Guessing A Word in Context

Guessing A Word in Context

By Kak Ari Hastuti
Tutor Bahasa Inggris Bintang Pelajar Cikarang dan BP Online

🎯 Learning Objectives

By the end of this module, students will be able to:

1. Identify context clues (definition, synonym, antonym, example, inference).

2. Apply strategies to deduce unfamiliar word meanings.

3. Differentiate between literal and inferred meanings.

4. Evaluate answer choices critically in standardized tests.

5. Develop confidence in tackling vocabulary-in-context questions.

📖 Theoretical Foundation

• Schema Theory (Anderson, 1984): Readers use prior knowledge + context to infer meaning.

• Contextual Guessing Hypothesis (Nation, 2001): Most unknown words can be approximated using textual clues.

• Depth of Processing (Craik & Lockhart, 1972): Words processed via contextual analysis are better remembered.

• Discourse Processing (Kintsch & van Dijk, 1978): Understanding comes from integrating local clues with global text meaning.

🛠️ Strategies for Guessing Word Meaning

• Definition clues: The unknown word is directly explained.

• Synonym / Restatement clues: Word meaning is rephrased.

• Antonym / Contrast clues: Opposites clarify meaning.

• Example clues: Lists or illustrations define the word.

• Inference clues: Logical reasoning from context.

Question: The word nocturnal most nearly means:
A. Aggressive B. Active at night C. Living in deserts D. Difficult to find E. Dependent on water

Correct Answer: B. Active at night

• Clue type: Definition (“meaning it is primarily active during the night”)

Example 1: Definition Clue

The desert fox is a nocturnal creature, meaning it is primarily active during the night rather than the day. This adaptation allows it to avoid extreme daytime heat while hunting insects and small mammals under cooler conditions.

📚 Worked Examples

Question: The word impasse most nearly means:
A. Agreement B. Conflict C. Deadlock D. Settlement E. Pathway

Correct Answer: C. Deadlock

• Clue type: Synonym (“a deadlock”)

Example 2: Synonym Clue

The negotiations reached an impasse, a deadlock where neither side was willing to compromise. Despite days of discussion, both parties refused to alter their positions.

📚 Worked Examples

Question: The word gregarious most nearly means:
A. Shy
B. Talkative
C. Fond of company
D. Independent E. Reserved

Correct Answer: C. Fond of company

• Clue type: Antonym (contrast with “preferred solitude”)

Example 3: Antonym Clue

Although she was usually gregarious, enjoying large parties and constant social interaction, this evening Maria preferred solitude and left the gathering early.

📚 Worked Examples

Question: The word indigenous most nearly means:
A. Ancient B. Foreign C. Modern D. Native E. Borrowed

Correct Answer: D. Native

• Clue type: Example (list of cultural artworks)

Example 4: Example Clue

The museum displayed several examples of indigenous art, such as Aboriginal paintings from Australia, Native American beadwork, and Maori carvings from New Zealand.

📚 Worked Examples

Question: The word encroach most nearly means:
A. Nourish
B. Threaten
C. Invade gradually
D. Destroy instantly E. Protect

Correct Answer: C. Invade gradually

• Clue type: Inference (from “gradually,” “consume farmland,” “erosion”)

Example 5: Inference Clue (HOTS level)

When the villagers saw the river gradually encroach upon their farmland, they realized that within a few years much of their fertile soil would be lost. At first, the erosion was subtle, but soon the water consumed large portions of their fields, forcing them to abandon cultivation.

📚 Worked Examples

✍️ Practice Exercises

Exercise A
(~200 words passage, 3 items)

Multiple Choice

The old castle stood on the hill in a dilapidated condition. Its walls were crumbling, windows shattered, and the roof partially collapsed. Tourists often found the ruin fascinating, yet the villagers viewed it as a relic, a surviving reminder of a past era when knights and battles dominated the land. Some historians, however, criticized the government’s neglect, calling it a form of dereliction of duty toward cultural heritage.

1. Dilapidated most nearly means

• A. Beautifully restored

• B. Falling apart

• C. Well preserved

• D. Newly built

• E. Mysterious

Multiple Choice

The old castle stood on the hill in a dilapidated condition. Its walls were crumbling, windows shattered, and the roof partially collapsed. Tourists often found the ruin fascinating, yet the villagers viewed it as a relic, a surviving reminder of a past era when knights and battles dominated the land. Some historians, however, criticized the government’s neglect, calling it a form of dereliction of duty toward cultural heritage.

2. Relic most nearly means

• A. Sacred book

• B. Ancient object

• C. Treasure

• D. Curse

• E. Tradition

Multiple Choice

The old castle stood on the hill in a dilapidated condition. Its walls were crumbling, windows shattered, and the roof partially collapsed. Tourists often found the ruin fascinating, yet the villagers viewed it as a relic, a surviving reminder of a past era when knights and battles dominated the land. Some historians, however, criticized the government’s neglect, calling it a form of dereliction of duty toward cultural heritage.

