EOG ELA Vocabulary

context clues

• 
  a strategy used to figure out the meaning of words based on how they are used in a text
• meaning of a word, phrase, or definition
  
• knowledge on which to base belief or conclusions
  
• 
  an expression consisting of one or more words

summarize

• 
  common characteristics; identifies how things are alike or similar
• 
  to arrive at a decision, to close or bring to an end
• 
  present the main points of a text in a concise form
• 
  best chance of happening or being correct

central idea

• “read between the lines;” the answer is not clearly stated in the passage; you need to use knowledge and experience to draw a conclusion
  
• the main topic or concept of a text
  
• the message that is intended or expressed
• 
  an assortment of things from which a choice can be made

analyze

• 
  common characteristics; identifies how things are alike or similar
• 
  present the main points of a text in a concise form
• 
  establish or strengthen as with new evidence or facts
• 
  consider in detail in order to discover essential features

choose

• knowledge on which to base belief or conclusions
  
• 
  to select from a number of possibilities. Similar words: select, pick, determine, identify
• 
  to prove negative; to show to be false
• 
  to stress or single out as important

define

• meaning of a word, phrase, or definition
  
• 
  clarify by giving an example of
• 
  to make clear
• 
  to make a logical connection

compare

• 
  to clarify, by answering any of the 5 W’s: who, what, when, where, why, or how
• 
  characteristics that are not alike; identifies things that are different
• 
  consider in detail in order to discover essential features
• 
  common characteristics; identifies how things are alike or similar

contrast

• 
  to show; to make something known
• 
  characteristics that are not alike; identifies things that are different
• 
  the mental position from which things are perceived
• 
  common characteristics; identifies how things are alike or similar

describe

• 
  a larger-life lesson or message that is made clear in a text based on the main character’s growth
• 
  presents a clear picture of a person, place, thing, or idea; uses details or sensory words
• 
  to elaborate; to express or make clear over time
• 
  acceptable; trustworthy

explain

• 
  to clarify, by answering any of the 5 W’s: who, what, when, where, why, or how
• to provide
  
• 
  to make a logical connection
• the main topic or concept of a text