CONTEXT CLUESCONTEXT CLUES BYBY

Mrs. EvansMrs. Evans

Concept map

WHAT ARE CONTEXT CLUES?

ContextClues

How Do You Guess The How Do You Guess The Meaning Of An Meaning Of An Unfamiliar Word?Unfamiliar Word?

There are words or phrases around an There are words or phrases around an 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.

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 improve your reading comprehension.  improve your reading comprehension. 

CONTEXT CLUESCONTEXT CLUES

THERE ARE DIFFERENT TYPES OF CONTEXT CLUES:

DefinitionRestatement or SynonymContrast or AntonymComparisonExampleList or SeriesCause and EffectDescription or Inference

DEFINITIONDEFINITION

The unknown word is equated to a The unknown word is equated to a 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:

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

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

RESTATEMENT ORRESTATEMENT ORSYNONYMSYNONYM

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

**Meat eatersMeat eaters, , that arethat are carnivorescarnivores, are at the top , are at the top of of the food chainthe food chain..*The *The goslingsgoslings----those those fuzzy baby geesefuzzy baby geese----waddled waddled after their mother.after their mother.*She enjoyed *She enjoyed biologybiology ((the study of living thingsthe study of living things))..

CONTRAST ORCONTRAST OR ANTONYM ANTONYM

The unfamiliar word is shown to be different from 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:

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

COMPARISONCOMPARISON

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, too, like, as, similar to,as, 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.

EXAMPLE:EXAMPLE:

*My brother is *My brother is enthralledenthralled by birds by birds similarsimilar toto the way that I am the way that I am fascinatedfascinated by by insects.insects.

EXAMPLEEXAMPLE

The unfamiliar word is cleared up by The unfamiliar word is cleared up by giving an example; giving an example; for instancefor instance, , such such asas, and , and for examplefor example may be used as may be used as signals.signals.EXAMPLE:EXAMPLE:

*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 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 EFFECT

The meaning of an unfamiliar word The meaning of an unfamiliar word

is signaled by a cause-and-effectis signaled by a cause-and-effect

relationship between ideas in therelationship between ideas in the

text.text.

EXAMPLE:EXAMPLE:

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

DESCRIPTION ORDESCRIPTION ORINFERENCEINFERENCE

The meaning of an unfamiliar wordThe meaning of an unfamiliar word

can be inferred from the descriptioncan be inferred from the description

of 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.

CONTEXT CLUESCONTEXT CLUES PRACTICE PRACTICE

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?a. Pen b. weapon c. book d. sausage

2. The Navajo language is an unwritten language of extremecomplexity with no alphabet or symbols, and is spoken only onthe 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 Navajospeaking persons. What does the word What does the word virtuallyvirtually probably mean? probably mean?a. Pleasant b. almost c. never d. always

CONTEXT CLUESCONTEXT CLUES PRACTICE PRACTICE 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 crops, and generate electrical power. What does the word What does the word sustainsustain

probably mean? probably mean? a. 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 probably probablymean?mean?a. complicated b. developed c. destroyed d. explored

CONTEXT CLUESCONTEXT CLUES PRACTICE PRACTICE Cont.Cont.

5. Fifty-five mostly prominentprominent, male delegates attended the Philadelphia Convention in 1787. About seventy-five percent of the 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 What does the word word prominentprominent probably mean? probably mean?

a. unimportant b. unknown c. common d. important

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

CONTEXT CLUESCONTEXT CLUESMORE PRACTICEMORE PRACTICE

Read the passage Read the passage ARMADILLOS and and

complete the chart:complete the chart:

AparaApara

AridArid

BuoyantBuoyant

CarrionCarrion

DwindledDwindled

NocturnalNocturnal

PlacentaPlacenta

SparseSparse

WordWord Definition Context ClueContext Clue Type ofType of context context clueclue

THE ENDTHE END

QUESTIONS?QUESTIONS?