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Worksheets

Context Clues and Text Structures

Total questions: 30

Worksheet time: 2hrs 10mins

Name
Class
Date
1.
Again they searched meticulously, but no keys.  Where could they be?  They've looked EVERYWHERE! If you did something meticulously, you would be-
a)
feeling silly.
b)
working very carefully.
c)
trying to finish quickly.
d)
trying to find something.
2.
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
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.
The continents are slowly drifting apart.  Since they are not stationary, North and South America will one day separate entirely.
What does stationary mean? 
a)
Paper to write letters with
b)
Staying in one place
c)
Land
d)
Melting quickly
6.

Sarah has written over seventy books, thirty poems, and a countless number of reviews.

The word countless means:

a)

not enough

b)

very many

c)

hardly any

d)

a small number

7.

Bob faced a lot of instability in his life. He never knew when he would have money for groceries, if his bills would be paid, or where he would sleep.

What is the meaning of the word, instability?

a)

never stable

b)

often stable

c)

deeply stable

d)

slowly stable

8.

The lost campers SWELTERED in the heat of the desert sun. What is the meaning of the word, SWELTERED?

a)

ate

b)

burned

c)

slept

d)

sunbathed

9.
The new factory will produce computers.
What does produce mean?
a)
to make
b)
to invent
c)
to buy
d)
to break
10.
We got a glimpse of the boat as it zipped across the lake.
What does glimpse mean?
a)
stay away
b)
soak with water
c)
quick look
d)
come near
11.

The conspicuous man wore a purple wig and large sunglasses. Which of the following is a good synonym for the word, conspicuous?

a)

easily noticed

b)

beautiful

c)

sleeping

d)

mysterious

12.

Mara was feeling apprehensive about the camping trip. She had never slept in a tent before. What if there were bears or mountain lions? Which of the following is a synonym for the word, apprehensive?

a)

worried

b)

angry

c)

excited

d)

in pain

13.

David knew that the advanced studies program was rigorous. It would require a great deal of reading and homework. Still, he felt he was up for the challenge.

What is the meaning of the word, rigorous?

a)

boring

b)

difficult

c)

surprising

d)

shocking

14.

The shallow river was usually easy for hikers to wade across. However, the recent heavy rains had turned it into a rushing torrent, too treacherous to cross.

What is the meaning of the word, treacherous?

a)

dangerous

b)

wet

c)

muddy

d)

foggy

15.

Dan did not enjoy his job as a dishwasher. It was monotonous work, doing the same thing over and over. Which word best describes monotonous?

a)

inspiring

b)

disgusting

c)

boring

d)

dangerous

16.

Grandpa was in a jovial mood, making jokes and laughing at everything. Which of the following is the meaning of jovial?

a)

crazy

b)

happy

c)

irritable

d)

angry

17.

We are depleting the Earth's reserves of oil. Someday there will not be any left. depleting means?

a)

using up

b)

adding to

c)

creating

d)

