Context clues — это подсказки, которые располагаются в предложении, абзаце, и помогают читателю понять значение новых, незнакомых или сложных, редко употребляемых, слов.
Очень часто их можно встретить в текстах для подготовки к тестам и экзаменам, которые проверяют способность понимать общий смысл, без вникания в детали и значение каждого слова. В экзаменационных текстах TOEFL, IELTS, B1 First, Cambridge Advanced, очень многие вопросы построены на умении расшифровывать context clues.
Этот полезнейший навык пригодится не только на экзаменах, а также при чтении статей, академических и художественных текстов. Поэтому каждый, кто изучает иностранный язык, должен уметь распознавать и считывать context clues.
В этой статье я расскажу, какие типы context clues бывают, мы с вами рассмотрим каждый из них на примерах, и, уже после изучения этого материала, вы сможете различать context clues в текстах и догадываться о значении новых слов из контекста не просто интуитивно, а четко понимая, какой тип context clues перед вами, и как он работает.
Содержание:
- Что такое «контекстуальные сигналы»
- Type 1: Restatement/Synonym Clues
- Type 2: Contrast/Antonym Clues
- Type 3: Definition Clues
- Type 4: Example/Explanation clues
- Type 5: Inference/General Context Clues
- Пунктуация в context clues
- Способы запоминания типов context clues
Чтобы научиться считывать context clues, нужно научиться расшифровывать то, что я называю «сигналы». Это не общепринятый термин, я использую его со своими студентами, и так обозначаю те слова или другие средства, которые указывают нам на тот или иной тип подсказок.
Сейчас мы перейдем к разбору каждого из пяти типов, и в каждом мы будем выделять их особые «сигналы».
Самый простой способ донести значение незнакомого сложного слова в контексте — упростить его или переформулировать. У каждого слова высокого уровня есть более простые слова-синонимы, или слова со схожим значением. Синонимы могут выделяться запятыми, обозначаться при помощи слова or, или приводиться в качестве примеров-однородных членов предложения, которые наведут вас на понимание значения нужного слова.
He felt remorse, or shame, for his rude behaviour.
В данном примере слово remorse схоже по значению по словом shame (стыд). К тому же после автор дает еще одну подсказку (которая относится уже к другому типу, но все равно помогает понять суть), что это чувство возникло в результате грубого поведения.
The weather was dreadful — wet, dull and cold and awful in all senses.
Если вам не знакомо прилагательное dreadful, то его значение прояснится при помощи синонима awful и ряда примеров, указывающих на характеристики погоды.
We must not perpetuate, or continue, the religious divisions of the past.
Чтобы помочь понять значение глагола perpetuate, в предложение вводится пояснение с сигнальным словом or, благодаря чему мы с вами понимаем, что perpetuate можно заменить более простым словом continue.
Иногда значение слова или фразы проясняется в контексте через противоположные значения. В этом случае слова but, however, unlike, while, и другие, выражающие контраст, подскажут вам, что это именно antonym context clue. Возможен вариант, когда автор вводит слово, выражение, или пояснение, противоположное по значению, которое проясняет для читателя значение незнакомого слова.
He had a turbulent character, unlike his wife who was shy and quiet.
Благодаря сигнальному unlike, мы понимаем, что слово turbulent противопоставляется словам shy and quiet, и выступает их антонимом.
I want to go to a tranquil place for my holiday; I am so tired of the noisy city.
В этом предложении нет сигнального слова, но по смыслу вы понимаете, что если автор от чего-то устал (в данном контексте от noisy city), то ему хочется чего-то противоположного.
Bob was so industrious, while his colleagues demonstrated laziness and very little interest in work.
В отличие от коллег, которые проявляют лень и незаинтересованность, Боб проявляет противоположную характеристику. И вам необязательно её называть и переводить, главное — что вы поняли смысл, и то, как работают Contrast or Antonym Clues.
