Context Clues
Use context clues to figure out what the word in italics means.
Stanley tried to determine the meaning of the vocabulary word, but there were so few clues in the sentence all he could do was hopelessly conjecture as to what the word might mean.
infer
guess
speculate
What is the implied main idea of this passage?
A penny for your thoughts? If it’s a 1943 copper penny, it could be worth as much as fifty thousand dollars. In 1943, most pennies were made out of steel since copper was needed for World War II, so the 1943 copper penny is ultra-rare. Another rarity is the 1955 double die penny. These pennies were mistakenly double stamped, so they have overlapping dates and letters. If it’s uncirculated, it’d easily fetch $25,000 at an auction. Now that’s a pretty penny.
Some pennies are rare and valuable
Some pennies are worth a lot more than one cent.
Etc.
How many major supporting details are there?
A penny for your thoughts? If it’s a 1943 copper penny, it could be worth as much as fifty thousand dollars. In 1943, most pennies were made out of steel since copper was needed for World War II, so the 1943 copper penny is ultra-rare. Another rarity is the 1955 double die penny. These pennies were mistakenly double stamped, so they have overlapping dates and letters. If it’s uncirculated, it’d easily fetch $25,000 at an auction. Now that’s a pretty penny.
2
What is the relationship between these sentences?
If it’s a 1943 copper penny, it could be worth as much as fifty thousand dollars. Another rarity is the 1955 double die penny.
Addition
What would be a good title for this passage?
A penny for your thoughts? If it’s a 1943 copper penny, it could be worth as much as fifty thousand dollars. In 1943, most pennies were made out of steel since copper was needed for World War II, so the 1943 copper penny is ultra-rare. Another rarity is the 1955 double die penny. These pennies were mistakenly double stamped, so they have overlapping dates and letters. If it’s uncirculated, it’d easily fetch $25,000 at an auction. Now that’s a pretty penny.
A. Pennies are worthless
B. Rare and valuable pennies
C. Why you should save your pennies
D. Ultra rare and valuable
B. Rare and valuable pennies
Use context clues to figure out what the word in italics means.
Her parents really wanted her to attend the local university, but Shaniqua argued her case so emphatically and with such great passion, that her parents gave Shaniqua their consent
Clearly
Boldly
in a forceful way
effectively
passionately
Strongly expressive
Which sentence sums up the main idea?
1It is estimated that over twenty million pounds of candy corn are sold in the US each year. 2Brach’s, the top manufacturer, sells enough candy corn to circle the earth 4.25 times if each piece were laid end to end. 3That’s a lot of candy corn, but that’s nothing compared to the production of Tootsie Rolls. 4Over 64 million Tootsie Rolls are produced every day! 5But even Tootsie Rolls have got nothing on the candy industry’s staple product: chocolate. 6Confectioners manufacture over twenty billion pounds of chocolate in the United States each year. 7Clearly, the U.S. produces a large supply of candy. 8Now that's a mouthful!
7
Which sentence is a minor supporting detail?
A. 1
B. 2
C. 5
D. 8
1It is estimated that over twenty million pounds of candy corn are sold in the US each year. 2Brach’s, the top manufacturer, sells enough candy corn to circle the earth 4.25 times if each piece were laid end to end. 3That’s a lot of candy corn, but that’s nothing compared to the production of Tootsie Rolls. 4Over 64 million Tootsie Rolls are produced every day! 5But even Tootsie Rolls have got nothing on the candy industry’s staple product: chocolate. 6Confectioners manufacture over twenty billion pounds of chocolate in the United States each year. 7Clearly, the U.S. produces a large supply of candy. 8Now that's a mouthful!
2
What is the relationship between the sentences?
Linux and Windows are similar. They are both operating systems that computers use to run programs.
A. Time
B. Comparison
C. Contrast
D. Cause/Effect
E. Illustration
F. Addition
B. Comparison
What would be a good title for this passage?
