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WorksheetsContext Clues Workshop
Total questions: 9
Worksheet time: 33mins
What are the best ways to figure out the meaning of a word in a text if, like for the written Matura, you don't have access to the internet?
DEFINITION / DESCRIPTION CLUE
The new term may be formally defined, or sufficient explanation may be given within the sentence or in the following sentence. Clues to definition include “that is,” commas, dashes, and parentheses.
His emaciation, that is, his skeleton-like appearance, was frightening to see.
What does emaciation mean?
(a)
Fluoroscopy, examination with a fluoroscope, has become a common practice.
What does fluoroscopy mean?
(a)
The dudeen – a short-stemmed clay pipe – is found in Irish folk tales.
What is a dudeen, taken directly from the text?
(a)
EXAMPLE CLUES
Sometimes when a reader finds a new word, an example might be found nearby that helps to explain its meaning. Words like including, such as, and for example, point out example clues.
Piscatorial creatures, such as flounder, salmon, and trout, live in the coldest parts of the ocean.
What type of animal does "piscatorial" refer to?
(a)
Celestial bodies, including the sun, moon, and stars, have fascinated man through the centuries.
Where are "celestial bodies" located?
(a)
In the course of man’s evolution, certain organs have atrophied. The appendix, for example, has wasted away from disuse.
What does "atrophied" mean, taken directly from the text?
(a)
SYNONYM RESTATEMENT CLUE
The reader may discover the meaning of an unknown word because it repeats an idea expressed in familiar words nearby. Synonyms are words with the same meaning.
Flooded with spotlights – the focus of all attention – the new Miss America began her year-long reign. She was the cynosure of all eyes for the rest of the evening.
What does cynosure mean, taken directly from the text?
(a)
CONTRAST / ANTONYM CLUE
Antonyms are words with opposite meanings. An opposite meaning context clue contrasts the meaning of an unfamiliar word with the meaning of a familiar term. Words like “although,” “however,” and “but” may signal contrast clues.
When the light brightens, the pupils of the eyes contract; however, when it grows darker, they dilate.
What is dilate the opposite of?
(a)
The children were as different as day and night. He was a lively conversationalist, but she was reserved and taciturn.
What is taciturn the opposite of?
(a)
MOOD / TONE CLUE
The author sets a mood, and the meaning of the unknown word must harmonize with the mood.
The lugubrious wails of the gypsies matched the dreary whistling of the wind in the all but deserted cemetery.
Select all the words that match the mood of "lugubrious."
wails
dreary
deserted
whistling
ANALYSIS OR STRUCTURE CLUE
The parts used to construct a word can be direct clues to meaning. Knowledge of prefixes, roots, and suffixes can aid a reader in using this type of context clue. Learning one word part can add dozens of words to a reader’s vocabulary. The power of word parts lies in the ability to combine the roots and affixes with the context in which a word is used to discover the author’s meaning.
The story is incredible.
What are the structures specifically for "incredible?" Select all.
"in" means "contains something" or "inside"
"in" means "not"
"cred" means "famous"
"cred" means "believe"
INFERENCE CLUE
Sufficient clues might be available just based on the context of a word's use for the careful reader to make an educated guess at the meaning.
She told her friend, “I’m through with blind dates forever. What a dull evening! I was bored every minute. The conversation was absolutely vapid.”
What does vapid most likely mean?
Unable to see
Sparkling
Uninteresting
Absolutely
She wanted to impress all her dinner guests with the food she served, so she carefully studied the necessary culinary arts.
What is the most likely meaning of "culinary"?
eating food
decorating food
preparing food
serving food
If you want to keep practicing, feel free to answer the questions here to test what you are able to figure out based on the context of the words used. You can try again using the link if you want to do this again at home.
You are always looking for the definition of the underlined word, and have to select the best answer, not just one that fits.
My brother said, “I just freed myself from a very loquacious history professor. All he seemed to want was an audience.”
pretentious
grouchy
talkative
worried
There is no doubt that the idea of living in such a benign climate was appealing. The islanders seemed to keep their vitality and live longer than Europeans.
tropical
free from harm
kind
favorable
It is difficult to imagine a surfeit of talent in one individual, yet Leonard Bernstein simply does not have the time to make complete use of his copious talent as conductor, performer, writer, and lecturer.
excess
variety
superiority
lack
Such are the vicissitudes of history. Nothing remains the same. Three hundred years of peace ended in darkness and confusion.
evils
mistakes
changes
rules
The purpose of the psychiatrist is to mitigate the suffering of the patient.
make milder
beautify
increase
banish
We knew he couldn’t hold out much longer, because he had been doomed from the beginning. One night he met his ineluctable fate.
forgotten
inevitable
hidden
unhappy
A combination of fog and industrial smoke, called smog, has vitiated the air in and around many big cities.
concentrate
fill up
replace
contaminate
