Context Clues- 1

Read the passage and then answer the question.

Millions of elephants once roamed the African continent. Today, however, there are fewer than five hundred thousand. One reason is hunting. People who hunt elephants generally do not eat them, but they do take the elephants' tusks. Ivory from elephant tusks has been used to make jewelry, art, medicine, and other things. Today, selling ivory is against the law. People in many countries are cooperating to stop the sales. If government officials catch people trying to sell elephant ivory, they confiscate it. By seizing the ivory, the officials can destroy the tusks so they can't be sold. Experts hope that stopping ivory sales will slow elephant hunting and help the elephant herds grow.

What is the meaning of confiscate as used in the passage?

• hide something by burying it

• trade to another country

• borrow for a short period of time

• take for legal reasons

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Before the end of 1955, most people had never heard of Minnie Mangum. She had worked for many years at a bank in Norfolk, Virginia. She was known for being generous with her friends, but she was by no means famous. That changed on December 29, 1955. Mangum was arrested for embezzling about three million dollars. The money that she had taken from the bank was used to buy eighty-five cars for friends and family. She had also paid for homes and many other gifts for friends and family members. She was sentenced to twenty years in prison.

What is the meaning of embezzling as used in the passage?

• stealing from the workplace

• printing fake bills

• borrowing cash from friends

• losing money by gambling

Read the passage and then answer the question. Phillis Wheatley arrived in America on a slave ship in 1761. She was thought to be eight years old at the time. After her arrival, Phillis was sold to the Wheatleys, a Boston family whose last name she took. Members of the family helped teach Phillis how to read and write. Since most enslaved people were not allowed any schooling at that time, Phillis's education was an anomaly. Phillis learned about many topics, including history, languages, and science. At the age of thirteen, she published her first poem. In 1773, Phillis Wheatley made history by becoming the first African American to publish a book of poems. She became one of the first American women to do so as well. What is the meaning of anomaly as used in the passage?

• something normal

• something sad

• something exciting

• something uncommon

Read the passage and then answer the question. The United States court system has three main levels. The first is the District Court, where trials are first held. This trial court's decision is final unless a party appeals to the Court of Appeal. The appeals court considers arguments from both sides and decides who is right. The last level is the United States Supreme Court. The Supreme Court chooses carefully which cases to hear. Those cases usually involve important issues. The Supreme Court may also take a case if something egregious happened in the lower courts. For example, the court might consider a case where someone was denied a fair trial. The Supreme Court hears less than one percent of the cases brought to it. What is the meaning of egregious as used in the passage?

• simple to ignore
• very bad and easily noticed
• small and easily explained
• new and entertaining

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In 1492, Christopher Columbus landed on the shores of what came to be called the New World. Other explorers and settlers soon followed Columbus from Europe, many seeking gold and riches. These colonists brought many things with them from Europe, introducing new plants and animals to North America. They also brought several European maladies. The natives of North America had never before been exposed to these strange new diseases. As a result, many became very ill and died. We don't know the full effect that the Europeans had on the native populations. However, many historians believe that up to ninety-five percent of native populations died as a result.

What is the meaning of maladies as used in the passage?

• sickness

• fruits and vegetables

• machines

• weapons

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The legend of Molly Pitcher dates from the Revolutionary War. An American gunner named John Hays was at the Battle of Monmouth. Hays's wife, Mary, also known as "Molly," was helping him and the other soldiers. The day was terribly hot. Mary carried a pitcher of water from a nearby spring to the field of battle. The soldiers drank and cooled their cannons with the spring water. "Molly Pitcher" became Mary's new name. She kept bringing more fresh water to the soldiers, replenishing the pitcher again and again. Then, when her husband was unable to continue shooting, Molly took his place at the cannon. She is remembered today as a hero.

What is the meaning of replenishing as used in the passage?

• breaking

• spilling

• refilling

• shaking