Context Clues

What are context clues?

• Hints that an author gives to help define a difficult or unfamiliar word

• Definitions for difficult words found in the glossary

• Words that are easy to understand

• Hints an author gives to help the reader understand the plot of a story

"Speaking rudely to the referee was rash behavior. You really hurt your chances of winning!" In the above context, what does rash mean?

• An itchy skin condition

• Funny

• Approved

• With little thought or consideration

"Famous people are getting bashed constantly. They are normal people and deserve praise sometimes." What does bashed mean in the above sentence?

• Hitting hard with a heavy tool

• Agreeing with

• Speaking or writing harshly about

• Speaking highly or well about

"Jack was mortified, or embarrassed, when he tripped and fell in front of the entire audience." In this context, what is a synonym for mortified?

• Angered

• Laughed at

• Humiliated

• Injured

"Most people recite the alphabet chronologically by beginning with A and ending with Z." What does chronologically mean?

• In order

• To speak clearly

• Randomized

• Out of order

"The man was sentenced to 5 years in the penitentiary as punishment for stealing cars. He will be placed amongst other inmates who have committed crimes also." What does penitentiary mean?

• Counseling

• Set free

• Community service

• Prison

"The tornado annihilated the whole town and nothing was left standing." In this sentence, what does annihilated mean?

• Rebuilt

• Saved

• Destroyed

• Flooded

"I thought the painting of the waves crashing onto the shore was very picturesque, but Tom thought it was ugly." What is the signal word used in this sentence?

• Thought

• But

• Onto

• Very

"When the power went out, my appliances such as the washing machine, dryer, and dish washer were temporarily not working." What type of context clue is used to understand the word appliances?

• Synonyms

• Examples

• Antonyms

• Definition

"Hundreds of bees swarmed, or crowded, the field of flowers." What is the signal word?

• Crowded

• Swarmed

• Field

• Or