Context clue overview

Reading 090 Using Context Clues and Word Parts

Context - the setting or situation in which something occurs. Authors often give hints or clues to an unknown word’s meaning within the passage in which the word is found. We call these hints “context clues”

Do you know the meaning of the word ubiquitous ? Look at the sentence below and see if the context — the words surrounding the unfamiliar word — helps you figure out the meaning of the word. What does ubiquitous mean? A. unaffordable B. complicated C. widespread Cell phones have become ubiquitous ; you can see — and hear — them everywhere.

If the phones are “everywhere,” they must be widespread . The context helps you figure out that ubiquitous means “widespread.” Cell phones have become ubiquitous ; you can see — and hear — them everywhere . What does ubiquitous mean? A. unaffordable B. complicated C. widespread

During his lecture, the ornithologist described his research on western spotted owls as well as many other birds . Ornithologist=a person who studies birds

1. definition 2. synonym 3. example 4. contrast 5. inference 6. word parts Authors often use a combination of clues to help a reader understand the meaning of an unknown word . For example, a reader might use both word parts AND inference when determining the meaning of an unknown word.

• Textbook authors often provide definitions of important terms, followed by examples. • They usually set off the terms they are defining in italic or boldface type. TEXTBOOK DEFINITIONS In all societies there is some vertical mobility —moving up or down the status ladder. The upward movement is called upward mobility and the downward movement, downward mobility . The promotion of a teacher to the position of principal is an example of upward mobility, and demotion from principal to teacher is downward mobility. Example

1. Commas Hypochondria , excessive worry over one’s health , afflicts many Americans over forty. 2. Parentheses Middle age ( 35 years to 65 years ) is a time for strengthening and maintaining life goals. 3. Dashes Most societies are patriarchal - males exert dominant power and authority .

1. There was a consensus , or unified opinion, among the students that the exam was difficult. commas 2. The continents and ocean basins of the Earth’s crust are separated from the Earth’s liquid core by the mantle - 1,800 miles of a sold layer of rock. dash 9. In police investigations, interrogation (examination by questioning) is vital, but it can be psychologically and emotionally draining to the person who is being questioned. parentheses

Context clues are often found in the form of synonyms : one or more words that mean the same or almost the same as the unknown word. TYPES OF CONTEXT CLUES Synonym Clue

In the sentence below, what is the synonym that tells you the meaning of the word innate ? That five-year-old girl must have innate musical talent; playing piano so well at her age requires an inborn gift. TYPES OF CONTEXT CLUES Synonyms

In the sentence below, what is the synonym that tells you the meaning of the word innate ? That five-year-old girl must have innate musical talent; playing piano so well at her age requires an inborn gift. TYPES OF CONTEXT CLUES Synonyms The synonym inborn tells you that innate must mean “possessed at birth.” The girl has inborn musical talent. Explanation

In the sentences below, what is the synonym that tells you the meaning of the word mentor ? TYPES OF CONTEXT CLUES Synonyms Gaining a mentor is helpful when you are beginning a new job. A wise and trusted advisor can greatly assist your career.

In the sentences below, what is the synonym that tells you the meaning of the word mentor ? TYPES OF CONTEXT CLUES Synonyms The synonym wise and trusted advisor in the second sentence tells you the meaning of mentor . Explanation Gaining a mentor is helpful when you are beginning a new job. A wise and trusted advisor can greatly assist your career.

A synonym clue may appear in the same sentence as the unknown word: The author purposely left the ending of his novel ambiguous , or unclear , so readers would have to decide for themselves what happened. Or, a synonym clue may appear somewhere else in the passage, in an earlier or later sentence: After the soccer match, a melee broke out in the parking lot. Three people were injured in the brawl , and several others were arrested.

TYPES OF CONTEXT CLUES Examples Look at the sentence below and see if the examples help you understand the meaning of the word adversities . As they moved westward, early pioneers faced many adversities , such as scarce food, extreme weather, and loneliness. Adversities means A. criminals. B. decisions. C. hardships.

The examples of adversities — scarce food, extreme weather, loneliness — help you understand that adversities means “hardships.” Explanation TYPES OF CONTEXT CLUES Examples As they moved westward, early pioneers faced many adversities , such as scarce food , extreme weather , and loneliness . Adversities means A. criminals. B. decisions. C. hardships.

What is the synonym in the sentence? The mayor’s assistant was accused of malfeasance , although he denied any wrongdoing. Edgar Allan Poe is best known for his macabre short stories and poems. His eerie tale, the Fall of the House of Usher , was made into a horror movie starring Vincent Price.

Often (but not always) preceded by: To illustrate For instance For example Such as Including Example: Microscopic pathogens , such as viruses, bacteria, and fungi, constantly threaten our health as we go about our daily lives.

Look at the sentences below and see if the examples help you understand the meaning of the word idiosyncrasy . Each of my coworkers has a strange idiosyncrasy . For instance, our receptionist wears only pink. The mail clerk always speaks in a whisper. And my office mate lives on peanuts and apples. Idiosyncrasy means A. hidden thought. B. unusual personal habits. C. unusual goal. TYPES OF CONTEXT CLUES Examples

The three examples of unusual personal habits help you understand that idiosyncrasy means “unusual personal habits.” Explanation TYPES OF CONTEXT CLUES Examples Each of my coworkers has a strange idiosyncrasy . For instance, our receptionist wears only pink . The mail clerk always speaks in a whisper . And my office mate lives on peanuts and apples. Idiosyncrasy means A. hidden thought. B. unusual personal habits. C. unusual goal.

