Defining Words in Context

Which question should you ask yourself when using context clues?

• Where is the dictionary?

• What is the root word?

• What is the text about?

• What part of a word is it?

Choose the sentences about signal words that are true. (there is more than one)

• Signal words area type of context clue.

• Signal words show how words are related.

• There are many kinds of signal words.

• Signal words can't help you define a difficult word in text.

Which words can signal a definition in a sentence? (mark all that are correct)

• or

• because

• are

• means

Which statements about signal words and definitions are true? (mark all that are correct)

• Signal words cannot help define difficult words.

• Definitions often come after signal words in a sentence.

• To be, means, and or are common words that signal a definition.

• Authors often define difficult words in a text.

Define insomnia in the following sentence:

Drinking coffee late at night can give you insomnia, which means the inability to sleep.

• A great amount of energy

• Nightmares

• A stomach ache

• The inability to sleep.

Define essential in the following sentence:

For almost all living things, water is essential, which means extremely important.

• Slippery and wet

• Alive or active

• Extremely important

• A pleasant smell

Choose the definition that best fits the word anxiety:

Unable to sleep, Trevor tossed and turned in bed for most of the night. Whenever he closed his eyes, he imagined himself failing his final exam. Somehow he managed to tame his anxiety, or feelings of worry or nervousness, and finally rest.

• A test or exam

• A stomach ache

• Elementary School

• Feeling worried or nervous

Which statements about signal words and definitions are true? (Check all correct answers)

• Signal words cannot help define difficult words.

• Only two main words signal a definition in a sentence.

• A sentence with the word means might not have a definition.

• Was may signal a definition because it is a form of "to be"

• Using a dictionary is the only way to define a difficult word.

Choose the best definition for the word conquistador:

The room was surprisingly bright and cool. The makeshift conquistador (which was what the Spanish soldiers were called) pointed out carvings of ships and strange letters in the walls. He explained that these drawings and wordings were carved into the walls by the soldiers and had been there for some three hundred years.

• The name for a Spanish soldier

• Makeshift

• Writing in another language

• Three hundred years

Choose the best definition for the word encyclopedia:

"The encyclopedia is a reference for all branches of knowledge," the librarian said to the class.

• The largest book in a library

• A reference for all branches of knowledge

• Another name for a dictionary.

• An instruction manual