Word Relationships: Using Context

Katelynn, an experienced player, is very deft at catching a Frisbee mid-air, but Zedd, who is new to the game, is so clumsy that he can barely chase after the ball.

Which type of context clue does the author use to show the meaning of the word deft?

• antonym

• synonym

• explanation

• example

After a big party at the beach, Katelynn and Zedd noticed that the beach was covered in so much debris. They decided to spend the morning picking up every piece of trash that they could find.

Which word in the sentence tells the meaning of the word debris?

• beach

• morning

• piece

• trash

Katelynn is quite the chef; she often creates her own meals and recipes that include different vegetables and spices for her friends Aaron, Serenity, Lilyana, and Michael.

Why does the author most likely use the word chef instead of the word cook when describing Katelynn?

• to show how often Katelynn prepares meals

• to emphasize how creative Katelynn's meals are

• to create a negative view of Katelynn's recipes

• to highlight the number of ingredients in Katelynn's recipes

Elijah regretted buying the inexpensive TV at the local electronics sale because it barely lasted a week before the screen went black and the volume stopped working. Zedd and Kylie, his roommates, were also disappointed.

Based on the clues in this passage, the word inexpensive is used to mean

• cheap

• not well-made

• economical

• not low-priced

During a picnic, Lilyana found that the lettuce in her sandwich was much too moist to eat. The leaves drooped limply off her fork and tasted chewy in her mouth.

Based on the clues in the sentence, which word would be the best replacement for moist in this context?

• damp

• humid

• soggy

• wet

In a book club meeting, Lilyana was discussing a novel she recently read. She said, 'Dark is used in a connotative way in this novel.' Which sentence from her discussion uses the connotative meaning of the word dark?

• 'My parents, like the characters in the novel, want us to be home before it gets dark.'

• 'The stars shimmered in the dark evening sky, just like in the novel.'

• 'The novel tells a dark tale of an ancient shipwreck.'

• 'My brother Michael, like one of the characters, likes sleeping in a room that is completely dark.'

Aaron and Elijah were discussing about a businessman. Aaron described him as crooked. Which sentence best represents Aaron's use of the word crooked?

• Elijah replied, 'Like how Katelynn wore braces for two years to correct her crooked teeth?'

• Aaron clarified, 'No, Elijah. More like, the businessman had more money than friends because he was crooked.'

• Elijah guessed again, 'Or like how driving on the long, crooked road to Lilyana's house makes us feel dizzy?'

• Aaron responded, 'No, not like how the pictures on Serenity's poster appear to be crooked.'

Which sentence uses the denotative meaning of the word bear, in the context of a story involving our classmates Michael, Zedd, and Kylie?

• Michael often jokes that he is a bear if he doesn’t get at least eight hours of sleep at night.

• Zedd's friends warned him that the upcoming science test was a real bear.

• Kylie is a bear when it comes to protecting her younger siblings.

• During their camping trip, they saw a bear lumbering across the mountain in search of food.

Elijah was talking about his favorite basketball player, Michael Jordan.

Elijah mentioned that Michael Jordan had played in some of the most famous basketball courts in the world. He had even performed in front of state leaders and royalty in Europe, Africa, and Asia.

"This illustrious player is coming to our school!” Elijah exclaimed. "Can you believe it, Kylie and Serenity?”

Based on the context clues in the paragraphs, what does the word "illustrious” mean?

• energetic

• private

• unknown

• respected

In a science experiment, Lilyana, Katelynn, Zedd, Kylie, and Aaron were asked to observe a light source. Which sentence uses the denotative meaning of the word bright in this context?

• Lilyana commented on how bright and creative the experiment was.

• Katelynn is especially bright in understanding the science behind the experiment.

• Zedd noted that the bright light from the source blinded him for a moment.

• Aaron came up with a really bright idea about the experiment.