Context Clues - 6th Grade Level

Main idea and theme

100

What is another way to describe the central/main idea? a) What the passage or reading section is mostly about b) the moral of the story c) boring

a) What the passage or reading section is mainly about

200

What is the theme of a story? a) The theme of a story is what the story is about. b) The theme of a story is the lesson or moral of the story. c) The theme of the story is the characters in the story.

b) The theme of a story is the lesson or moral of the story.

300

We read the nonfiction literary novel I am Malala. What was one of the themes in that book? a) Having the courage to speak out for what is right can bring about change. b) Malala survived an attempt on her life and survived. c)  Malala stood up for girls' education.

a) Having the courage to speak out for what is right can bring about change. 

400

We also read Red, White, and Whole this year about a young Indian-American girl Reha who is finding it hard to live in two different worlds.  What is a theme from this story? a)  a 13-year-old girls learned to balance being an American and an Indian in the 1980s.  b)  Reha's mother died. c) Small acts of kindness, honesty, and connection can help a family move forward from a loss.

c) Small acts of kindness, honesty, and connection can help a family move forward from a loss.

500

What is the difference between the central/main idea of a story and the theme of a story? a) Main idea--what story is about; Theme--Life lesson or moral b) Main idea--Life lesson or moral; Theme--what the story is about c) Main idea--characters in story; Theme--climax in the story

a.)Central/Main idea--what story is about; Theme--Life lesson or moral

Context Clues

100

The children danced to the music with merry JUBILATION. What does JUBILATION mean? a) delight b) distress c) surprise

a) delight

200

The substitute teacher felt EXASPERATED because she could not get the students to stop talking and listen. What does EXASPERATED mean? a) lonely b) frustrated c) depressed

b) frustrated

300

Arnold approached the snake CAUTIOUSLY. He thought it was dead, but he didn't know for sure. What does CAUTIOUSLY mean? a) quickly b) carefully c) carelessly

b) carefully

400

Susie could smell the AROMA of freshly baking bread as soon as she walked into the kitchen. What does AROMA mean? a) scent b) sound c) stink

a) scent

500

Luke was COMPENSATED for the yard work he had done over the summer. He spent the money he had earned on a new bike. What does COMPENSATED mean? a)thanked b) complimented c) paid

c) paid

Context Clues

100

This school has a lot of DIVERSITY. We have students from many races, religions and cultural backgrounds. What does "DIVERSITY" mean? a) Different cultures b) Same kinds of things or people together c) Different kinds of things or people together

c) Different kinds of things or people together

200

The full moon ILLUMINATED the sky so much that we did not need our flashlights. What would be a synonym for ILLUMINATED? a) lit b) darkened c) filled

a) lit

300

Even though Paul was excited about the project, he wanted the other kids to think he was cool, so he answered the teacher's question in a NONCHALANT tone. What would be a synonym for NONCHALANT? a) relaxed b) enthusiastic c) angry

a) relaxed

400

The town is so RURAL that most of the residents are cows! What does "RURAL" mean? a) city b) suburb c) country

c) country

500

Tanya's mother drives slowly when she gets close to the school and is careful to watch for PEDESTRIANS. What would be a synonym for PEDESTRIANS? a) people walking b) pretty scenery c) fruit stands

a) people walking

Context Clues

100

The snow was a MARVEL to look at as it glistened in the bright sun. What does "MARVEL" mean? a.) An awesome sight b.) A comic book c.) a disgusting sight

a.) An awesome sight

200

Cheerleaders are a BOISTEROUS group. They spend a lot of time jumping and shouting to energize the players and the fans. What does "BOISTEROUS" mean? a.) loud, noisy, energetic b.) quiet, subdued, depressed c.) awesome, wonderful, great

a.) loud, noisy, energetic

300

The girl had a very DISTINCT way of dressing. She did not dress like the rest of the crowd. What does "distinct" mean? What does DISTINCT mean? a.) same b.) alike c.) different

c.) different

400

The CONTINUOUS pounding of the hammers gave me a headache. It seemed like they had been working on the new ramp for days. What does "CONTINUOUS" mean? a.) slowly b.) non-stop c.) quickly

b.) non-stop

500

Keep your speech concise to save time. We have many students who need to present their reports. What does "CONCISE" mean? What does CONCISE mean? a.) short b.) exact c.) long

a.) short

Context Clues

100

Joe felt ANGUISH when his dog died. He'd had his dog for 13 years. What does "ANGUISH" mean? a) Extreme excitement, joy, and wonder b) Extreme pain, sadness and suffering c) Nothing

b) Extreme pain, sadness and suffering

200

Dad thought the spaghetti sauce was too BLAND, so he added more garlic. What does BLAND mean? a) salty b) spicy c) mild

c) mild

300

The black plague swept through Europe in the Middle Ages killing millions of people. In some villages, half the population PERISHED. What does PERISHED mean? a) got sick b) died c) escaped

b) died

400

That movie had an INTENSE effect on me. I could not stop thinking about it! What does INTENSE mean? a.) powerful b.) mild c.) bad

a) powerful

500

Angela knew that there were NUMEROUS reasons why she should take the job, but she just did not want it. What does NUMEROUS mean? a) a few b) many c) none

b) many