WorksheetsContext Clues
Total questions: 32
Worksheet time: 30mins
Name
Class
Date
1.
Tanya loved her dad, but she wondered why she was so organized when he was so haphazard. A person who is haphazard is-
a)
lost
b)
lovable
c)
worried
d)
disorganized
2.
Maybe you mislaid the keys in a cabinet, instead of putting them where they belong. Choose the best definition for the word mislaid.
a)
lost
b)
found
c)
mixed
d)
looked for
3.
Tonya was relaxing with a magazine when her father walked in, looking perturbed and sounding annoyed, too. What words give you clues to the meaning of perturbed?
a)
can you help me
b)
her father walked in
c)
sounding annoyed, too
d)
relaxing with a magazine
4.
Luis was adamant and insisted, "But Mom said she was preparing dinner tonight!" The word that best defines adamant is-
a)
happy
b)
unsure
c)
nervous
d)
stubborn
5.
Luis pondered the idea, remaining deep in thought for half a minute or so. What does pondered mean?
a)
rejected
b)
laughed at
c)
agreed with
d)
thought about
6.
In late 2006, apiarists in the U.S. began reporting that their honey bees were dying. Some of these beekeepers lost 90 percent of their hives. What is the best definition of apiarists?
a)
hives
b)
problems
c)
honeybees
d)
beekeepers
7.
Other potential causes are stresses, such as poor environmental conditions, or lack of proper nutrition. What clue word means almost the same as potential?
a)
stresses
b)
possible
c)
modified
d)
suggested
8.
These could make bees vulnerable so that diseases and pests can harm them more easily. Someone who is vulnerable is able to be-
a)
hurt
b)
modified
c)
ruled out
d)
recognnized
9.
However, without a known cause or cure, CCD remains a conundrum. A conundrum is a-
a)
cost of food.
b)
known cause.
c)
puzzling problem.
d)
cure for a disease.
10.
Based on context clues in the passage below, migrate means _____________.
Many Northern birds migrate for the winter. They return in the spring.
Many Northern birds migrate for the winter. They return in the spring.
a)
Lay eggs
b)
Eat
c)
Move away
d)
Sing
11.
Read the passage below. Which word or words best helps you understand the meaning of the word obedient?
The obedient child always followed her mother's requests. That night, she brushed her teeth, folded her clothes, and went to bed before her mother had to come in and remind her.
The obedient child always followed her mother's requests. That night, she brushed her teeth, folded her clothes, and went to bed before her mother had to come in and remind her.
a)
Followed her mother's requests
b)
Folded her clothes
c)
Brushed her teeth
d)
That night
12.
Read the passage below. Which word or words help you understand the meaning of the word transportation in this sentence?
On Thursday afternoon, what kind of transportation will you use, a car or train?
On Thursday afternoon, what kind of transportation will you use, a car or train?
a)
Use
b)
Car or train
c)
Afternoon
d)
Thursday
13.
Based on context clues in the passage below, truncated means ______________.
I was upset that the ebook file was truncated because I couldn't find out how the story ended.
I was upset that the ebook file was truncated because I couldn't find out how the story ended.
a)
Finished
b)
Cut short
c)
Boring
d)
Too long
14.
Based on context clues in the passage below, trifle means ______________.
Her cat was dying, and she worried about a trifle like her torn dress!
Her cat was dying, and she worried about a trifle like her torn dress!
a)
Little
b)
Giant
c)
Everything
d)
Hopeful
15.
It has been an extremely brutal summer with very hot temperatures.
What does brutal mean?
What does brutal mean?
a)
Harsh
b)
Windy
c)
Gentle
d)
Pleasant
16.
She offered a feeble excuse for her late work and they could tell that she wasn’t telling the truth.
What does feeble mean?
What does feeble mean?
a)
Weak
b)
Good
c)
Strong
d)
Believable
17.
The continents are slowly drifting apart. Since they are not stationary, North and South America will one day separate entirely.
What does stationary mean?
What does stationary mean?
a)
Paper to write letters with
b)
Staying in one place
c)
Land
d)
Melting quickly
18.
The fifty pound pumpkin was gargantuan in size.
What does gargantuan mean?
What does gargantuan mean?
a)
Small
b)
Large
c)
Average
d)
Colorful
19.
The garrulous boy rambled on continuously as he told his mother about his day at school.
What does garrulous mean?
What does garrulous mean?
a)
Quiet
b)
Secretive
c)
talkative
d)
Exhausted
20.
The mummies of Egypt are very old. So people think the Egyptians had special ways of embalming. Actually, it was the dry air that helped them preserve the dead.
What does embalming mean?
What does embalming mean?
a)
Making pyrmaids
b)
Keeping dead things alive
c)
Keeping bodies from decaying or falling apart
d)
Keeping dead things dead
21.
Brenda searched meticulously. She took her time and thoroughly searched everywhere--her purse, her car, all through the house--but she could not find her keys. Meticulously means...
a)
feeling silly.
b)
working very carefully.
c)
trying to finish quickly.
d)
trying to find something.
22.
Cold rain fell all day, making it a dismal Saturday afternoon. Which of these could be a synonym for dismal?
a)
gloomy
b)
red
c)
shining
d)
fun
23.
Use context clues to determine the meaning of the highlighted word.
Mike always had terrible aim. But after two summers at a baseball camp, he is now an adroit pitcher.
Mike always had terrible aim. But after two summers at a baseball camp, he is now an adroit pitcher.
a)
careless
b)
skillful
c)
inexperienced
d)
motivated
24.
Does this word have a positive or negative connotation?
He is the ringleader; the other kids join him in causing trouble.
He is the ringleader; the other kids join him in causing trouble.
a)
positive
b)
negative
c)
both
d)
sounds like the circus to me!
25.
McDonald's is an cheap meal. Cheap has a ____ connotation.
a)
positive
b)
negative
26.
McDonald's is an inexpensive meal. Inexpensive has a _____ connotation.
a)
positive
b)
negative
27.
I recognized the familiar aroma of my roommate's cooking.
Aroma has a _____ connotation.
Aroma has a _____ connotation.
a)
positive
b)
negative
28.
I recognized the familiar stench of my roommate's cooking. Stench has a _____ connotation.
a)
positive
b)
negative
29.
The word scrawny, as in "Jason appeared scrawny," has a _________ connotation.
a)
positive
b)
negative
30.
Connotation is a word's ___________.
a)
synonym
b)
emotional meaning
c)
antonym
d)
Literal, dictionary definition.
31.
Does this word have a positive or negative connotation?
She was the mastermind behind our most successful class fundraiser ever.
She was the mastermind behind our most successful class fundraiser ever.
a)
positive
b)
both
c)
negative
d)
none
32.
Using hints or clues in the text that surrounds an unknown word is called ______.
a)
figurative language
b)
context clues
c)
connotation
d)
denotation
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