saving up

18.
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.
a)
Finished
b)
Cut short 
c)
Boring
d)
Too long
19.
The garrulous boy rambled on continuously as he told his mother about his day at school.
What does garrulous mean? 
a)
Quiet
b)
Secretive
c)
talkative 
d)
Exhausted
20.
Again they searched meticulously, but no keys. If you did something meticulously, you would be-
a)
feeling silly.
b)
working very carefully.
c)
trying to finish quickly.
d)
trying to find something.
21.
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
22.
 What type of text structure is used in this paragraph?
On one corner of my dresser sits a smiling toy clown on a tiny unicycle--a gift I received last Christmas from a close friend.  The clown's short yellow hair, made of yarn, covers its ears but is parted above the eyes.  The blue eyes are outlined in black with thin, dark lashes flowing from the brows.  It has cherry-red cheeks, nose, and lips, and its broad grin disappears into the wide, white ruffle around its neck.  The clown wears a fluffy, two-tone nylon costume.  The left side of the outfit is light blue, and the right side is red.  The two colors merge in a dark line that runs down the center of the small outfit.  Surrounding its ankles and disguising its long black shoes are big pink bows.  The white spokes on the wheels of the unicycle gather in the center and expand to the black tire so that the wheel somewhat resembles the inner half of a grapefruit.  The clown and unicycle together stand about a foot high.  As a cherished gift from my good friend Tran, this colorful figure greets me with a smile every time I enter my room.
a)
Description
b)
Cause and Effect
c)
Problem Solution
d)
Sequence
23.
What type of text structure is used in this paragraph:
Gregory is my beautiful gray Persian cat.   He walks with pride and grace, performing a dance of disdain as he slowly lifts and lowers each paw with the delicacy of a ballet dancer.   His pride, however, does not extend to his appearance, for he spends most of his time indoors watching television and growing fat.  He enjoys TV commercials, especially those for Meow Mix and 9 Lives.   His familiarity with cat food commercials has led him to reject generic brands of cat food in favor of only the most expensive brands.  Gregory is as finicky about visitors as he is about what he eats, befriending some and repelling others.   He may snuggle up against your ankle, begging to be petted, or he may imitate a skunk and stain your favorite trousers.   Gregory does not do this to establish his territory, as many cat experts think, but to humiliate me because he is jealous of my friends.   After my guests have fled, I look at the old fleabag snoozing and smiling to himself in front of the television set, and I have to forgive him for his obnoxious, but endearing, habits. 
a)
Description
b)
Sequence
c)
Chronological
d)
Compare and Contrast
24.
What text structure does this paragraph use?
Even though Arizona and Rhode Island are both states of the U.S., they are strikingly different in many ways. For example, the physical size of each state is different. Arizona is large, having an area of 114,000 square miles, whereas Rhode Island is only about a tenth the size, having an area of only 1,214 square miles. Another difference is in the size of the population of each state. Arizona has about four million people living in it, but Rhode Island has less than one million. The two states also differ in the kinds of natural environments that each has. For example, Arizona is a very dry state, consisting of large desert areas that do not receive much rainfall every year. However, Rhode Island is located in a temperate zone and receives an average of 44 inches of rain per year. In addition, while Arizona is a landlocked state and thus has no seashore, Rhode Island lies on the Atlantic Ocean and does have a significant coastline.
a)
Compare & Contrast
b)
Description
c)
Cause & Effect
d)
Sequence
25.
What text structure does this paragraph use?
The Life-Giving ParasiteHave you ever been swimming in a pond, stream, or lake and had a leech stick on you? You probably thought (or shouted) “Ick!” and tried to pry it off as fast as you could. But leeches aren’t really disgusting, and sometimes they can save lives!In ancient Egypt and later in medieval Europe, doctors put leeches on patients. They believed that the spineless wormlike creatures could cure all sorts of illnesses by sucking a patient’s blood. In Europe and in the United States, millions of leeches were used throughout the 1800s. Doctors applied leeches to treat a variety of illnesses, from obesity to headaches. People soon learned that leeches could not cure most diseases and were not a good treatment for patients. However, in 1985, a Harvard University doctor changed people’s thinking once again. He was trying to reattach a patient’s ear, which had been cut off. He had trouble reconnecting the veins because the patient’s blood kept clotting. He applied a leech to draw out the blood and saved the ear. Since then, leeches have often been used in surgery where body parts are reattached. During surgery, a leech is placed on the area where the surgeon does not want blood to pool and clot. Then the leech secretes a substance that keeps the veins open and stops the blood from clotting. The leech sucks up excess blood, allowing fresh blood to flow, which helps the patient heal. Some people are horrified at the thought of having a bloodsucking creature attached to them. But why not welcome a leech if it can save your life?
a)
Cause & Effect
b)
Chronological
c)
Problem & Solution
d)
Sequence
26.
What type of structure does this paragraph use?
The lack of rain and snow has horrible effects on farmers. With no rain their land dries up, and it is very difficult to grow anything. When the crops fail, the farmers haven't any choice but to get a second job in order to make the money they need. Farming is a full time job and with a second job, farmers are overworked, stressed and even depressed. Many farmers end up selling their land. Some farmers have accepted the government program the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), which is the land is left idle to let the grass grow and must be left idle a certian number of years. while the land is in the CRP program, some farmers have taken outside jobs. That is why when it doesn't rain, you notice that most of the farmers are very crabby. As a farmer's daughter, I have experienced some good times and some bad times. I have gained a great respect for farmers everywhere. ~(c)2005 Laura White~ 
a)
Problem & Solution
b)
Sequence
c)
Description
d)
Cause & Effect
27.
What text structure does this paragraph use?
The emotion of fear sets off many changes in your body. When you become frightened, you breathe more deeply, giving your muscles more oxygen and greater energy. Your hearts beats more powerfully so that your blood circulates faster, carrying oxygen to all parts of your body. Your stomach and intestines no longer contract and all digestive action stops. No saliva flows in your mouth and your throat becomes dry. Your face becomes pale and the tiny blood vessels shrink under the skin so that less blood would flow if you were cut. The blood can clot faster so that there would be less bleeding from a wound. The pupils of your eyes enlarge, admitting more light during the emergency. You might be able to perform great feats of strength in this condition.
a)
Sequence
b)
Description
c)
Cause & Effect
d)
Compare & Contrast
28.

