Using Context Clues to define Unfamiliar Words

The once barren wetlands now teem with life after years of conservation efforts.
What does barren mean in this context?

• Full of vegetation
  
  

• Lacking in vegetation or life

• Dangerous and uninhabitable

• d) Constantly changing

The ecosystem became fragmented after the construction of roads and buildings divided the wetlands. What does fragmented mean?

• 
  Expanded
  
  

• Completely intact

• Broken into parts

• 
  Cleaned up and restored

The spindly trees in the wetland seemed too fragile to withstand the strong winds.
What does spindly mean?

• Strong and sturdy
  

• Tall and thin

• Short and thick

• Heavily branched

After the rains, the wetlands were teeming with frogs, birds, and insects of all kinds.
What does teeming mean?

• Overflowing with life
  
  
  

• Almost empty

• Quiet and still

• Neatly organized

Only the most observant could notice the subtlest changes in the wetlands' landscape over the years.
What does subtlest mean?

• Extremely obvious
  
  
  

• Slightest and hardest to detect

• Largest and most visible

• Fastest

Efforts to conserve the wetlands have helped protect numerous species from extinction.
What does conserve mean?

• Destroy completely

  
  
  

• Ignore or neglect

• Protect and maintain

• Remove or get rid of

The group of hikers enjoyed traversing the scenic paths through the wetlands.
What does traversing mean?

• Walking across
  
  
  

• Avoiding

• Swimming in

• Standing still

An errant heron was spotted far from its usual nesting grounds in the wetlands.
What does errant mean?

• Nesting
  
  
  

• Lost or wandering

• c) Injured

• Rare and unique

During the storm, the small animals were holing up in their burrows to stay safe.
What does holing up mean?

• coming out in the open

• gathered or taking shelter together

• building a nest

• flying away

Birds were congregating near the water’s edge, preparing to fly south for the winter.
What does congregating mean?

• fighting

• gathering in a group

• scattering

• playing