Category 1: Context Clues
The forest was dense, so thick with trees that sunlight barely reached the ground.
What does dense mean?
thick or crowded
What is the root of a word?
The main part of the word that carries the meaning.
When someone says the opposite of what they mean, this is called:
Verbal irony
dog : puppy :: cat : ______
kitten
What is denotation?
The dictionary definition of a word.
The puppy was timid, hiding behind the couch instead of greeting visitors.
What does timid mean?
shy or fearful
The root ject means:
to throw
A play on words using words with multiple meanings is called:
Pun
pencil : write :: knife : ______
cut
What is connotation?
The feeling or association connected to a word.
What type of context clue is this?
The tornado created a vortex, a spinning column of air.
Definition clue
What does the prefix inter- mean?
between
Example:
“I knead dough.”
This is what figure of speech?
Pun
bird : nest :: bee : ______
hive
Which word has a positive connotation?
A. skinny
B. slim
C. scrawny
D. bony
slim
Signal words like however, but, although show what type of context clue?
Contrast clue
Break apart the word recede.
re = back
cede = go
Meaning: to move back
A student drops their lunch tray and says:
“Well, that went perfectly.”
This is an example of:
Verbal irony
teacher : school :: doctor : ______
hospital
Which word has a negative connotation?
A. confident
B. arrogant
C. determined
D. persistent
arrogant
Explain how context clues help readers determine word meaning.
Words around the unfamiliar word give hints that help readers figure out its meaning.
If the root mit/miss means send, what does transmit most likely mean?
to send across
Explain the difference between a pun and verbal irony.
Pun = play on words
Verbal irony = saying the opposite of what you mean.
Explain what an analogy is.
A comparison showing the relationship between two pairs of words.
Explain the difference between denotation and connotation using an example.
Example: The words slim and skinny both mean thin (denotation), but slim has a positive feeling while skinny can sound negative.