Context Clues - Word position and function

In the sentence 'Cautiously, she peeked around the corner,' the position of cautiously at the beginning tells you...

• what she was looking at.

• how she performed the action of peeking.

• where she was peeking from.

• when she decided to peek.

Answer explanation

Placing the adverb 'cautiously' at the start of the sentence emphasizes the manner in which the action was done. Its function is to describe the verb 'peeked'.

Match each underlined word to the function it performs in the sentence.

• Describes a noun (colors)

• Her goal was to finish the race.

• Names a thing or idea

• He solved the puzzle abruptly.

• Describes a verb (solved)

• The vibrant colors of the painting stood out.

Answer explanation

Each word's function is determined by its position and job. 'Vibrant' is an adjective describing 'colors'. 'Abruptly' is an adverb describing 'solved'. 'Goal' is a noun naming an idea.

Read the sentence: 'The water in the old well was so murky that we couldn't see the bottom.' What does murky most likely mean?

• Clear and clean

• Dark and dirty

• Cold and deep

• Sparkling and bright

Answer explanation

The surrounding words 'couldn't see the bottom' are a clue that the water was not clear. 'Dark and dirty' is the best fit for this context.

Sort these sentences based on where the main clue to the underlined word's meaning is located.

Groups:

(a) Clue Before the Word

,

(b) Clue After the Word

• Because she was so tired, Maria took a leisurely walk home.

• Anxious and worried, he felt great trepidation before his speech.

• He was famished; in other words, he was extremely hungry.

• The hike was strenuous, a difficult climb that took all day.

Answer explanation

The position of context clues helps define a word. In some sentences, the clue (like 'tired' or 'anxious') comes before the unknown word. In others, the explanation (like 'extremely hungry' or 'difficult climb') comes after.

In the sentence 'The old car lurched forward and stalled,' the word lurched is a verb that means...

• moved smoothly and quietly.

• reversed slowly and carefully.

• made a sudden, unsteady movement.

• stayed perfectly still.

Answer explanation

The word 'lurched' functions as the action (verb) of the car. The following word, 'stalled,' provides a clue that the movement was not smooth or controlled.

Unlike his brother's calm, quiet dog, Leo's puppy was boisterous and always jumping on guests. What does boisterous mean?

• Shy and nervous

• Small and sleepy

• Energetic and noisy

• Sad and lonely

Answer explanation

The sentence sets up a contrast with 'calm, quiet dog' using the word 'unlike'. This antonym clue tells you that 'boisterous' must mean the opposite, which is energetic and noisy.

The student showed great diligence, for example, by staying after school to finish his project and double-checking all his work. What does diligence mean?

• A need for help

• Careful and persistent effort

• A fun and easy attitude

• A desire to finish quickly

Answer explanation

The phrase 'for example' signals that the words following it will define 'diligence'. 'Staying after' and 'double-checking' are examples of careful and persistent effort.

Match each word to the clue that helps define it within the sentence.

• could barely keep my eyes open

• I was so exhausted I could barely keep my eyes open.

• left everyone confused

• The magician's trick was so baffling, it left everyone confused.

• not a single speck of dust

• The room was immaculate; not a single speck of dust was anywhere.

Answer explanation

The meaning of each underlined word is clarified by another phrase in the sentence. The position of the clue, usually after the word, helps explain it.

He was jubilant; his team had just won the championship. The punctuation (;) and the words that follow it help you understand that jubilant means...

• disappointed and upset.

• calm and thoughtful.

• extremely happy and triumphant.

• tired and ready to go home.

Answer explanation

The semicolon often connects a statement to an explanation. The clause 'his team had just won the championship' is positioned after 'jubilant' to explain the reason for the feeling, which must be happiness.

Sort these words by their most common grammatical function in a sentence.

Groups:

(a) Action Words (Verbs)

,

(b) Describing Words (Adjectives)

• gloomy

• dashed

• ponder

• construct

• swift

• massive

Answer explanation

Words have different functions. Verbs like 'ponder' show action, while adjectives like 'swift' describe nouns. Understanding a word's function helps determine its meaning in context.