1It is estimated that over twenty million pounds of candy corn are sold in the US each year. 2Brach’s, the top manufacturer, sells enough candy corn to circle the earth 4.25 times if each piece were laid end to end. 3That’s a lot of candy corn, but that’s nothing compared to the production of Tootsie Rolls. 4Over 64 million Tootsie Rolls are produced every day! 5But even Tootsie Rolls have got nothing on the candy industry’s staple product: chocolate. 6Confectioners manufacture over twenty billion pounds of chocolate in the United States each year. 7Clearly, the U.S. produces a large supply of candy. 8Now that's a mouthful!
A. Now that's a mouthful
B. Candy
C. The U.S. has a huge amount of candy corn
D. The U.S. produces tons of candy
D. The U.S. produces tons of candy
Use context clues to figure out what the word in italics means.
Jane could have easily offended Bertha when she informed her that the dress did not fit her well, but Jane used tact and consideration when choosing her words, so Bertha understood without being hurt.
sensitivity
thoughtfulness
consideration
diplomacy
subtlety
Etc.
What is the implied main idea?
There are many types of lethal venom in the animal kingdom, but perhaps no stranger carrier than the platypus. The platypus is one of few venomous mammals. Male platypus carry a venom cocktail in their ankle spurs. This venom incapacitates victims with excruciating pain. Stranger still, the platypus is the only mammal that uses electroreception. That means that the platypus uses its bill to sense the electricity produced by the muscular movements of its prey. Electroreception is a sixth sense different from seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, or feeling. Perhaps most odd, the platypus is the only mammal that lays eggs rather than giving birth to live young. What an odd creature indeed.
The platypus has many strange and unique attributes
Which sentences are major supporting details?
1It is estimated that over twenty million pounds of candy corn are sold in the US each year. 2Brach’s, the top manufacturer, sells enough candy corn to circle the earth 4.25 times if each piece were laid end to end. 3That’s a lot of candy corn, but that’s nothing compared to the production of Tootsie Rolls. 4Over 64 million Tootsie Rolls are produced every day! 5But even Tootsie Rolls have got nothing on the candy industry’s staple product: chocolate. 6Confectioners manufacture over twenty billion pounds of chocolate in the United States each year. 7Clearly, the U.S. produces a large supply of candy. 8Now that's a mouthful!
2, 3, 5
What is the relationship between the sentences?
Linux is totally free and open source, so users can improve or otherwise modify the source code. However, Windows is proprietary, so it costs money to use and users are prohibited from altering the source code.
A. Time
B. Comparison
C. Contrast
D. Cause/Effect
E. Illustration
F. Addition
C. Contrast
What would be a good title for this passage?
There are many types of lethal venom in the animal kingdom, but perhaps no stranger carrier than the platypus. The platypus is one of few venomous mammals. Male platypus carry a venom cocktail in their ankle spurs. This venom incapacitates victims with excruciating pain. Stranger still, the platypus is the only mammal that uses electroreception. That means that the platypus uses its bill to sense the electricity produced by the muscular movements of its prey. Electroreception is a sixth sense different from seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, or feeling. Perhaps most odd, the platypus is the only mammal that lays eggs rather than giving birth to live young. What an odd creature indeed.
A. strange and unique attributes of the platypus
B. The platypus is one of few venomous mammals
C. Platypus
D. The platypus is the only mammal that lays eggs
A. strange and unique attributes of the platypus
Use context clues to figure out what the word in italics means.
Kyle really wanted to play basketball, but since it overlapped with the volleyball season (and since Carrie played volleyball), he would just have to defer his hoop-dreams until next year, when his relationship with her would be secure.
wait
delay
put off
exempt temporarily
Etc.
How is the passage organized?
The dodo bird used to roam in large flocks across America. Interestingly, the dodo wasn’t startled by gun shots. Because of this, frontiersmen would kill entire flocks in one sitting. Unable to sustain these attacks, the dodo was hunted to extinction.
A. Time
B. Comparison
C. Contrast
D. Cause/Effect
E. Illustration
F. Addition
D. Cause/Effect
Use context clues to figure out what the word in italics means.
I wanted to just set the table and be done with it, but my mother scrupulously arranged each napkin, dish, and utensil until they were in perfect alignment.
carefully
exactly
precisely