context clues all grades

Overpopulation
Over the last decade, our city has experienced an inundation of new residents, a human tide that has crowded schools, buses, and even emergency rooms. Because this flood of people arrived faster than planners could build infrastructure, apartment rents have soared and green spaces have vanished. Without decisive action, the constant overflow will erode quality of life for everyone.
What does inundation mean in this paragraph?

• a gradual decline

• a sudden flood or overwhelming flow

• a silent protest

• a government policy

Waste & Pollution
Everything from single-use coffee cups to broken electronics—now line the riverbanks, becoming Mountains of detritus, piles of piles of waste have taken over the natural landscape showing just how casually we discard what we no longer want. When rainstorms come, this scattered trash is swept into drainage pipes, blocking them and releasing foul odors into nearby neighborhoods. The city’s struggle with garbage collection risks becoming a public-health emergency if the debris continues to pile up.What does detritus mean in this paragraph?

• valuable antiques

• scattered waste and debris

• underground tunnels

• tree roots

Tourism brings welcome revenue, yet many visitors adopt a profligate attitude toward local resources, leaving hotel lights blazing all day and buying plastic-wrapped souvenirs that are used once and thrown away. Such wasteful habits strain water supplies in our already arid region and add tons of carbon to the atmosphere through unnecessary energy use. To remain a viable destination, the city must encourage more conscientious behavior that balances enjoyment with preservation.
What does profligate mean in this paragraph?

• careful and economical

• wasteful and reckless

• traditional and respectful

• entirely illegal

Paragraph 4 – Traffic & Infrastructure
City traffic has become nearly interminable, with endless lines of cars crawling through intersections and honking in frustration during both morning and evening rush hours. What once was a 15-minute commute now stretches to nearly an hour, wasting time, fuel, and patience. If alternative transport options aren’t improved soon, these endless delays will continue to burden residents daily.
What does interminable mean in this paragraph?
A. very expensive B. never-ending or extremely long C. quiet and peaceful D. related to technologyWhat does interminable mean in this paragraph?

• very expensive

• never-ending or extremely long

• quiet and peaceful

• related to technology

Gentrification has caused a precipitous rise in housing prices, making it nearly impossible for long-time residents to afford rent in their own neighborhoods. This sudden spike in costs forces many families to move further away, disrupting communities and increasing their commute times to work and school. City officials must address this sharp and rapid change to maintain social balance.
What does precipitous mean in this paragraph?

• decreased slowly and slightly

• increased suddenly and sharply

• legally approved

• underground

Urban farms and rooftop gardens are part of a nascent movement toward sustainability, aiming to provide local food while cooling the city and reducing emissions. Although still in the early stages, these small-scale projects show promising results and could grow into a major solution for climate resilience. Supporting this young initiative now may lead to long-term environmental benefits.
What does nascent mean in this paragraph?
A. well-established B. declining C. just beginning or emerging D. foreign or importedWhat does nascent mean in this paragraph?

• well-established

• declining

• just beginning or emerging

• foreign or imported