3. Dereliction most nearly means

• A. Performance

• B. Neglect

• C. Honor

• D. Renewal

• E. Celebration

Multiple Choice

💡 Capstone Activity (Extended HOTS Passage ~300 words)

Urban planners increasingly warn of congestion in rapidly growing cities. Roads built decades ago were not designed for today’s volume of traffic, resulting in long delays and rising frustration. To address this, governments propose multifaceted solutions. Some advocate expanding public transportation, while others emphasize bicycle lanes and pedestrian-friendly zones. Yet, implementation is often stymied by political disagreements and budget constraints.

Environmentalists add another layer to the debate: cars contribute significantly to air pollution. They argue that reducing vehicle use is not merely a matter of convenience but of survival, given the rise in respiratory illnesses. Opponents, however, warn that drastic restrictions could hurt small businesses that depend on vehicle deliveries.

The complexity of urban transport demonstrates that no panacea exists. Instead, each city must balance economic growth, public health, and environmental sustainability.

Multifaceted most nearly means

• A. Simple

• B. Complex

• C. One-sided

• D. Temporary

• E. Futuristic

Multiple Choice

💡 Capstone Activity (Extended HOTS Passage ~300 words)

Urban planners increasingly warn of congestion in rapidly growing cities. Roads built decades ago were not designed for today’s volume of traffic, resulting in long delays and rising frustration. To address this, governments propose multifaceted solutions. Some advocate expanding public transportation, while others emphasize bicycle lanes and pedestrian-friendly zones. Yet, implementation is often stymied by political disagreements and budget constraints.

Environmentalists add another layer to the debate: cars contribute significantly to air pollution. They argue that reducing vehicle use is not merely a matter of convenience but of survival, given the rise in respiratory illnesses. Opponents, however, warn that drastic restrictions could hurt small businesses that depend on vehicle deliveries.

The complexity of urban transport demonstrates that no panacea exists. Instead, each city must balance economic growth, public health, and environmental sustainability.

Stymied most nearly means

• A. Supported

• B. Encouraged

• C. Blocked

• D. Designed

• E. Improved

Multiple Choice

💡 Capstone Activity (Extended HOTS Passage ~300 words)

Urban planners increasingly warn of congestion in rapidly growing cities. Roads built decades ago were not designed for today’s volume of traffic, resulting in long delays and rising frustration. To address this, governments propose multifaceted solutions. Some advocate expanding public transportation, while others emphasize bicycle lanes and pedestrian-friendly zones. Yet, implementation is often stymied by political disagreements and budget constraints.

Environmentalists add another layer to the debate: cars contribute significantly to air pollution. They argue that reducing vehicle use is not merely a matter of convenience but of survival, given the rise in respiratory illnesses. Opponents, however, warn that drastic restrictions could hurt small businesses that depend on vehicle deliveries.

The complexity of urban transport demonstrates that no panacea exists. Instead, each city must balance economic growth, public health, and environmental sustainability.

Panacea most nearly means

• A. Cure-all

• B. Restriction

• C. Strategy

• D. Project

• E. Limitation

Multiple Choice

💡 Capstone Activity (Extended HOTS Passage ~300 words)

Urban planners increasingly warn of congestion in rapidly growing cities. Roads built decades ago were not designed for today’s volume of traffic, resulting in long delays and rising frustration. To address this, governments propose multifaceted solutions. Some advocate expanding public transportation, while others emphasize bicycle lanes and pedestrian-friendly zones. Yet, implementation is often stymied by political disagreements and budget constraints.

Environmentalists add another layer to the debate: cars contribute significantly to air pollution. They argue that reducing vehicle use is not merely a matter of convenience but of survival, given the rise in respiratory illnesses. Opponents, however, warn that drastic restrictions could hurt small businesses that depend on vehicle deliveries.

The complexity of urban transport demonstrates that no panacea exists. Instead, each city must balance economic growth, public health, and environmental sustainability.

Congestion most nearly means

• A. Freedom

• B. Overcrowding

• C. Expansion

• D. Progress

• E. Movement

Multiple Choice

💡 Capstone Activity (Extended HOTS Passage ~300 words)

Urban planners increasingly warn of congestion in rapidly growing cities. Roads built decades ago were not designed for today’s volume of traffic, resulting in long delays and rising frustration. To address this, governments propose multifaceted solutions. Some advocate expanding public transportation, while others emphasize bicycle lanes and pedestrian-friendly zones. Yet, implementation is often stymied by political disagreements and budget constraints.

Environmentalists add another layer to the debate: cars contribute significantly to air pollution. They argue that reducing vehicle use is not merely a matter of convenience but of survival, given the rise in respiratory illnesses. Opponents, however, warn that drastic restrictions could hurt small businesses that depend on vehicle deliveries.

The complexity of urban transport demonstrates that no panacea exists. Instead, each city must balance economic growth, public health, and environmental sustainability.

The author’s attitude toward urban planning is

• A. Dismissive

• B. Balanced

• C. Optimistic

• D. Satirical

• E. Pessimistic

Kak Ari Hastuti

"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." 
~ Eleanor Roosevelt ~