Use Context Clues to Use Context Clues to Determine the Meaning of Determine the Meaning of Determine the Meaning of Determine the Meaning of

Unfamiliar Words Unfamiliar Words SPI 0801 1 16SPI 0801 1 16SPI 0801.1.16SPI 0801.1.16

Concept map

WHAT ARE CONTEXT CLUES?

ContextContextClues

How Do You Guess The How Do You Guess The M i Of A M i Of A Meaning Of An Meaning Of An Unfamiliar Word?Unfamiliar Word?ff

There are words or phrases around an There are words or phrases around an f ili d th t h l f ili d th t h l unfamiliar word that can help you unfamiliar word that can help you

understand the meaning of a new word.understand the meaning of a new word.Th d d h ll d Th d d h ll d These words and phrases are called These words and phrases are called

context cluescontext clues..If you learn how to use these clues, If you learn how to use these clues,

you can save yourself a trip to the you can save yourself a trip to the dictionary increase your vocabulary and dictionary increase your vocabulary and dictionary, increase your vocabulary, and dictionary, increase your vocabulary, and improve your reading comprehension.improve your reading comprehension.

CONTEXT CLUESCONTEXT CLUESCONTEXT CLUESCONTEXT CLUES

THERE ARE DIFFERENT TYPES OF CONTEXT CLUES:DefinitionRestatement or SynonymRestatement or SynonymContrast or AntonymComparisonExampleList or SeriesCause and EffectCause and EffectDescription or Inference

DEFINITIONDEFINITIONDEFINITIONDEFINITION

The unknown word is equated to a The unknown word is equated to a more familiar word or phrase; more familiar word or phrase; more familiar word or phrase; more familiar word or phrase; usually a form of usually a form of to beto be is used.is used.

EXAMPLES:EXAMPLES:EXAMPLES:EXAMPLES:

****EntomologyEntomology isis the study of insects.the study of insects.gygy yy

••****ArchaeologyArchaeology isis the scientific study of prehistoric the scientific study of prehistoric cultures by excavation of their remains cultures by excavation of their remains cultures by excavation of their remains. cultures by excavation of their remains.

RESTATEMENT ORRESTATEMENT ORRESTATEMENT ORRESTATEMENT ORSYNONYMSYNONYM

The meaning is usually right after the The meaning is usually right after the unfamiliar word and often separated from unfamiliar word and often separated from unfamiliar word and often separated from unfamiliar word and often separated from the rest of the sentence with commas, the rest of the sentence with commas, dashes, or parentheses; dashes, or parentheses; sometimessometimes, or , or that isthat is, or , or in other wordsin other words is used.is used.

EXAMPLESEXAMPLES::**M t tM t t th t ith t i ii t th t f t th t f **Meat eatersMeat eaters, , that isthat is carnivorescarnivores, are at the top of , are at the top of the food chainthe food chain..*The *The goslingsgoslings----those those fuzzy baby geesefuzzy baby geese----waddled waddled g gg g y y gy y gafter their mother.after their mother.*She enjoyed *She enjoyed biologybiology ((the study of living thingsthe study of living things))..

CONTRAST ORCONTRAST ORCONTRAST ORCONTRAST ORANTONYMANTONYM

The unfamiliar word is shown to be different from or unlike another word and is often an opposite; or unlike another word, and is often an opposite; but, however, although, otherwise, unless, instead, on the contrary, on the other hand, while, never, no, or not may be used to signal contrast.

EXAMPLE:EXAMPLE:EXAMPLE:EXAMPLE:

**Mike’s parrot was Mike’s parrot was loquaciousloquacious, , butbut Maria’s said Maria’s said very littlevery littlevery littlevery little..

COMPARISONCOMPARISONCOMPARISONCOMPARISON

The unfamiliar word is shown to be the The unfamiliar word is shown to be the same as or like another word; same as or like another word; too like as too like as same as or like another word; same as or like another word; too, like, as, too, like, as, similar to,similar to, or or in the same wayin the same way may be may be used to signal the comparison.used to signal the comparison.g pg pEXAMPLE:EXAMPLE:

*My brother is *My brother is enthralledenthralled by birds by birds similarsimilartoto the way that I am the way that I am fascinatedfascinated by by i ti tinsects.insects.

EXAMPLEEXAMPLEEXAMPLEEXAMPLE

The unfamiliar word is cleared up by The unfamiliar word is cleared up by i i l i i l f i tf i t h h giving an example; giving an example; for instancefor instance, , such assuch as, ,

and and for examplefor example may be used as signals.may be used as signals.

EXAMPLE:EXAMPLE:

*The archeologist found different *The archeologist found different amuletsamulets such such The archeologist found different The archeologist found different amuletsamulets, , such such asas a a rabbit’s footrabbit’s foot and and bags of herbsbags of herbs, near the , near the ancient altar.ancient altar.