Бывают случаи, когда слово или фраза объясняется сразу после того, как появляется в предложении. Definition — это целая фраза, которая вводится при помощи relative clause, как правило non-defining, который выделяется запятыми. Часто при помощи таких подсказок «расшифровывают» значения существительных и терминов, но и глаголы с прилагательными — не исключение.
Our school introduced continuous assessment, which is a form of educational examination that evaluates a student’s progress throughout a prescribed course.
После слова which поясняется, что такое continuous assessment, и дается полная расшифровка, определение термина.
After the flight we suffered from fatigue, which meant we were extremely tired as a result of physical exertion.
Definition вводится фразой which meant (это значило), и мы можем понять, что слово fatigue обозначает чрезмерную усталость.
The college informed me that I was eligible, so I could enter the course, which made me happy.
В этом предложении даётся не полное определение, а его часть, и читателю нужно додумать, что eligible обозначает то, что абитуриент может поступить на курс. А слово which, которое служило сигналом в предыдущих примерах, не имеет здесь своей сигнальной функции и не относится к этому типу подсказки.
Этот способ контекстуальной подсказки предполагает мышление от частного к общему (если общее — это незнакомое слово) или от общего к частному. Иногда текст даёт два или больше примеров, которые иллюстрируют неизвестное понятие, и чтобы догадаться, что оно обозначает, нужно уметь систематизировать и обобщать информацию. Отличие этого способа от синонимов в том, что пример не может заменить собой целевое слово, а представляет из себя более узкое понятие в категории, один из вариантов.
Сигналами могут служить однородные члены предложения — примеры, которые помогают вам понять значение незнакомого слова.
Nocturnal creatures such as owls and bats always scare me.
Что общего у сов и летучих мышей? Это существа, которые активны ночью. Вот так, при помощи анализа примеров, мы можем догадаться о значении слова nocturnal.
Sun, moon, stars and other celestial bodies move according to certain laws.
В этом предложении используется та же логика, что и в предыдущем: мы делаем вывод на основе систематизации и нахождения общего. Солнце, луна, звезды — это небесные тела.
Это более продвинутый вид контекстуальных подсказок, потому что он предполагает, что читатель сможет заключить и сделать вывод о значении незнакомого слова по общему смыслу, примерам, которые присутствуют в предложении, в абзаце или в целом тексте.
Это более сложный вариант, когда нужно включать логику, и именно поэтому его так любят составители тестов. Например, в части Reading на TOEFL iBT есть отдельный тип вопросов, который проверяет именно умение делать выводы из более широкого, общего контекста.
Сигналами здесь будут служить слова, указывающие на причину, цель либо на результат: so, because, that’s why и другие.
He is so gregarious; he would talk non-stop, about anything. Yesterday we got tired of it.
По контексту понятно, что человек много говорит, и утомляет этим собеседников. Из этого можно сделать вывод (infer) о значении слова gregarious.
The day was so sweltering that I had to take off my jacket.
Если человек снял пиджак (а не надел), значит sweltering обозначает что-то вроде hot — такая логика должна быть при анализе этого предложения.
She is very compassionate, because she volunteers for some NGOs, you can always ask her for help and she will eagerly give you a hand.
Значение прилагательного compassionate раскрывается в пояснениях после слова because: человек готов помочь, занимается волонтерством, и, даже если вы не можете отыскать точного перевода слова, вы уже понимаете, что оно обозначает.
Обратите внимание, что часто авторы используют пунктуацию или другие приемы выделения на письме, чтобы обозначить context clues разных типов:
- кавычки (quotation marks) могут показывать, что у слово есть специальное, возможно, переносное значение;
- скобки (brackets) и дефисы (dashes) заключают определение или примеры;
- курсив (italics) чтобы выделить какое-либо слово или определение.
И еще хочу обратить ваше внимание, что в предложении могут сочетаться context clues разных типов. Например, synonym + example или antonym + definition. Вариации могут быть любые, ведь авторы используют разные средства в текстах.
Мы рассмотрели 5 типов context clues, и в объяснении я расположила их от простого к сложному. Но сейчас, когда вы усвоили разницу между ними, хочу напоследок поделиться полезным приемом для их запоминания.
