wayground logo

Free Printable Worksheets

NEW

Font size

S
M
L
XL
Worksheets

RL/RI 8.4, L.4, L.5

Total questions: 20

Worksheet time: 28mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Use context clues to define the bold word:

The Bermuda Triangle is an area of the Atlantic Ocean where strange things are said to happen.

a)

a special geometric shape used in map-making

b)

the title of a mystery novel, involving sailors

c)

an imaginary and magical island where many stories and movies take place

d)

a region in the ocean where people mysteriously disappear

2.

Use context clues to define the bold word:

There are several theories or unproven explanations, that attempt to explain why ships and airplanes have vanished in the Bermuda Triangle.

a)

an idea meant to explain facts or events

b)

a completely made-up story

c)

a military term for strange disappearances

d)

a large ship or boat

3.

Use context clues to define the bold word:

The building that is adjacent, or next to ours, is infested with rats.

a)

constructed

b)

beside

c)

infested

d)

beneath

4.

Use context clues to define the bold word:

James Joyce is famous for using language in experimental, or new ways.

a)

related to science

b)

completely new or untested

c)

performed in a lab

d)

foreign or unable to be understood

5.

Use context clues to define the bold word:

After his mother's death, Joyce lived in exile, which means that he lived away from his home country.

a)

the state of being away from one's home

b)

a commune for writers and artists

c)

a rural city in Ireland

d)

a condition of sadness and grief

6.

Use context clues to define the bold word:

Edgar Allan Poe likes to use motifs, such as the repetition of the word "nevermore" in his poem "The Raven".

a)

the literary repetition of words or ideas

b)

a decorative pattern used

c)

a long poem on a single subject

d)

a creepy poem

7.

When another old cave is discovered in the south of France, it is not usually news. Rather, it is an ordinary event. Such discoveries are so frequent these days that hardly anybody pays heed to them.


The words pays heed to are closest in meaning to _______.

a)

discovers

b)

watches

c)

notices

d)

buys

8.

Many species went extinct for unknown reasons so many types of animals are no longer found on earth.


What type of context clue is used in the sentence?

a)

Synonym

b)

Example

c)

Cause and Effect

d)

General/Inference

9.
Read the sentences below:
Women's suffrage organizations faced determined resistance from groups who argued that a woman's place was in the home, not in the political arena.
Which words provide a clue to the meaning of resistance?
a)
in the political arena
b)
in the home
c)
groups who argued
d)
in the government
10.

If you count all the votes in an area that heavily supports candidate A, and only some of the votes in an area that heavily supports candidate B, you’ll skew the results in favor of candidate A. What does "SKEW" mean?

a)

Roast

b)

Ignore

c)

Slant

d)

Ask

11.

 ". . . our farm has turned to dust; our cattle are barely surviving; the winds that came earlier this summer turned the soil into thick, murky clouds." (paragraph 1)

What other words in the passage does the author use to illustrate the meaning of "murky clouds" in this excerpt?

a)

"...the dust came like snow blocking out the Sun..."

b)

"The powdery dirt, black and red, has made its way into the house and coated everything there as well."

c)

"Any longer and the carrot and onion broth turns to mud."

d)

"...some furniture and some crates of preserved vegetables in dust-encased glass jars."

12.

Many companies are downsizing, reducing the number of employees they have, in order to save money.

What type of context clue is used to help determine the meaning of the underlined word?

a)

synonym

b)

definition

c)

inference

d)

example

13.

Read the following passage: "The forest was dense and filled with a chorus of chirping birds. The sunlight barely touched the forest floor due to the thick canopy overhead." What can be inferred about the density of the forest?

a)

The forest is sparsely populated with trees.

b)

The forest floor is well-lit by sunlight.

c)

The trees in the forest are likely very tall and close together.

d)

There are no birds in the forest.

14.
Tristin couldn’t see the school building; it was SHROUDED by smoke and dust.” What does the word SHROUDED mean?
a)
Covered
b)
ruined
c)
bounced
d)
invisible
15.

Managers of some public lands now understand the importance of fire in the cycles of nature. When a lightning fire poses no danger to people or buildings, some public agencies now let it burn. Many forests that have not been allowed to burn for decades contain dangerous amounts of fuel. A lightning strike in such a forest could lead to a big, hot, dangerous fire. Suppressing fire in other environments, such as grasslands, has also led to undesirable changes. The best answer to these problems appears to be to fight fire with fire. Land managers use prescribed fire, carefully planned burns that bring about desirable changes.

Which words from the text best help the reader understand the meaning of “suppressing”

a)

“now understand the importance of fire”

b)

“carefully planned burns”

c)

“have not been allowed to burn”

d)

“a lightning fire poses no danger”

16.
Anthony was falling behind the pack at the track meet.  He wasn't the fasted runner on the team, but he was a harder worker than the others.  He has placed second so many times, and he was frustrated.  As he rounded the last corner, he told himself he could do it.  He gave every once of effort in his body. Anthony took off like a lightning bolt and passed the others.  It was only his ambition that helped him wn the race.
Which words from the passage helped the reader know the meaning of ambition?
a)
harder worker
b)
falling behind
c)
wasn't the fastest runner
d)
lightning bolt
17.
Read the sentences below:
Women's suffrage organizations faced determined resistance from groups who argued that a woman's place was in the home, not in the political arena.
Which words provide a clue to the meaning of resistance?
a)
in the political arena
b)
in the home
c)
groups who argued
d)
in the government
18.

R: the suffix -ist means a person, or one who does an action; the meaning of -ambular- is walk; and the prefix somn- means sleep

The somnambulist had to be locked in his bedroom at night for his own safety. What does somnambulist mean?

a)

a person who walks to class

b)

a person who decorates bedrooms

c)

a person who walks in their sleep

d)

a person who knows about sleeping

19.

E: 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.”

a)

exciting

b)

boring

c)

strong

d)

smelly

20.

G: The gaunt, short haired blonde girl barely hit the volleyball hard enough to make it onto the other side of the thread-bear net.

a)

noun: juvenile, female

b)

verb: jabbed, slammed

c)

adverb: hardly, roughly

d)

adjective: extremely thin