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CONTEXT CLUES Concept map WHAT ARE CONTEXT CLUES? Context Clues How Do You Guess The Meaning Of An Unfamiliar Word? There are words or phrases around an unfamiliar word that can help you understand the meaning of a new word. These words and phrases are called context clues. If you learn how to use these clues, you can save yourself a trip to the dictionary, increase your vocabulary, and improve your reading comprehension. CONTEXT CLUES THERE ARE DIFFERENT TYPES OF CONTEXT CLUES: Definition Restatement or Synonym Contrast or Antonym Comparison DEFINITION The unknown word is defined with a more familiar word or phrase; usually a form of to be is used. EXAMPLES: **Entomology is the study of insects. **Archaeology is the scientific study of prehistoric cultures by excavation of their remains. Context Clues Practice His bulging eyes were caused by the overflow of the volcano. What does bulging mean? A. Round B. Infected C. Swelling Out Context Clues Practice Joe’s birthday celebration did not end as he expected. What does celebration mean? A. Decorated cake B. Activities for a special event C. To perform publicly RESTATEMENT OR SYNONYM The meaning is usually right after the unfamiliar word and is separated from the rest of the sentence with commas, dashes, or parentheses; sometimes, or that is, or in other words is used. EXAMPLES: *Meat eaters, that is carnivores, are at the top of the food chain. *The goslings--those fuzzy baby geese--waddled after their mother. *She enjoyed biology (the study of living things). Context Clue Riddle Sometimes at lunch we have slowmoe. Slowmoe is a good drink. I like chocolate but some people like skim slowmoe. What is a slowmoe? A. Ice cream B. Milk C. pizza Context Clues Practice We like to go to glubnub class. Sometimes we run races or play ball. We learn the rules for different sports. Glubnub is a fun class! What is glubnub? A. music B. art C. PE CONTRAST OR 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: *Mike’s parrot was said very little. loquacious, but Maria’s parrot Context Clues Practice My kitenight is older than anyone in my family. Sometimes we visit my kitenight and she tells us stories about our mother when she was growing up. She also bakes us great cookies. Who is my kitenight? A. grandmother B. father C. pet Context Clues Practice Do you have a placenet? Dogs and cats can make good placenets. My friend Ann has a placenet named Swimmy. Ann has to feed Swimmy each day and clean the water in Swimmy’s bowl. No matter what kind of placenet you have, you have to take good care of it. What is a placenet? A. rabbit B. fish C. pet COMPARISON The unfamiliar word is shown to be the same as or like another word; too, like, as, similar to, or in the same way may be used to signal the comparison. EXAMPLE: *My brother is enthralled by birds similar to the way that I am fascinated by insects. CONTEXT CLUES PRACTICE The archeologist carefully removed the tome from its ancient resting place and proceeded to read the pages related to marriage in ancient Greece. What does the word tome probably mean? a. Pen b. weapon c. book d. sausage CONTEXT CLUES PRACTICE Lakes occupy less than two percent of the Earth’s surface, yet they help sustain life. For instance, lakes give us fish to eat, irrigate crops, and generate electrical power. What does the word sustain probably mean? a. support b. obstruct c. prolong d. destroy CONTEXT CLUES PRACTICE Cont. The ancient Greeks pioneered many of the kinds of writing we consider standard today. They wrote speeches, plays, poems, books about science and learning, long histories of the things that happened to them. What does the word pioneered probably mean? a. complicated b. developed c. destroyed d. explored THE END QUESTIONS?