CONTEXT CLUESNorth JuniorHigh School8th Grade ELA

Definition: A CONTEXT

CLUE is a word or words near an unknown word in the text that gives clues to the unknown word’s meaning.

How does a CONTEXT CLUE help you when you are reading?

It helps you determine the meaning of an unknown word.

4 Types of CONTEXT CLUES:SynonymsAntonymsExplanationExample

Synonym Example:His pertinacity, orstubborness, is the cause of most of his trouble.

Antonym Example:The rich woman gave a paltry sum to the charity even though she was able to give much more.

Explanation Example:

The country’s highest politician, our president, makes many decisions.

Celestial bodies such as stars, planets, and the moon, have been around for millions of years.

Read each sentence and determine themeaning of the word using cross sentence clues or your prior knowledge. Then, explain what clues in the sentence helped you determine the word meaning.

1. Detest: Everyone else at the party wanted garbage pizza but Tim, because he detested vegetables.

Definition: hatedWhat clues in the sentence lead you to your definition? Vegetables would come on garbage pizza, but Tim didn’t want it because he hated vegetables.

2. Alter: Grandpa didn’t know that Suzie was coming along on the fishing trip, and now he had to alter his plans.

Definition: changeWhat clues in the sentence lead you to your definition?Grandpa didn’t know Suzie was coming; therefore, he had to do make different plans.

3. Melodramatic: When Kiki got a tiny cut on her pinky finger, she got all melodramatic and began sobbing and demanding a doctor.

Definition: Overly dramaticWhat clues in the sentence lead you to your definition?Kiki began sobbing and called for a doctor over a tiny cut on her finger.

4. Remorse: As Tommy walked home with the money he had stolen from the church in his pocket, powerful feelings of remorse bubbled in his stomach.Definition: guilt

What clues in the sentence lead you to your definition?Taking the money had led to feelings bubbling in Tommy’s stomach, not good feelings.

5. Inquiry: When the other Mom’s heard about how Charlene had won the baking contest, her email box was flooded with inquiries for her award winning muffin recipe.Definition: ask questions;

want information What clues in the sentence lead you to your definition?Because Charlene won the contest her recipe must be good and everyone would want to know her recipe

6. Perch: The children were perched on the edge of the sofa arms, waiting to hop off and land on the next unlucky passerby.Definition: Sat on top off

What clues from the sentence lead you to your definition?They had to hop off and land on the next passerby.

7. Earnest: Jeremiah joked around so much that when he told the others about the accident that had occurred, they didn’t believe that he was being earnest.Definition: Serious, truthful

What clues from the sentence lead you to your definition?Because he joked around so much it was difficult to believe him or take him seriously.

8. Jovial: Unlike Bob, who treated others rudely and kept to himself, Bobby was jovial, friendly, and outgoing.

Definition:Friendly, outgoingWhat clues in the sentence lead you to your definition?He was the opposite of Bob, who was rude and kept to himself. He was also friendly & outgoing

9. Demeanor: My grandma’s demeanor was such that people often thought she was being rude, when she was just being honest.Definition: Personality,

attitudeWhat clues in the sentence lead you to your definition?She was perceived as being rude when she really wasn’t. She was honest.

10. Beckoned: The lady decided that is was tea time and so, by jingling a tiny bell, she beckoned her servant to attend.Definition: Motioned for,

signaled toWhat clues in the sentence lead you to your definition?By ringing the bell, she signaled that she was ready for tea.

11. Dismal: With the field torn up by the player’s cleats, and the cold rain falling in waves, conditions on the playing field were dismal.Definition: Not good,

depressingWhat clues from the sentence lead you to your definition?The field was torn up and the rain was falling which mean the conditions were not good.

12. Immense: Lula would have attempted the walk home, had it not been for the immense mountain that stood between her and her destination.

Definition: Large, overpowering, huge

What clues from the sentence lead you to your definition?Lula wouldn’t have

minded the mountain if it hadn’t made her walk a lot more difficult.

Do the next 7 questions on your own.