Чтобы в любой момент вы могли вспомнить, какие типы контекстуальных подсказок бывают, запомните акроним LEADS:
- L (Logic) — Inference Clues — вы опираетесь на общий контекст и догадываетесь о смысле слова.
- E (Example) — Example Clues — однородные члены предложения подсказывают вам, что обозначает незнакомое, обобщающее их слово.
- A (Antonyms) — Contrast Clues — вы понимаете значение слова, за счет анализа антонимов.
- D (Definition) — Definition Clues — в предложении приводится определение слова.
- S (Synonyms) — Restatement Clues — незнакомое слово перефразируется и упрощается за счет знакомых вам слов-синонимов.
Теперь, читая тексты при подготовке к экзамену, для работы или просто для удовольствия, вы будете без труда распознавать contect clues разных типов, догадываться о значениях незнакомых слов по контексту, без словаря.
А отработать ваши новые знания и умения на практике можно на персональных занятиях в ENGINFORM. Теперь у нас действует не только предложение курсов, но и новая уникальная услуга — МОНО-УРОК.
Это индивидуальное занятие длительностью 90 минут, на котором вы от и до разбираете нужную вам тему. Узнайте больше о формате моно-урока и попробуйте! Теперь не нужно покупать целый курс, чтобы разобраться с одной непонятной темой.
Надеюсь, сегодняшнее объяснение вам понравилось.
Напишите мне в комментариях, насколько эта статья была полезна для вас, и получается ли у вас находить context clues в текстах.
Увидели ошибку в тексте? Выделите её и нажмите на появившуюся стрелку или CTRL+Enter.
In reading and listening, a context clue is a form of information (such as a definition, synonym, antonym, or example) that appears near a word or phrase and offers direct or indirect suggestions about its meaning.
Context clues are more commonly found in nonfiction texts than in fiction, although they are sometimes found in children’s literature, often with the goal of building readers’ vocabulary. Words can have multiple meanings, so being able to infer the correct definition from context is a valuable reading comprehension skill.
Types of Context Clues
One way to learn new words is through the context of the words around them. We infer the meaning of these words from what’s going on or what has already been established in the text. Clues for deciphering a word’s meaning can be rendered in the form of anything from a subtle hint to a straight-out explanation, definition, or illustration. Context clues can also take the form of synonyms, antonyms, word-structure clues, comparisons (such as metaphors and similes), and contrasts. For example:
Synonym context clues offer words nearby with the same meaning:
- Synonym: The annual bazaar is scheduled for the last day of school. It’s always a fun festival.
- Synonym: «That charlatan!» he cried. «That absolute fake!»
Antonym context clues offer nearby words with opposite meanings.
- Antonym: «You look pretty content about it, not like you’re all bent out of shape at all,» he noted.
- Antonym: «No, no, that didn’t literally happen,» she said. «I was speaking figuratively.»
Definition context clues just spell out the meaning in a straightforward manner:
- Definition: In Britain, they call the trunk of a car the «boot.»
- Definition: «The lingerie department,» she directed the confused customer, «is where you’ll find the bras and panties.»
An explanation or illustration can also show the context of the word:
- Explanation: She looked at the random collection that had been thrown in the packing box at the last minute—from toothpaste and razors to spatulas and sticky notes. «Well, that’s quite a melange, isn’t it?» she remarked.
- Explanation: «No, no, that’s just a crane fly, not a gigantic mosquito,» he explained.
Word-structure clues are understood in two ways: a reader or listener understands a base word and a prefix (or suffix) and infers the meaning from the combination of the two, or the reader knows a word origin and upon hearing a word of similar origin, infers its meaning.
For instance, if you know that «anti-» means against, it’s easy to infer the meaning of the word «anti-establishment.»
- Word-structure: The anti-establishment protesters picketed the town hall.
Likewise, if you’re aware that a «memorial» is something in remembrance for a person who has died, you might readily intuit the meaning of the following sentence, even if you’d never previously heard the term «in memoriam.»
- Word-structure: The book was dedicated in memoriam of his father.
