Context Clues Independent Practice

Hurricane Katrina in 2005 was a serious calamity for the city of New Orleans. More than 1,000 people died, and hundreds of thousands were left homeless.

What is the meaning of the word calamity?

• weather

• to remain calm

• a disaster

• an event that takes place once a year

My mom has a book filled with anecdotes from when my sister and I were little. We love to read her brief descriptions of the hilarious things we did when we were toddlers.

What is the meaning of the word anecdotes?

• short poems

• doodles and simple drawings

• long stories that are often serious

• short stories that are often funny

Police officers have not been able to catch the sly criminal. So far, his serpentine behavior has made it impossible to find him, but they'll catch him eventually.

What is the meaning of serpentine?

• cunning and clever

• harmless

• foolish and clumsy

• strong and powerful

Mr. Murphy decided to make his speech upbeat and succinct. When he looked at at the audience of middle school students, he could tell that the principal's long, stern speech had bored them.

What is the meaning of succinct?

• Loud

• Serious

• Short

• Long

Sid left school at lunchtime. He feigned sickness because he wasn't prepared to present his project this afternoon.

What is the meaning of the word feigned?

• to have something unexpected happened

• to pretend something that isn't true

• to fail

• to suddenly become ill after eating rotten food

The war caused inflation to occur. Inflation is a steady rise in prices that happens as money loses value and things cost more.

What is the meaning of the word inflation?

• when large number of people join the military

• when prices increase, but the value of money decreases

• when people get paid more to do their job

• when objects are filled with air

I have discovered that I usually have a dissenting opinion compared to the majority of my classmates. For example, I am in favor of wearing a school uniform, while most of my classmates think a school uniform policy will limit their ability to express themselves freely.

What is the meaning of the word dissenting?

• to approve an action

• to express yourself freely

• to lie about something

• to have a view that disagrees

"Ever since my twins were born, my 3-year-old son has been so belligerent," Mrs. Franklin told her students. "I know he just wants attention, but I miss te days when he was kind and cooperative."

What is the meaning of the word belligerent?

• mean and behaving poorly

• thoughtful and helpful

• to act lazy

• to work hard at something

When plants grow in the direction where sunlight is present, tropism is taking place. Tropism is the movement of growing in a particular direction toward an external stimulus, such as sunlight.

What is the meaning of tropism?

• the top section of a plant

• when bees or birds transfer pollen from one flower to another flower, making it possible for the flower to produce seeds

• the process by which plants use sunlight to produce food and energy for survival

• when a living thing grows in a certain direction toward something that will help it survive

The teacher left a note warning the young substitute that her teachers often misbehaved. When the teacher returned two weeks later, she was surprised by the close rapport the substitute had established with her students. Many students even wrote thank you notes to the substitute teacher and wished her luck in finding a full-time teaching job for the following year.

What is the meaning of the word rapport?

• to punish for poor behavior

• a type of report

• a close relationship

• a note with a list of problems