What text structure does this paragraph use?

Making sandbags can be easy and fun.The first thing you need to do is get to a location with a lot of sand, so if you're near a beach, that is perfect. The next thing you need to do is fill your bags with sand. You'll want to fill them completely so that it is firm, like a brick,but leave enough space at the top to tie it closed. After tying them closed you can stack them into a wall. Repeat steps until you have built a large wall.

a)

Chronological

b)

Cause and Effect

c)

Sequence

d)

Problem and Solution

29.

What text structure does this paragraph use?

How do mountains like these disappear? The process begins with rain. As it rains, water seeps through cracks and joints in the stone. Chemicals in the water dissolve small grains of rock. Later on, the water freezes and thaws, prying loose bigger pieces of rock. These rocks grind against other rocks as they slide downhill. The wind carries away particles of dust behind by these grinding rocks. In the end it can be said that wind, water, and gravity have hauled away these mountains.

a)

compare and contrast

b)

directions

c)

cause and effect

d)

problem solving

30.
What text structure is used?
Some people associate running only with panting, sweating, and plain and simple torture, but for me and other experienced runners the effect of running is pure and utter pleasure. When I run, it might look as though I’m in agony, with my gaping mouth, soaked brow, and constantly contracting leg muscles. In fact, however, my daily half-hour run represents a time of complete physical and mental relaxation. As I begin my run, my lungs escape the stuffy atmosphere of my job and school and are immediately refreshed by the clean, open air. The daily tensions built up in my body ease as my muscles stretch and pump, releasing all feelings of anger or frustration. I mentally dive into my run and feel as though I em lifting my feet from the pavement and ascending into the air. My mind wanders toward the outer limits of my imagination, and I seem to float, daydreaming about wherever my thoughts take me. I take pride in the salty perspiration that trickles down my face and body, signifying my effort and ambition. After I complete my run and cool down with long, deep breaths, my body tingles slightly and feels energized, as if I had just come off a roller coaster. I am more alert, my concentration is sharper, and my state of mind is relaxed and peaceful. I feel alive. Beginning runners who initially experience soreness and fatigue rather than this kind of “high” should be patient. As the body builds up strength and tolerance, they will no longer equate running with pain but rather with relief from tension and with greater emotional well-being.    Scott Weckerly (student) 
a)
Compare & Contrast
b)
Description
c)
Problem & Solution
d)
Cause & Effect