Comparison context clues show the meaning of a word through similarities to other items or elements, similies or metaphors:
- Comparison: He looked absolutely flummoxed, like a toddler staring down at his feet on the floor who just isn’t sure about this whole «walking» thing.
- Comparison: «No,» she said, «I’m as carefree about it as a bird floating among the clouds.»
Contrast context clues show meaning through dissimilar elements:
- Contrast: «It isn’t exactly the melee that I expected from your description,» he said. «The kids are just roughhousing a little. I expected them to be bruised and bleeding.»
- Contrast: I know she said she could reconstitute the dried fruit, but a soggy raisin just isn’t a grape.
Limitations of Context Clues
In «The Vocabulary Book: Learning and Instruction,» author Michael Graves writes:
«All in all, the descriptive research on learning from context shows that context can produce learning of word meanings and that although the probability of learning a word from a single occurrence is low, the probability of learning a word from context increases substantially with additional occurrences of the word. That is how we typically learn from context. We learn a little from the first encounter with a word and then more and more about a word’s meaning as we meet it in new and different contexts.»
Learning new words from context alone does have its limitations, as this method is not always definitive. Often, context may give a reader a general idea of a word, but not a full meaning. If the sentences in which an unknown word appears don’t clearly spell out it’s meaning, that meaning may be lost. For long-term retention, readers need to see a word multiple times. The more often an inferred definition is included, the more likely the reader will retain and understand a new word.
Sources
- Graves, Michael F. «The Vocabulary Book: Learning and Instruction.» Teachers College Press, 2006
Published August 15, 2022
When you come across an unfamiliar word while reading, how do you try to understand its meaning? Chances are you use context clues—even if you’ve never heard of that term.
Faced with a sea of unfamiliar words, beginning readers learn many techniques for decoding words and expanding their vocabularies. Teachers use the term decoding to refer to the ability to see a written word and read it aloud.
Looking for context clues is one technique that is helpful for readers of all ages and experience levels. But how can you identify a context clue?
What are context clues?
The term context clues is used as a way of referring to the bits of information within a text that can serve as hints to help a reader understand the meaning of an unfamiliar or unusual word or passage. In effect, context clues can be anything that helps you to figure out or guess the meaning of a word or passage when you’re unsure of its meaning. Context clues can be part of the same sentence or they may be part of the text that comes before or follows. Because most of our vocabulary is gained through reading, it is important that we are able to recognize and take advantage of context clues.
WATCH: Words Bookworms Mispronounce Because We Read Them First
What does a context clue look like?
There are at least four kinds of context clues that are quite common:
- Synonym (or repeat context clue): An author will use more than one word that means the same thing. For example, there may be a complex word followed by a restatement using a simpler word in the same or following sentence: Felipe is a miser. He’s always been a cheapskate.
- Antonym (or contrast context clue): The text may include a word or words that have the opposite meaning, which can reveal the meaning of an unknown term: Stella has always dressed flamboyantly. I’ve never seen her wear a dull color.
- Explanation (or a definition context clue): An unknown word is explained within the sentence or in the sentence immediately after: On Friday, we visited the arboretum, a garden dedicated to the exhibition of trees and plants.
- Specific example (or an example context clue): The text provides one or more examples used to define the term: The children were able to observe several crustaceans, including crabs, lobsters, and shrimp.
There may also be word-part context clues in which a common prefix, suffix, or root will suggest at least part of the meaning of a word.
A general sense context clue lets the reader puzzle out a word meaning from whatever information is available—and this is the most common kind of context clue. The relationships between words are not directly obvious and instead implied.
Others describe context clues in three ways:
- semantic or meaning clues: For example, when reading a story about cats, the reader will have the expectation that it will contain words associated with cats.
- syntactic or word order clues: The order of the words in a sentence can indicate what part of speech a missing word must be (for example, a verb).
- picture clues: From an early age, beginning readers are taught to look at illustrations to help with the identification of a word.
