Contextual Clues

Scrupulous: I wanted to just set the table and be done with it, but my mother scrupulously arranged each napkin, dish, and utensil until they were in perfect alignment. The word 'scrupulous' means....

• Very slowly

• With great attention to detail

• Doing something fishy

• A careless action

Tags

CCSS.L.1.5D

CCSS.L.2.5B

CCSS.L.3.5C

CCSS.L.K.5D

Vexed: When Jose found out that his little brother Emilio carelessly broke Jose’s Xbox disc tray, Jose was vexed and sure let Emilio know it. What is the meaning of the word 'vexed'?

• Extremely angry

• Slightly annoyed

• Nonchalant

• Quite anxious

Tags

CCSS.L.1.6

CCSS.L.3.6

CCSS.L.4.6

CCSS.RL.1.4

Defer: Kyle really wanted to play basketball, but since it overlapped with the volleyball season (and since Carrie played volleyball), he would just have to defer his hoop-dreams until next year, when his relationship with her would be secure. 'Defer' can be defined as...

• To continue

• To postpone

• To quit

• To adjust

Tags

CCSS.L.11-12.4C

CCSS.L.6.4C

CCSS.L.7.4C

CCSS.L.8.4C

CCSS.L.9-10.4C

Conjecture: Stanley tried to determine the meaning of the vocabulary word, but there were so few clues in the sentence all he could do was hopelessly conjecture as to what the word might mean. What is the meaning of the word 'conjecture'?

• Search

• Say

• Guess

• Eliminate

Tags

CCSS.L.11-12.4C

CCSS.L.6.4C

CCSS.L.7.4C

CCSS.L.8.4C

CCSS.L.9-10.4C

Disposition: Unlike his sister Cattie, who had a very calm and mellow disposition, John jumped on Sofas and ran through the house like an animal kingdom. The meaning of disposition is...

• Temperament or habitual mood

• Favourite thing to do

• could not stop doing something

• Crazy behaviour

Tags

CCSS.L.11-12.4C

CCSS.L.6.4C

CCSS.L.7.4C

CCSS.L.8.4C

CCSS.L.9-10.4C

Scarce: Due to the scarcity of food in her territory, the mother lioness had to roam far from safe ground to find a meal for her child. What is the meaning of the word 'scarce'

• Available but lazy to obtain

• Abundance of availability

• Ability to find something easily

• Rarity, an inadequate amount of something

Tags

CCSS.L.11-12.4C

CCSS.L.6.4C

CCSS.L.7.4C

CCSS.L.8.4C

CCSS.L.9-10.4C

Fastidious: When Brad saw his report card, he was excited because he had all As and an A- in Science; but when his fastidious mother saw his report card, she shook her head in disappointment. 'Fastidious' can be defined as...

• Very understanding

• Extremely eager, excited

• Excessively fussy, demanding

• Very angry

Tags

CCSS.L.3.2F

Conceited: When Rayna noticed her daughter Mandy starring at herself and posing in every reflection that they passed, Rayna worried that Mandy was growing a bit conceited. In this context, the word 'conceited' means..

• A state of being giddy

• Weird behaviour

• Extremely confident

• Taken with oneself

Tags

CCSS.L.11-12.4C

CCSS.L.6.4C

CCSS.L.7.4C

CCSS.L.8.4C

CCSS.L.9-10.4C

Ostentatious: Aurelia wanted to wear the simple white dress to the dance but her friend Dora kept pushing her to buy this big, puffy, golden ballroom gown as ostentatious as it was expensive. The meaning of 'ostentatious' is...

• Strikingly exquisite

• Overly showy, gaudy

• Exaggerated

• Picturesque

Tags

CCSS.L.11-12.4C

CCSS.L.6.4C

CCSS.L.7.4C

CCSS.L.8.4C

CCSS.L.9-10.4C

Deficient: Jones wanted to play football with the other kids but, with his horrible deficiencies in coordination, he couldn’t catch or throw the ball. What is the meaning of 'deficient'?

• Defective, something is broken

• Flawless

• Unsatisfactory

• Inadequate, lacking something

Tags

CCSS.L.11-12.4C

CCSS.L.6.4C

CCSS.L.7.4C

CCSS.L.8.4C

CCSS.L.9-10.4C