’t go outside.
keyboard
In this sentence, what word helps you understand "timid"? "Lila was timid, or shy, when speaking in front of the class."
Shy
What do you call the main message or lesson of a story?
theme
What planet is known as the Red Planet?
Mars
This word means “to speak very softly.”
You see me once in a minute,
twice in a moment,
but never in a thousand years.
What am I?
The letter "m"
Which clue explains “reluctant”?
“Evan was reluctant to join the game, hesitating at the edge of the field.”
hesitating
What point of view uses “I,” “me,” and “my”?
first-person point of view
What gas do plants breathe in to stay alive?
carbon dioxide
This word means “to stay away from something.”
avoid
I can travel around the world
while staying in the same corner.
What am I?
A stamp
Identify the type of context clue:
“Maria was parched. She hadn’t had a drink in hours.”
cause-and-effect
If a character slams a door and stomps away, what can you infer?
the character is angry
What is the chemical symbol for gold?
Au
This word means “to guess what will happen next.”
predict
You can break me without touching me,
and once I’m broken,
some people wish I’d stayed whole.
What am I?
A promise
Name the clue type:
“The canyon was vast—so wide and huge it seemed endless.”
synonym
When two characters disagree strongly, what story element is this?
conflict
Which U.S. state is the largest by area?
Alaska
This word describes someone who never gives up.
determined
I can bring tears to your eyes,
resurrect the dead,
make you smile,
and reverse time.
I exist in many forms,
but I am always in your mind.
What am I?
a memory