Context clues are integral to how we make sense of things. But what are context clues? And why are context clues important? We’re going to break down context clues in sentences and situations so that you can see why they’re such an important element of empiricism; or how we come to know the world through senses. Hah! That’s an example of “context clues” in action. Follow along as we break down strategies for how they work.
Context Clues Meaning
First, let’s define context clues
How do we make sense of the world? Through intuition certainly, but through context as well. Context is how we know books can be found in libraries and cold cuts can be found in delis. It’s also how we know words can be understood, even if we lack their definition. This video breaks down how context clues are used to deduce syntax.
What are Context Clues? • Using Context Clues to Figure Out New Words by Khan Academy
Context clues are essential tools for writers, readers, and pretty much anybody interested in making sense of the world. But before we jump into some context clues examples, let’s first define context clues.
What are context clues?
Context clues are elements of grammatical and visual composition that suggest meaning. In syntax, context clues give readers the ability to make sense of words of which they don’t know the meaning. In semiotics, context clues give people the ability to make sense of signs of which they don’t know the meaning.
Purpose of Context Clues:
- Suggest meaning
- Conceal meaning
- Explain meaning
Context Clues Types
What are context clues in grammar?
There are a bunch of different strategies for using context clues in grammar; let’s break down a few!
Synonym
A synonym is a word or phrase that means something similar to another word or phrase. For example, “sick” and “ill” are synonyms. But how do you use context clues in a sentence? Synonyms are also used as context clues to suggest meaning in words that aren’t often understood.
Here are some examples:
-
She was a callous woman: mean, malicious, and inconsiderate.
-
It was mezzanotte – the clock struck the signal to midnight.
-
He was cantankerous: angry and always looking for a fight.
You may be wondering, “why don’t writers just use words that most people understand?” Good question. There’s certainly merit to writing in simple language – but writers want to flex their linguistic muscle.
Antonym
An antonym is a word or phrase that means the opposite of another word or phrase. For example, “sick” and “healthy” are antonyms.
Antonyms, like synonyms, are also used as context clues to suggest meaning in words that aren’t often understood.
Here are some examples:
-
It was a brutish afternoon, quite unlike the sunny ones the week prior.
-
He found the latter lecture esoteric – but the former too simplistic; something anybody could understand.
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The scene was bedlam, ironic considering it was supposed to be quiet and serene.
Antonyms tend to flow better than synonyms in syntax because they rely on contrast.
Denotation
A denotation is a “dictionary definition.” For example, a denotation of “hat” would be a “clothing item worn on the head.”
Denotations are used as context clues to outwardly explain what certain words mean.
Here are a few examples:
-
He had already signed an affidavit, a legal written statement for use in court.
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It was accidental, as in “not done on purpose.”
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The story was salacious, showing a special interest in sex.
Denotations work best when writers would rather tell the writer what a word means rather than suggesting it.
Context Clues Definition in Visual Language
What are context clues in semiotics?
Context clues are used in semiotics to give meaning to the visual world. But what is semiotics? Semiotics is the study of objects and signs. It’s essentially what tells us that a four-leaf clover means “good luck.” However, semiotics is often built through context clues.
Here are some examples:
Context clues lead to a conclusion
In life, sometimes things are exactly what you’d expect. For example, say you leave your rambunctious dog home alone for six hours, then find a ripped-up pillow when you return; it’s fair to say that the dog probably destroyed the pillow.
The context clues, i.e., the “rambunctious” nature of the dog and the implied fact that dogs sometimes rip pillows apart when, tell us that the most likely reason for the event is that the dog destroyed the pillow.
This type of critical reasoning is abductive because it “takes away” the most likely reason for an event based on a series of observations.
Consequently, deductive reasoning is a form of critical reasoning in which a reason must be guaranteed by the set of observations. For example: if a hat is a clothing item worn on a head, and you’re wearing a clothing item on your head, then you’re wearing a hat. The context clues, i.e., the denotation of “hat” and the fact that you’re wearing something that matches the denotation of “hat,” guarantee the validity.
