Understanding Context Clues for Effective Reading Comprehension
Context clues are hints within a text that assist readers in understanding the meaning of unfamiliar words. They can be found in definitions, surrounding sentences, synonyms, antonyms, and cause-and-effect relationships. By recognizing and utilizing context clues, readers can enhance their comprehension and interpretation of the text.
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Context Clues and Multiple-Meaning Words FSA Reading Targeted Standards Review
Definition: Context Clues A context clue is a hint in the text that can help a reader figure out the meaning of an unfamiliar word
Where in the world is the context clue? Sometimes a context clue may be in the form of a definition included in the same sentence Angel and the other explorers moved across the vast tundra, slowly trekking across the treeless, never-ending, frozen plain. The underlined word, tundra, may be unfamiliar to you. Here, the sentence provides a definition a treeless, never-ending, frozen plain.
Where in the world is the context clue? Sometimes context clues are found in surrounding sentences before OR after the unfamiliar word. They may also be in the form of a synonym or antonym. Rashida often included superfluous details in her essays. Mr. Miranda advised her to eliminate unnecessary words in order to improve her writing. The word unnecessary helps you understand the meaning of its synonym, superfluous. Jake was a tentative kind of guy. On the other hand, his brother Kevin was enthusiastic and took charge. The phrase on the other hand establishes that antonyms are used to compare Jake and Kevin.
Where in the world is the context clue? There are also context clues that show cause and effect Elissa and Mary Anne had seen all that delicious food in the movie. As a result, they returned home ravenous. Even if the word ravenous is unfamiliar, it can be understood from the context that after salivating at the movie, the girls would be very hungry when they got home.
Lets practice! When I was growing up, the old man who lived in the red brick house at the end of the block was particularly churlish. He was always yelling at kids passing by and complaining that they trespassed on his lawn. I never once saw him smile. Sometimes, when we were younger, my friends and I would take a longer route home from school to avoid seeing him. It definitely seemed like the better option. Only the most intrepid of us dared to get close to him. At the same time, I thought he detested children and enjoyed being mean to them. Now, however, I see things differently. I see him as a sad, lonely man who lost his joy of life somewhere along the way. My fear and resentment of him have been replaced with pity. I make a point of walking by his house, waving, and saying hello when I see him. He never reciprocates my greeting, but he doesn t yell at me, either.
When I was growing up, the old man who lived in the red brick house at the end of the block was particularly churlish. He was always yelling at kids passing by and complaining that they trespassed on his lawn. I never once saw him smile. In the first sentence, what does the word churlish mean? A. outgoing B. grumpy C. in poor health D. knowledgeable **Clues to the meaning of the word churlish can be found in the two sentences that follow it**
I make a point of walking by his house, waving, and saying hello when I see him. He never reciprocates my greeting, but he doesn t yell at me, either. In the last sentence, what does the word reciprocates mean? A. returns B. ignores C. questions D. identifies **Try replacing reciprocates with each answer choice, then choose the one that best fits the context.
Definition: Multiple-Meaning Words A multiple-meaning word has more than one definition. Scientists theorized that the mysterious depression in the field had been caused by a meteorite. The word depression has various meanings, including: 1. the condition of feeling sad, 2. an area that is sunk below its surroundings, 3. a reduction in activity or force.
What to do? Option #1 When you come across a multiple-meaning word, use context clues to determine which definition of the word is being used in the sentence. Scientists theorized that the mysterious depression in the field had been caused by a meteorite. The sentence tells you the depression is located in a field and that it may have been caused by a meteorite. That impact is likely to cause a hole in the ground.
What to do? Option #2 Another way to figure out which meaning of a word is used in a sentence is to determine the word s part of speech: ask yourself if the word is a noun, verb, or adjective. I m certain that Raoul will weather this crisis with his usual composure. The word weather has several meanings, including: 1. the state of the atmosphere, and 2. to survive or come through safely. The first definition of weather is a noun. The second is a verb. In the sentence, this is an action, which means that weather is being used as a verb.
Lets practice! Many countries have traditional folk music and dances. On the island of Puerto Rico, one of these folkloric dances is called the plena. Plena is a fusion of cultures, including African, European, and the native Taino. Originating in the town of Ponce around one hundred years ago, plena is danced to traditional Puerto Rican musical instruments. These include panderos, which are tambourines of varying sizes and pitch, as well as the cuatro, a descendant of the Spanish guitar. The guiro, a hollowed-out gourd with notches cut on the side, creates a raspy rhythmic beat. Plena became known as the sung newspaper because the songs that accompanied the dance often related current events and described the life and history of the people. Sometimes the songs offered political commentary and satirized politicians. Many Puerto Ricans keep the tradition of plena alive. They even wear the Panama hats and bright, floral dresses for which plena musicians and dancers are known.
Plena is a fusion of cultures, including African, European, and the native Taino. As used in the passage, what does the word fusion mean? A. the act of melting by applying heat B. the merging of different elements C. a style of cooking D. a nuclear reaction **Use context clues to figure out the author s intended meaning in the sentence.
These include panderos, which are tambourines of varying sizes and pitch, as well as he cuatro, a descendant of the Spanish guitar. Which meaning of pitch is used in the passage? A. to stumble around B. the degree of slope C. a resin derived from tree sap D. the position of a tone in a musical scale **The word pitch is used as a noun in this passage
Lets collaborate! With your shoulder partner, read The Decameron and The Call of the CanyonI and answer the questions in the margin. Each partner needs to record their answers on their own sheet of paper. Title your paper Context Clues Collaborative Practice on one side and Multiple-Meaning Words Collaborative Practice on the other side. I will display the FSA-style questions and the short answer questions for each skill on the projector.