LIST OR SERIESLIST OR SERIESLIST OR SERIESLIST OR SERIES

The unfamiliar word is included in a The unfamiliar word is included in a series of related words that give an series of related words that give an idea of the word’s meaning.idea of the word’s meaning.

EXAMPLE:EXAMPLE:

*North American *North American predatorspredators include include grizzly grizzly bearsbears, , pumaspumas, , wolveswolves, and , and foxesfoxes..

CAUSE AND EFFECTCAUSE AND EFFECTCAUSE AND EFFECTCAUSE AND EFFECT

The meaning of an unfamiliar word The meaning of an unfamiliar word is signaled by a causeis signaled by a cause--andand--effecteffectrelationship between ideas in therelationship between ideas in thetext.text.

EXAMPLE:EXAMPLE:EXAMPLE:EXAMPLE:

**Due toDue to a a dearthdearth of termites, of termites, the aardvark the aardvark starved to deathstarved to death..

DESCRIPTION ORDESCRIPTION ORDESCRIPTION ORDESCRIPTION ORINFERENCEINFERENCE

The meaning of an unfamiliar wordThe meaning of an unfamiliar wordcan be inferred from the descriptioncan be inferred from the descriptionof a situation or experience.of a situation or experience.

EXAMPLE:EXAMPLE:

*The monkey’s *The monkey’s vociferousvociferous chatter chatter mademademe wish I had earplugs.me wish I had earplugs.me wish I had earplugs.me wish I had earplugs.

CONTEXT CLUESCONTEXT CLUESCONTEXT CLUESCONTEXT CLUESPRACTICEPRACTICE

Read each sentence or paragraph and circle Read each sentence or paragraph and circle the correct answer.the correct answer.

1. The archeologist carefully removed the tometome from its ancient resting and proceeded to read the pages related to marriage in ancient Greece. What does the word What does the word tometome probably mean?probably mean?

P b b k d a. Pen b. weapon c. book d. sausage

2. The Navajo language is an unwritten language of extremel it ith l h b t b l d i k l complexity with no alphabet or symbols, and is spoken only on

the lands of the Navajo Nation in the American Southwest. DuringWorld War II a Navajo code was created for the U.S. Navy. This code was virtuallyvirtually undecipherable to anyone except Navajoyy p y p jspeaking persons. What does the word What does the word virtuallyvirtually probably mean?probably mean?a. Pleasant b. almost c. never d. always

CONTEXT CLUESCONTEXT CLUESTTPRACTICE PRACTICE

Cont.Cont.Cont.Cont.3. Lakes occupy less than two percent of the Earth’s surface, yetthey help sustainsustain life For instance lakes give us fish to eat irrigate they help sustainsustain life. For instance, lakes give us fish to eat, irrigate crops, and generate electrical power. What does the word What does the word sustainsustainprobably mean? probably mean? a support b obstruct c prolong d destroya. support b. obstruct c. prolong d. destroy

4. The ancient Greeks pioneeredpioneered many of the kinds of writing weconsider standard today. They wrote speeches, plays, poems, books about science and learning, long histories of the thingsthat happened to them. What does the word What does the word pioneeredpioneered probablyprobablymean?mean?mean?mean?a. complicated b. developed c. destroyed d. explored

CONTEXT CLUESCONTEXT CLUESACT C ACT C PRACTICE PRACTICE Cont.Cont.

5. Fifty-five mostly prominentprominent, male delegates attended the Philadelphia Convention in 1787. About seventy-five percent of p y pthe delegates had served in Congress and others were important people in their home states. These men are often referred to as the Framers of the Constitution. What does the word What does the word prominentprominentprobably mean?probably mean?probably mean?probably mean?a. unimportant b. unknown c. common d. important

6 Bats that eat fruit and nectar spread seeds and help flowers 6. Bats that eat fruit and nectar spread seeds and help flowers grow. Without bats many important plants would not thrivethrive. WhatWhatdoes the word does the word thrivethrive probably mean?probably mean?a. flourish b. die c. wither d. deteriorate

CONTEXT CLUESCONTEXT CLUESCONTEXT CLUESCONTEXT CLUESMORE PRACTICEMORE PRACTICE

Read the passage Read the passage ARMADILLOS and and AparaApara

WordWord Definition Context ClueContext Clue Type ofType ofcontext cluecontext clue

ARMADILLOS and and complete the chart:complete the chart: AridArid

BuoyantBuoyant

CarrionCarrion

DwindledDwindled

NocturnalNocturnal

PlacentaPlacenta

SparseSparse

Use Context Clues to Use Context Clues to Determine the Meaning of Determine the Meaning of Determine the Meaning of Determine the Meaning of

Unfamiliar Words Unfamiliar Words SPI 0801 1 16SPI 0801 1 16SPI 0801.1.16SPI 0801.1.16