Context Clues
Read the sentence: "Despite the downpour, the picnic continued unabated."
What does unabated most likely mean? (Answer in one word or short phrase.)
Unaffected, not lessened.
What is the meaning of the prefix "pre-" as in "precede"
Before
What type of figurative language is this? "Time is a thief?"
Metaphor
What is the denotation of "home"?
a place someone lives
Explain what "context" means when determining word meaning, and give a quick strategy students can use.
Context = surrounding words/sentences that help define meaning; strategy: look for definitions, examples, or contrast words nearby
Explain the context-clue strategy used: "The prodigy — a child with extraordinary talent — performed the solo." How would you understand the meaning of the word?
Identify the root and meaning: "biography." What does "bio-" mean?
Graph is the root word, bio means life
What type of figurative language is this? "The wind whispered through the trees."
Personification
Which word has a more positive connotation: "gaunt" or "skinny"? Explain in one phrase.
Skinny
Define "theme" as used in literature.
The underlying message or lesson of a text
Use context to define: "Her terse reply suggested she was upset." What does "terse" mean here?
Short
Break down the word "unpredictable." List the prefix, root, and suffix and give the full meaning.
un- (not) + predict (foretell) + -able (able to) = not able to be predicted
Identify the figurative language and explain its effect: "She had a heart of stone."
Metaphor; effect: shows she is emotionally hard or unfeeling
Provide the denotation and a likely connotation for the word "childlike."
Denotation: resembling a child; connotation: innocent or immature
What is the difference between "tone" and "mood"? Give a one-sentence definition for each.
Tone = author's attitude toward subject; Mood = feeling created for the reader
Read the passage: "He walked with a jaunty step, humming a tune." What clue helps define "jaunty," and what does it mean?
"humming a tune" implies someone is happy, so jaunty must mean happy/cheerful
Using Greek/Latin roots, what does the root "scrib/script" mean? Provide an example word and its meaning.
to write; example: "describe" = to write/tell about
Define "hyperbole" and give a brief example in your own words.
An exaggeration used for effect (e.g., "I'm starving")
Two words have similar denotations but different connotations: "childish" vs. "youthful." Explain the difference in connotation.
"Childish" = negative (immature), "youthful" = positive (energetic, fresh)
What does "analyze" mean in an ELA context? (short phrase)
To break something into parts to examine closely
Given this sentence: "The scientist's theory was debunked after peer review revealed faulty assumptions." Using surrounding context, define debunked and give one synonym.
Faulty means false, debunked must mean proven untrue. Synonyms: disproved, exposed, unmasked
Given the word "antidisestablishmentarianism," identify at least two prefixes or roots in the word and state their meanings (short answers).
anti- (against), dis- (opposite/not), establish (set up); meanings: against, not
Read this sentence: "The classroom was a zoo." Explain the figurative meaning, identify the type of figurative language, and explain the effect on tone.
Metaphor meaning chaotic/noisy; device: metaphor; effect: creates vivid, informal tone
Pick a neutral word (e.g., "house") and provide two synonyms with different connotations; explain how each connotation would affect a reader's perception.
Example: "house" synonyms: "home" (warm, positive), "digs" (informal, possibly dismissive)
Define "academic vocabulary" and explain why it is important for success on tests like the TCAP. Provide one study strategy to learn academic words.
Words used across school subjects to explain ideas precisely; important because tests use them; strategy: create vocab cards with sentence examples