Contrasts/Antonyms are words or phrases that mean the opposite of a word. Antonyms are also useful as context clues. TYPES OF CONTEXT CLUES Contrast/Antonyms

Whereas On the one hand However In contrast Unlike But Despite Yet Rather Nevertheless

Most of my friends’ mothers seemed ordinary; mine, however, did such bizarre things as spraying green paint on a dead tree in front of our house. Bizarre means A. odd. B. easy. C. dangerous. TYPES OF CONTEXT CLUES Contrast/Antonyms In the sentence below, 1. What is the antonym that helps you figure out the meaning of the word bizarre ? 2. What is the meaning of bizarre ?

Most of my friends’ mothers seemed ordinary ; mine, however, did such bizarre things as spraying green paint on a dead tree in front of our house. TYPES OF CONTEXT CLUES Contrast/Antonyms In the sentence below, 1. What is the antonym that helps you figure out the meaning of the word bizarre ? 2. What is the meaning of bizarre ? Bizarre is the opposite of “ordinary,” so it must mean “odd.” Explanation Bizarre means B. easy. C. dangerous. A. odd.

In the sentence below, 1. What is the antonym that helps you figure out the meaning of the word verbose ? 2. What is the meaning of verbose ? Verbose means A. argumentative. B. wordy. C. short. TYPES OF CONTEXT CLUES Contrast/Antonyms A memo that is brief and to the point is more likely to be read than one that is verbose and rambling.

In the sentence below, 1. What is the antonym that helps you figure out the meaning of the word verbose ? 2. What is the meaning of verbose ? A memo that is brief and to the point is more likely to be read than one that is verbose and rambling. TYPES OF CONTEXT CLUES Contrast/Antonyms Verbose is the opposite of “brief and to the point,” so it must mean “wordy.” Explanation Verbose means A. argumentative. B. wordy. C. short.

Exercise 2-4 Highlight the words from the sentence that tell the opposite of the bold word. Choose the best answer from the choices provided for the meaning of the bold word.

• Sometimes, to figure out an unfamiliar word, you must draw conclusions based on the information given. • Asking yourself questions can help you make an accurate guess about the meaning of the unfamiliar word. TYPES OF CONTEXT CLUES Inference

Read the sentence below. Then think about the question that follows to figure out the meaning of rectified . One argument against capital punishment is that if an innocent person is executed, the mistake cannot be rectified . Rectified means A. remembered. B. predicted. C. corrected. (What cannot be done about a mistake as final as an execution?) TYPES OF CONTEXT CLUES Inference

Read the sentence below. Then think about the question that follows to figure out the meaning of rectified . One argument against capital punishment is that if an innocent person is executed, the mistake cannot be rectified . Rectified means A. remembered. B. predicted. C. corrected. (What cannot be done about a mistake as final as an execution?) TYPES OF CONTEXT CLUES Inference Because the innocent person is dead, there is no way to correct the mistake of having executed the person. Explanation

Read the sentence below. Then think about the question that follows to figure out the meaning of extricate . It took two days for volunteers to extricate the little girl from the bottom of the well. Extricate means A. free. B. delay. C. remember. (How would volunteers try to help the trapped girl?) TYPES OF CONTEXT CLUES Inference

Read the sentence below. Then think about the question that follows to figure out the meaning of extricate . It took two days for volunteers to extricate the little girl from the bottom of the well. Extricate means A. free. B. delay. C. remember. (How would volunteers try to help the trapped girl?) TYPES OF CONTEXT CLUES Inference If the girl is at the bottom of a well, the volunteers would try to free her. Explanation

Examples: The editor would not allow the paper to go to press until certain passages were expunged from an article naming individuals in a political scandal. Removed Explanation: The editor would want the incriminating material removed before printing to avoid trouble. Since the hammering next door had been going on for days, we had become somewhat inured to it. Accustomed/used to Explanation: People get used to a sound that they hear continuously.

Complete Exercise 2-5 #4-10 p. 58

Word parts are groups of letters that often have a specific meaning when found in words. A fast way to start understanding unknown words is to recognize common word parts. For example… non- means “not” and is found in over 10,000 words. Also, pseudo- means “false” and is found in over 400 words.

The parents thought their child was unteachable.

What Are Word Parts, Text p. 59 Common Prefixes p. 61 Common Roots p. 64 Common Suffixes p. 67

Use the charts in the book to help The diameter of a circle is the distance __________ a circle. Around Over Under Through

A musical interlude is a short piece inserted ___________ the parts of a longer composition. Before After Between During

The counselor helped the teenager redefine her goals. explain further state again defend closely manage

William was more introverted than his sisters. Outgoing Entertaining Shy Active

The spaceship made a circumlunar voyage. Create your own definition. circum- = around lunar = moon (need background knowledge) circumlunar = around the moon

Words can have both a dictionary definition as well as an implied emotional meaning . Denotation- meaning stated in a dictionary, literal definition of a word Connotation- additional implied meaning a word may take on; usually a positive or negative impression

Context clue overview

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