Context Clues

The yard was obviously abandoned. The garden had been neglected and, as a result, all of the plants were withering and dying. Neglected means:

• Worked on

• Ignored

• Planted

• growing

The basketball players scrambled for the loose ball.

What does scrambled mean as it is used in this sentence?

• A.mixed like an egg

• organized

• struggled in confusion

Although Pat knew he was possibly putting his life in peril by enlisting in the military, he wanted to help protect his country.Peril means:

• Danger

• another’s hands

• Good hands

It may have been a slight injustice, but the boy did not feel bad about his friend taking the fall for his theft.

Injustice means:

• A.Insult

• A.Wrongdoing

• A.Complaint

When my parents lost their jobs and became impoverished, the bank foreclosed on our home.

Impoverished means:

• Poor

• Criminals

• Depressed

Even though the defendant could not substantiate his alibi for the night of the murder, he was still found innocent of all charges.

What does substantiate mean?

• remember

• forget

• prove

Since the ballerina’s ankle is sore, she will refrain from dancing today.

What does refrain mean as it is used in this sentence?

• The chorus in a song

• avoid

• practice

Only the pirates know where to dig to unearth their buried treasure. What does unearth mean as it is used in this sentence?

• Hide

• Avoid

• uncover

A legion of fans surrounded Craig, begging so fiercely for an autograph that they knocked the fence down and security was nearly trampled. What is a legion?

• army

• jungle

• small number

The camera recorded a shadowy, undefined figure running from the building into the woods. What does undefined mean?

• uncovered

• provided

• unclear