Context Clues
The puppy was reluctant to jump into the water and backed away from the edge.
What does reluctant mean?
A. eager
B. afraid and unwilling
C. playful
D. fast
B. afraid and unwilling
After losing the championship game, the team walked off the field looking dejected, their shoulders slumped and eyes on the ground.
What does dejected most nearly mean?
A. excited and proud
B. disappointed and discouraged
C. tired but satisfied
D. confused and unsure
B. disappointed and discouraged
Even after losing the game, the coach said the team showed determination by never giving up.
What is the connotation of the word determination?
A. Positive
B. Negative
C. Neutral
A. Positive
The student gave a sloppy presentation, with messy notes and many mistakes.
What is the connotation of the word sloppy?
A. Positive
B. Negative
C. Neutral
B. Negative
Who helped organize the March on Washington in 1963?
A. Frederick Douglass
B. Martin Luther King Jr.
C. Jackie Robinson
D. George Washington Carver
B. Martin Luther King Jr.
The principal gave a stern warning about hallway behavior, and the students immediately grew quiet.
What does stern mean?
A. kind and friendly
B. serious and strict
C. nervous and worried
D. calm and relaxed
B. serious and strict
Even though the task seemed difficult, Maria remained optimistic and believed she would succeed.
What does optimistic most nearly mean?
A. certain something will fail
B. hopeful and positive
C. unsure and worried
D. careless and relaxed
B. hopeful and positive
Which word has the most positive connotation for someone who is very careful with money?
A. cheap
B. stingy
C. thrifty
D. greedy
C. thrifty
Which word has the most negative connotation for someone who talks a lot?
A. talkative
B. chatty
C. friendly
D. noisy
D. noisy
Ruby Bridges is famous for—
A. becoming the first Black woman in space
B. helping people escape through the Underground Railroad
C. integrating an all-white elementary school as a young child
D. writing a famous autobiography
C. integrating an all-white elementary school as a young child
After the argument, Maya tried to reconcile with her friend by apologizing and asking to talk things through.
What does reconcile most nearly mean?
A. to end a disagreement and make peace
B. to avoid someone completely
C. to prove someone wrong
D. to forget what happened
A. to end a disagreement and make peace
Because the directions were ambiguous, the group members disagreed about what they were supposed to do.
What does ambiguous most nearly mean?
A. very clear and detailed
B. written neatly
C. unclear and open to more than one meaning
D. too short to understand
C. unclear and open to more than one meaning
All of these words describe someone who is confident. Which has the most negative connotation?
A. confident
B. proud
C. self-assured
D. arrogant
D. arrogant
Which word has the most positive connotation for someone who is very thin?
A. skinny
B. scrawny
C. slender
D. bony
C. slender
Who was the first Black President of the United States?
A. Colin Powell
B. Barack Obama
C. Kamala Harris
D. Jesse Jackson
B. Barack Obama
Although the plan seemed feasible at first, the group soon realized they did not have enough time or materials to complete it.
What does feasible most nearly mean?
A. possible and able to be done
B. confusing and complicated
C. risky and dangerous
D. expensive to complete
A. possible and able to be done
The author’s tone became somber after describing the damage caused by the wildfire and the families who lost their homes.
What does somber most nearly mean?
A. excited and hopeful
B. serious and sad
C. angry and demanding
D. calm and peaceful
B. serious and sad
Which word has the most negative connotation for a person who asks many questions?
A. curious
B. interested
C. inquisitive
D. nosy
D. nosy
All of these words describe a house that is old. Which has the most positive connotation?
A. ancient
B. outdated
C. historic
D. worn
C. historic
Who was the first Black woman to travel to space?
A. Mae Jemison
B. Katherine Johnson
C. Michelle Obama
D. Oprah Winfrey
A. Mae Jemison
Although the group faced several setbacks, their progress was gradual, improving little by little each day.
What does gradual most nearly mean?
A. happening suddenly and quickly
B. confusing and unexpected
C. happening slowly over time
D. stopping and starting again
C. happening slowly over time
The speaker’s assertive tone made it clear that she was confident in her ideas and expected others to take them seriously.
What does assertive most nearly mean?
A. quiet and uncertain
B. angry and demanding
C. nervous and hesitant
D. confident and direct
D. confident and direct
Two articles described the same neighborhood. One called it quiet, while the other called it lifeless.
Both words suggest there is not much activity. Which word has the more negative connotation, and what does it suggest?
A. quiet — the neighborhood is peaceful and calm
B. quiet — the neighborhood is empty and unfriendly
C. lifeless — the neighborhood feels dull and lacking energy
D. lifeless — the neighborhood is relaxing and comfortable
C. lifeless — the neighborhood feels dull and lacking energy
Two students described the same classmate. One said she was persistent, while the other said she was pushy.
Both words suggest she keeps trying to reach her goals. Which word has the more negative connotation, and what does it suggest?
A. persistent — she continues working even when things are difficult
B. persistent — she ignores other people’s feelings
C. pushy — she encourages others to do their best
D. pushy — she pressures others and does not respect their boundaries
D. pushy — she pressures others and does not respect their boundaries
Harriet Tubman is best known for—
A. leading protests during the Civil Rights Movement
B. becoming a Supreme Court justice
C. helping enslaved people escape through the Underground Railroad
D. inventing important scientific tools
C. helping enslaved people escape through the Underground Railroad