This strategy is used in writing… most commonly in mystery stories. Think about any “whodunnit” story; i.e., Sherlock Holmes, Murder on the Orient Express, Scooby Doo, etc.
In this clip from Murder on the Orient Express, Hercule Poirot (Albert Finney), outlines the context clues that add up to an iconic deduction.
What Does Context Clues Mean? • Context Clues in Murder on the Orient Express
It is merely through context clues, such as the language that Mary Debenham (Vanessa Redgrave) used and the selective memory of Colonel Arburthnott (Sean Connery), that Poirot was able to tell that everybody was lying.
Context clues lead to a false-conclusion
Other times, context clues lead to a false-conclusion. They may be valid as premises in a deduction; but they don’t necessarily reflect the truth. We see this strategy used a lot in comedy writing.
This scene from Seinfeld establishes a series of context clues that point to Kramer (Michael Richards) being a pimp. Of course, he’s not – but the characters in the diegesis don’t know that. Check it out below!
Context Clues Definition in TV • Context Clues Examples in Seinfeld
Let’s break down the context clues:
1) The jacket is a replica of the “technicolor dreamcoat” from Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat; one of Kramer’s favorite plays.
2) The cane is an item Elaine was reviewing for work; which Kramer took.
3) The hat merely landed before Kramer’s feet, so he decided to put it on.
4) The sports car is borrowed as collateral because Kramer’s car was taken from a parking lot used for prostitution.
All of these context clues point to Kramer being a pimp. In a cruel twist of irony, Kramer is whisked, or quickly taken away, to jail.
Up Next
What is Inductive Reasoning?
Context clues are a small, but integral part of critical reasoning. Want to learn more about critical reasoning? Check out our next article on inductive reasoning, where we break down the term with examples from Plato, Monty Python, and more. By the end, you’ll know what inductive reasoning is and how to use it.
Up Next: Inductive Reasoning →
Introduction
The forgoing covers understanding (guessing the meaning of) new words and simple phrases
Firstly, you should know that context is information, ideas or clues given in the sentence, and other sentences in the paragraph or text as a whole. Clues from the whole text come from: the title, subheadings, the main topic, thesis statement and topic sentences.
Example of context:
He hated all animals and insects, so he was really rattled when his found a sea of ants in his bedroom.
From the context, from he hated all animals and insects you can guess rattled means not happy, upset or scared.
To understand a text you will probably need to understand some new vocabulary. But did you know you can get meaning of new words from the passage your are reading, or looking more closely at the word itself? It is a very important and useful skill to be able to glean (get) meaning of new words from context and other clues. This way you will not need to look up every word you don’t know. If reading is easier for you you will probably read more and learn more.
You can learn new vocabulary from the context (the words and sentences nearby) together with other clues. But you will need to look carefully for the clues. When you find them you will probably be able to guess correctly the meaning of pronouns, new words or new phrases.
You may use a dictionary to find the mean of some words. For all of the following exercises, YOU MAY NOT USE A DICTIONARY, A TRANSLATOR OR ASK ANYONE to help find the meaning of the underlined words.
The reading component (part) of your exam will include questions that ask the meaning of new words (and pronouns within the text). You will need to use context and other clues. So understanding how to find the clues, and practicing the skill of getting meaning from context (i.e. background or other information) will help in the exam. During your exam, you will not be able to ask anyone about vocabulary or use a translator app or dictionary during your exam. So you should practice getting meaning from context. Do the quizzes on this page.
IMPORTANT! You will need to be able to find the meaning of new words or phrases (words or phrases that do not appear in your textbook, the exam specification or the exam vocabulary list)
Look at this example:
“Ahmed made a new acquaintance yesterday. That is just like him. He is always meeting new people.“
What does “made a new acquaintance” mean?
Choose a. or b. below. Use the clue (in red) to help you.
a. made an appointment
b. met someone for the first time.
The correct answer is b.
You need to use various clues to help understand new words. The following can help you get the meaning of a new word:
- knowing the part of speech (noun, verb, adjective…)
- knowing the meaning of prefixes and suffixes
- looking for context clues, like background or other information in the text
- you will also need to use you general knowledge
PART 1 – Using part of speech to help get meaning of new vocabulary
What are parts of speech?
