Context Clues Middle School

Tanya loved her dad, but she wondered why she was so organized when he was so haphazard.  A person who is haphazard is- 

• lost
• lovable 
• worried
• disorganized

Maybe you mislaid the keys in a cabinet, instead of putting them where they belong. Choose the best definition for the word mislaid.

• lost
• found
• mixed
• looked for

Tonya was relaxing with a magazine when her father walked in, looking perturbed and sounding annoyed, too. What words give you clues to the meaning of perturbed?

• can you help me
• her father walked in 
• sounding annoyed, too
• relaxing with a magazine

Luis was adamant and insisted, "But Mom said she was preparing dinner tonight!" The word that best defines adamant is-

• happy 
• unsure
• nervous
• stubborn

Luis pondered the idea, remaining deep in thought for half a minute or so. What does pondered mean?

• rejected
• laughed at
• agreed with
• thought about

In late 2006, apiarists in the U.S. began reporting that their honey bees were dying. Some of these beekeepers lost 90 percent of their hives. What is the best definition of apiarists?

• hives
• problems
• honeybees
• beekeepers

Other potential causes are stresses, such as poor environmental conditions or lack of proper nutrition. What clue word means almost the same as potential?

• stresses
• possible
• modified
• suggested

These could make bees vulnerable so that diseases and pests can harm them more easily. Someone who is vulnerable is able to be-

• hurt
• modified
• ruled out
• recognnized

However, without a known cause or cure, CCD remains a conundrum. A conundrum is a-

• cost of food.
• known cause.
• puzzling problem.
• cure for a disease.

Based on context clues in the passage below, migrate means _____________.

Many Northern birds migrate for the winter.  They return in the spring.

• Lay eggs
• Eat
• Move away
• Sing