DAVID DUNN

INTRODUCTION TO ACADEMIC READING

Context clues

Guess the missing word1. The dog ran to fetch the __________ .2. The students ___________ about the course because they

were so dissatisfied.3. I thought British food would be gross, but actually I found it

to be quite __________.4. “Come to the kitchen at __________,” shouted his brother.5. It was so cold in the classroom that I put on my coat, ________

and gloves.6. Look how __________ that dog is! I think that’s the smallest dog

I’ve ever seen!7. The crowd _________ as the home team entered the field.8. They __________ a lot of time whatsapping on their phone

when they should have been working.

stickcomplained

deliciousonce

hat

tiny

cheeredwasted

Context clues• Context clues are words or sentences around unknown words.

• Context clues help us work out unknown words because theyhelp us realize what makes sense in the sentence.

Context cluesMake a list of reasons why using context cluesis an excellent reading strategy.

• You can use this strategy when no one else is around to help.• It might be quicker.• It’s a strategy you will use your whole life.• It helps you understand the text better.• It helps you to remember the word better if you work it out yourself.• You don’t have to put your text down and go look it up.• You don’t have to spend time looking it up in a dictionary and trying

to understand which is the correct definition.

Context clues practiceThe underlined words in the following sentences are French words.Use the context clues to work out the meaning of each word.

1. That pen is broken. Throw it in the corbeille.

2. The dentist told me I had a cavity. He said I should brossermy teeth twice a day.

3. Write this down because I don’t want you to oublier it.

4. She cleaned up her room so lentement that I thought it would take her all day to get the job done.

= bin

= brush

= forget

= slowly

Context clues practiceNow work with a partner and study the worksheeton context clues practice.

Context clues practiceNow work with a partner and make your ownContext clues exercise.

Then test another pair.

You could use the social work article from lesson 3,or a news article from one of the news sites suggestedin the previous lesson.

Example from the social work article:

“Meeting his mother really shed some light on his behaviour at school.”

Take-home message

Using context clues can help you guess unknown words, and thereby become a more independent and efficient reader.