Parts of speech include noun, verb, adjective and adverb.
Click here to review parts of speech https://www.englishclub.com/grammar/parts-of-speech-table.htm . If you need some practice to help you understand parts of speech, go here: https://helpyourselfenglish.wordpress.com/parts-of-speech/
Using part of speech as a clue to meaning.
Look at the part of speech. Is the word a verb (e.g. write), noun (e.g.pen) or adjective (nice)? The part of speech will give you a big clue as to the meaning of the new word. Then look at the sentences around the new word for more clues as to the meaning.
Example 1 -verb
The Prince motioned with his hand for everyone to sit down.
You might guess motioned is a past tense verb, because it ends in ed and it comes after the subject (the Prince). The Prince did something, He did some kind of action. You can see he used his hand. Maybe he wrote something. Maybe he picked something up. However, from the clue with his hand for everyone to sit down you might guess he moved, or waved his hand, to show (or signal) that he wanted everyone to sit down. So motioned means waved or signaled.
Example 2 -noun
All his friends loved the taste of Stilton. They ate every last bit. The Prince would not eat it.He hated blue cheese.
All his friends loved the taste shows that it is something that can be eaten. it’s food and it’s a a noun. He hated blue cheese tells you what kind of food it is. So Stilton is a kind of blue cheese.
Example 3-adjective
He sat down at the end of an enormous table. He joined the other 29 people already seated.
Enormous is an adjective (it comes before the noun, it describes the noun). It describes the table. From this sentence enormous might mean big, long, small, old etc. You will also need to look for other clues to get closer to the meaning of enormous. You might guess from the sentence He joined the other 29 people already seated that enormous means big.
Example 4-adverb
Everyone seated at the huge table waited for the prince to begin the feast. He reluctantly started to eat. It was blue cheese. He hated blue cheese.
Reluctantly is an adverb as it describes the verb. The word reluctantly refers to how the person is eating. He might might be eating quickly, slowly, or without pleasure (enjoyment). Again, you will also need to look for other clues to get closer to the meaning. You might guess from the sentences It was blue cheese. He hated blue cheese that the Prince did not want to eat the cheese. He did not like blue cheese, so he ate it unwillingly, without enjoyment. .
Example 5-noun phrase
The Mark Dyson website lists (shows) his many amazing innovations. They include a driverless flying car, a solar (sun) powered motorbike and a smartphone that never needs charging.
“His many amazing innovations“ is a noun phrase. Noun phrases usually contain an adjective+noun and often other words too. The examples: driverless flying car, a solar (sun) powered motorbike and a smartphone that never needs charging suggest (give the idea) that innovations are new products (man-made things) never seen before.
Noun phrase practice quiz: http://www.englishgrammar.org/noun-phrases-exercise/
Example 6 – phrasal verb (idiomatic, and there is no literal sense)
“His bedroom was so messy. Has he tidied and cleaned his room yet?” asked his aunt. His mother replied (said) “Yes, it’s not messy now. He had been very busy with important college work, so he didn’t get around to it until last night.
Get around to (something) is a phrasal verb. It means do, as you might have guessed. The clues are: it’s not messy now and until last night.
Example 7 – phrasal verb (there is a literal and a idiomatic sense) Is he shooting off bullets? It the example in bold literal or idiomatic?
You’ve missed him. He went five minutes ago. He said “sorry”. He had to shoot off on urgent business.
Shoot off here is not literal. There is nothing being shot. It means leave quickly. The clue is: on urgent business.
Example 8 -passive verb
A car came around the bend much too fast, lost control, span (went) across the road and smashed head-on into David’s car. He was injured in the crash. He broke both arms and both legs.
“Was injured” is a passive verb. Was+verb+ed shows something happened to him. He did not do the injuring. In a crash a person can get cut, get hurt (damaged), be helped or be killed. An injury is something that can happen to you in a crash. Can you guess what injured means? The examples He broke both arms and both legs show he was hurt, so injured means hurt.
