Context Clues

CONTEXT CLUES

GET READY TO BE A WORD DETECTIVE!

Context Clues

When reading a story, you may see a word you don't know. how can you figure out what this new word means? You could try using context clues. Context is the other words in a sentence that help give a word meaning. Use the context clues in each sentence to determine the meaning of the underlined word.

TODAY'S OBJECTIVES

I can figure out the meaning of literal words within a text.

I can use different context clues to figure out the meaning of words within a text.

I can use prior knowledge to determine the meaning of words within a text.

Multiple Choice

Read the passage and then answer the question.

Franklin Roosevelt became president of the United States in 1933. It was a time of great troubles. Thirteen million Americans had lost their jobs, and many were running out of money. Americans were worried. Roosevelt quelled people's fears by talking about his plans for America, explaining them so that people felt comfortable. He gave talks, called "fireside chats," on the radio. These chats helped Roosevelt become one of the most popular presidents in history.

What is the meaning of quelled as used in the passage?

• calmed

• discovered

• added to

• heard about

Multiple Choice

The vulture is a large bird with an unusual diet. Humans generally avoid eating spoiled food. But to a vulture, nothing is better than a large helping of rotting meat. They will gather around a dead animal and eat it with gusto. Scientists aren't sure why, but vultures don't get sick from eating spoiled meat. It may be that something in the vultures' bodies keeps them healthy. Whatever it is, it lets vultures do an important job. They get rid of wormy, rotten stuff that could make people ill.

What is the meaning of gusto as used in the passage?

• shyness

• enjoyment

• humor

• wisdom