Context Clues 1
The brawl, or fight, on the playground got both kids sent to the principal.
What does brawl mean?
a fight
My little brother is gaunt—just so thin and bony!
What does gaunt mean?
overly thin; looking lean and haggard
When the power goes out, I use a flashlight to illuminate my room so I can see.
What does illuminate mean?
True or False: You should play games and stay up late every night the week of the tests.
False--You really should be going to bed at a decent time every school night so you can be your best the next day. This is crucially important during your testing week.
a) Answer them all in order. Do not ever skip a question and come back to it.
b) Answer the hardest ones first, even if it takes a while. Then come back and answer the rest.
c) Answer the easiest ones first, then come back for the harder questions.
c) Answer the easiest first, coming back for the harder ones.
On a timed test, it's important to get as many right as possible. So you don't want to get bogged down with a tough question, wasting time, and then miss 10 easy questions.
Though some students are aloof, others pay attention to everything.
What does aloof mean?
not involved; distant
My friend was so forlorn when her dog died that she cried for a week.
What does forlorn mean?
pitifully sad and lonely
The laceration on the boy’s finger was not bad – it only needed 2 stitches.
What does laceration mean?
cut
On the morning of a test, you should:
a) eat a good breakfast with protein
b) eat a good breakfast with lots of sugar for energy
c) skip breakfast and be hungry during the test
a) eat a good breakfast with protein
Protein keeps you feeling fuller longer and helps your brain work its best. Sugar is NOT your friend at any time, but especially on test days. Skipping breakfast may lead to you feeling over-hungry.
When you are reading passages on a test, which of these should you do first?
a. Read the passage.
b. Highlight the main idea.
c. Read the questions first.
c. Read the questions first.
While you WILL need to read the whole passage, you will want to preview the questions first. It will help you know what you are looking for while reading the passage and should save you time in the end.
During soccer games, Katie tries to alternate the direction she kicks the ball to confuse her opponents.
What does alternate mean?
switch back and forth
The coach admonished her for picking daisies when she should have been defending the goal.
What does admonished mean?
criticized; scolded
Somehow, the sneaky rats have been able to evade all the traps we set.
What does evade mean?
When you come to a multiple choice question that you aren't sure what the answer is, what should you do first?
a. Take a guess and move on.
b. Cross off answer choices you know are wrong.
c. Organize your thoughts in a list.
b. Cross off answer choices you know are wrong.
Eliminating the choices that you KNOW aren't write will increase the chance of getting the question right in the end.
When you are on the writing test, what should you do first after reading the prompt?
a) Start typing up your answer right away before you forget it.
b) Use your scratch paper to help you organize your thoughts.
b) Use your scratch paper to help you organize your thoughts.
Does it take a few minutes? Sure. But you'll save time overall because you won't have to keep re-reading everything. By organizing your thoughts, you'll know what direction you are heading in with your writing.
The man who used to be very lax with the rules now follows all the laws.
What does lax mean?
not strict or careful
He tried to perturb his sister by putting his foot closer and closer to her side of the car.
What does perturb mean?
irritate
She showed great prowess in the engineering competition and won first prize.
What does prowess mean?
skill; talent
If you manage your time well and there is time left over on the test, what should you do first?
a) Let the teacher know you are done and read your AR book.
b) Ask to go to the bathroom.
c) Go back through your test and check your answers.
c) Go back through, checking your answers.
You definitely want to be sure that you answered everything and didn't leave one blank. But you also want to be sure that your answers make sense.
Which of these might help you while you are taking the test?
a) Closing your eyes for a quick nap
b) Standing up and stretching the minute you get sleepy
c) Taking several deep breaths to wake your brain up and relax
c) Take several deep breaths
This brings more oxygen to your brain and wakes it up. It also has a calming effect if you are feeling anxious. Closing your eyes generally only makes you feel sleepier and you never stand up unless it's break time (although stretching during the break is an excellent way to wake your brain).
The comestibles, including a huge pizza, a birthday cake, chocolate-covered peanuts, and tasty hot dogs, were all in the fridge before my birthday party.
What does comestibles mean?
things you can eat
She was so erratic that she would be in a great mood one minute and crying the next. You never could predict the way she’d act.
What does erratic mean?
unpredictable; not in a pattern
Even though a storm had just come through, the lake was strangely very placid that afternoon.
What does placid mean?
calm
When you get to a question you aren't sure about, should you:
a) take a guess and move on
b) keep trying to figure it out no matter what
c) mark it and come back later
c) mark it and come back later
If you spend too much time on a question, you'll run out of time. Taking a guess would be the next best, but you should always go back. Sometimes the question makes sense the next time you look at it.
What is one thing end of year tests don't do?
a) Determine if you need extra help next year.
b) Highlight your strengths and weaknesses.
c) Tell you what you're worth as a person.
c) Tell you what you're worth as a person.
At the end of the day, this is one test. It doesn't tell the story of how hard you work, how kind you are, or anything else that's important. It does give us an idea if you need extra help in any area, and if you've tried your best, it does help you understand your strengths and weaknesses (hey, we all have those!)