Unfamiliar words and phrases

Read the sentence. 'Even though the game was difficult, the team showed great resilience and came back to win.' What does the word resilience mean?

• The ability to give up easily

• The ability to recover quickly from difficulties

• The skill of playing a sport well

• The feeling of being disappointed

Answer explanation

The context clue 'came back to win' after a 'difficult' game suggests that resilience means recovering from a tough situation. The other options are either opposite or unrelated.

Tags

CCSS.L.3.4D

CCSS.L.6.4C

CCSS.L.7.4C

CCSS.L.8.4C

CCSS.L.9-10.4C

Match each sentence to the type of context clue it uses to define the bolded word.

• Definition Clue

• Some artists are versatile; for example, they can paint, draw, and sculpt.

• Antonym (Opposite) Clue

• He was gregarious, unlike his shy and quiet brother.

• Example Clue

• The desert is an arid, or extremely dry, region.

Answer explanation

Each sentence uses a different type of clue: 'unlike his shy brother' is an antonym clue; 'or extremely dry' is a definition clue; and 'for example' introduces an example clue.

Tags

CCSS.L.5.5C

CCSS.L.5.4A

CCSS.L.6.4A

CCSS.L.7.4A

CCSS.L.7.5B

In which sentence does the word crane mean a type of bird?

• The construction worker used a crane to lift the heavy steel beams.

• She had to crane her neck to see over the tall person in front of her.

• A large white crane stood gracefully by the edge of the pond.

• They had to crane the piano up to the third-floor apartment.

Answer explanation

The context 'by the edge of the pond' and 'white' points to the meaning of crane as a bird. The other sentences refer to a machine or the action of stretching one's neck.

Tags

CCSS.L.5.5C

Sort these phrases into two categories: Literal Meaning or Figurative Meaning.

Groups:

(a) Literal Meaning

,

(b) Figurative Meaning

• The rock is heavy.

• The boy ran quickly.

• My dad is a rock.

• The wind whispered through the trees.

Answer explanation

Literal phrases mean exactly what they say. Figurative phrases use non-literal comparisons or imagery, like calling a person a 'rock' for being strong or saying the wind 'whispered'.

Tags

CCSS.L.3.5A

CCSS.RL.3.4

The detective's job was to scrutinize the evidence for clues. What does scrutinize mean?

• To glance at something quickly

• To examine or inspect closely and thoroughly

• To hide or put away for later

• To create or invent something new

Answer explanation

A detective looking for clues would need to examine evidence very carefully, not just glance at it. Therefore, 'scrutinize' means to inspect closely.

Tags

CCSS.L.3.4D

CCSS.L.6.4C

CCSS.L.7.4C

CCSS.L.8.4C

CCSS.L.9-10.4C

Read the sentence. 'The old house on the hill was quite eerie at night, with strange shadows and creaking floors.' Which word is a synonym for eerie?

• Comfortable

• Bright

• Spooky

• Normal

Answer explanation

The context clues 'strange shadows' and 'creaking floors' suggest an unsettling or scary feeling. 'Spooky' is the best synonym for 'eerie' in this context.

Tags

CCSS.L.5.5C

CCSS.L.5.4A

CCSS.L.6.4A

CCSS.L.7.4A

CCSS.L.7.5B

After running the marathon, the athlete was completely depleted of energy. What does depleted mean?

• Full of

• Surprised by

• Emptied or used up

• Confused about

Answer explanation

The context of running a long race (a marathon) implies that the athlete's energy would be used up. 'Depleted' means to greatly reduce or empty a supply of something.

Tags

CCSS.L.1.6

CCSS.L.3.6

CCSS.L.4.6

CCSS.RL.1.4

Read the sentence. 'My little brother is a whirlwind of energy, always running from one activity to the next.' What does 'a whirlwind of energy' mean?

• He is a type of storm.

• He is very calm and quiet.

• He is extremely active and moves quickly.

• He likes to spin in circles.

Answer explanation

This is a figurative phrase. Comparing a person to a 'whirlwind' suggests they are fast, energetic, and constantly in motion, not that they are a literal storm.

Tags

CCSS.L.3.5A

CCSS.RL.3.4

In which sentence does the word address mean 'to give a speech'?

• Did you write the correct address on the envelope?

• The principal will address the students at the assembly.

• We need to address the problem of bullying in our school.

• I can't find his email address anywhere.

Answer explanation

The context of a principal at a school assembly points to the meaning of 'address' as giving a formal speech. The other options refer to a location, a problem, or an email identifier.

Tags

CCSS.L.5.5C

The sentence 'The new law was created to curtail bad behavior, such as littering and vandalism' uses what type of context clue for the word curtail?

• A definition clue that states the meaning directly.

• An example clue that shows what is being curtailed.

• An antonym clue that gives an opposite meaning.

• No clues are provided.

Answer explanation

The phrase 'such as littering and vandalism' provides examples of the 'bad behavior' that the law is meant to reduce or 'curtail'. This is an example clue.

Tags

CCSS.L.5.5C

CCSS.L.5.4A

CCSS.L.6.4A

CCSS.L.7.4A

CCSS.L.7.5B