Context Clues...The Meaning is Right There

Read the Excerpt from The Giver and determine the meaning of the underlined word using context clues.

"It was almost December, and Jonas was beginning to be

frightened. No. Wrong word, Jonas thought. Frightened meant

that deep, sickening feeling of something terrible about to

happen...He had waited a long time for this special December.

Now that it was almost upon him, he wasn’t frightened, but

he was . . . eager, he decided. He was eager for it to come.

And he was excited, certainly. All of the Elevens were

excited about the event that would be coming so soon.

But there was a little shudder of nervousness when he

thought about it, about what might happen.

Apprehensive, Jonas decided. That’s what I am."

**There may be more than one correct answer.**

• Jittery

• Anxious

• Confident

• Calm

• At Ease

Answer explanation

Jonas is looking forward to the upcoming Ceremony of Twelves. His feelings are a mix between nervousness and fear because he doesn't know what his assignment will be.

Read the excerpt and determine the meaning of the underlined word TRANSGRESSION.

"Today a repeat offender had been brought before her, someone who

had broken the rules before...The rules say that if

there’s a third transgression, he simply has to be released.”

• Obedience

• Wrongdoing

• Crime

• Good Deed

Answer explanation

The man in this case has broken two rules.

Read the excerpt and determine the meaning of EXUBERANT using context clues.

"The audience applause, which was enthusiastic at each

Naming, rose in an exuberant swell when one parental pair,

glowing with pride, took a male newchild and heard him

named Caleb."

• Animated

• Lifeless

• Unenthusiastic

• Cheerful

Answer explanation

The community reacts with excitement because the couple is receiving a new child to replace the child they lost.

Use context clues to determine the meaning of the word ANGUISH.

"I have caused you anxiety," she said. "I apologize to

my community. ''Jonas,'' she said, looking down at him, ''I apologize to

you in particular. I caused you anguish.''

• Relief

• Comfort

• Delight

• Distress

Answer explanation

Jonas experiences sorrow temporarily because he doesn't understand why he has been skipped.

Use context clues to determine the meaning of the word CONSPICUOUS.

"Jonas hurried through the door and found himself in a

comfortably furnished living area. It was not unlike his own

family unit's dwelling...But the most conspicuous difference was the books...

The books in his own dwelling were the only books that

Jonas had ever seen. He had never known that other books existed. But this room's walls were completely covered by bookcases, filled, which reached to the ceiling."

• Noticeable

• Obvious

• Unremarkable

• Evident

• Hidden

Answer explanation

Jonas makes a contrast between the number of books in his house to the number of books he sees in the Giver's living quarters. It's something he notices right away.

Determine the meaning of the word OBSOLETE using context clues.

"Climate Control. Snow made growing food difficult,

limited the agricultural periods. And unpredictable weather made transportation almost impossible at times. It wasn't

a practical thing, so it became obsolete when we went to

Sameness.

• New

• Modern

• Useful

• Extinct

Answer explanation

Having different types of weather made growing and harvesting food difficult for the community, so they decided it was more convenient to only have pleasant weather.

Use context clues to determine the meaning of the word TRANSMIT.

The man sighed, seeming to put his thoughts in order.

Then he spoke again. "Simply stated," he said, ''although

it's not really simple at all, my job is to transmit to you all

the memories I have within me. Memories of the past..."I am going to transmit the memory of snow,'' the old man said, and placed his hands on Jonas's bare back."

• Pass On

• Keep

• Hold

• Transfer

Answer explanation

The Giver prepares Jonas to receive the memories.

What does the word ABUZZ mean based on context clues?

School seemed a little different today. The classes were

the same: language and communications; commerce and

industry; science and technology; civil procedures and government.

But during the breaks for recreation periods and

the midday meal, the other new Twelves were abuzz with

descriptions of their first day of training. All of them talked

at once, interrupting each other, hastily making the required

apology for interrupting, then forgetting again in the

excitement of describing the new experiences.

• Dead

• Lifeless

• Animated

• Crowded

• Lively

Answer explanation

The new Twelves are excited because they've received their new assignments.

What does the word RELINQUISHED mean based on the excerpt from The Giver?

The Giver shrugged. "Our people made that choice, the

choice to go to Sameness. Before my time, before the

previous time, back and back and back. We relinquished

color when we relinquished sunshine and did away with

differences." He thought for a moment. "We gained control

of many things. But we had to let go of others."

• Abandon

• Quit

• Sacrifice

• Maintain

• All of the Above

Answer explanation

The community made the decision to do away with colors because it made it easier for them to focus on things being the same.

Use context clues to determine the meaning of the words SUBSIDED and ASSIMILATED.

"It was chaos," he said. "They really suffered for a while.

Finally it subsided as the memories were assimilated. But it

certainly made them aware of how they need a Receiver to

contain all that pain. And knowledge."

• Ease...Incorporate

• Reject...recede

• Increase...take in

• Settle...Include

Answer explanation

Although the community suffered when the memories were first released, the pain eventually eased and they learned to deal with it.