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PART 2 – Using prefixes, roots and suffixes for meaning of new vocabulary.
This is only and introduction.
You can get an idea of the meaning of a new word if you look at the prefix, root and suffix.
helpful: ful is the suffix and it shows the word in an adjective.
disable (verb): dis is the prefix. Dis means no/not/make not. So if a programme on you computer has been disabled is is not working.
revisiting: visit is the root: Re means again. Ing here shows it is a progressive (continuous) verb
The prefix or suffix changes the meaning of a word. For example, the PC is disconnected from the Internet has the opposite meaning to the PC is connection to the Internet
Go here for a more detailed explanation, more examples, and quizzes (Scroll down to prefixes, roots and suffixes). https://helpyourselfenglish.wordpress.com/reading-longer-words/
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PART 3 – Six kinds of context clues.
Framework clues:
That guy always makes us laugh. His stories are hilarious.
What does hilarious mean?
The background clue, that guy always makes us laugh, shows he’s a funny guy. So what kind of stories does he tell?
What dies hilarious mean? Choose the best answer:
a..scary, b. very funny, c.true
The answer is: b. funny
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Definition, example and framework clues
Here we look at three types of clues: definition, example and framework clues. The clues are shown in italics.
Definition clue (in blue), example clue (in green) and framework clue (in red).
- A bungalow is a one story (level) house.
- Amphibious animals live part of their life in/on water and part on land.
- There are many kinds of furniture. For example, tables, chairs, bookcase and sofa.
- Carnivores such as lions, tigers, snakes and birds of prey (eagle, falcon etc.) …
- Our cat Timmy left home for 6 months. I think it was upset because we got another cat. We had thought Timmy would like the company of another cat, it seems he didn’t. When Timmy returned he would not let us touch him. He had turned a little feral.
- The winner of the gold medal was so strong against his weaker opponents. He was omnipotent.
NOTE: with many framework clues you will also need to draw on your general knowledge. To help find the meaning of feral it helps to know that house cats can sometimes behave like wild cats.
Ex.1. Find the meaning of the underlined words from the examples above
- bungalow = a. low house b. tall house c. nice house
- amphibious = a. not clear b. land+water animal c. lays eggs
- furniture = a. only chairs b. kind of food c. movable things used to make a room or building OK for living or working
- carnivore = a. insect eaters b. meat eater c. does not eat meat
- feral = a. wild b. happy c. dangerous
- omnipotent = a. weak b. powerful c. dangerous
Acknowledgements:
5 and 6 Retrieved (and adapted) from http://examples.yourdictionary.com/examples-of-context-clues.html
Answers:
6. powerful 5. wild 4. meat eater 3. movable things used to make a room or building OK for living or working 2. land+water animal 1. low house
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Punctuation, contrast and comparison clues
We now look at three more different kinds of context clues: punctuation clues, contrast clues, comparison clues.
Punctuation clues
1. There are many kinds of deciduous trees, ones that lose their leaves each season.
2. The subconscious mind, or part of the mind of which one is not fully aware, often control the way we feel and act.(exercise coming soon).
Contrast clues
3. Peter was obese, but now he isn’t very overweight, just he should lose some more weight to be healthy.
4. John was studious, while his brother Paul did not study at all.
Comparison clues
5. Taking out the garbage was an onerous task; likewise (similarly), washing dishes can be a hard job.
6. The unsubstantial story was as if (like) she were retelling a dream.
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Exercise 1
Find the meaning/synonym of the underlined words in the 6 sentences above.
- deciduous = a. leaves fall b. choosing c. tall
- subconscious = a. awake b. asleep c. unaware
- studious = a. does not study b. smart c. studies hard
- onerous = a. difficult b. easy c. for somone esle to do
- obese = a. very thin b.very sporty c. fat
- unsubstantial = a. short/small b. weak/thin c. long/tall
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Answers:
unsubstantial = b. weak/thin obese = c. fat
onerous = a. difficult studious = c. studies hard
subconscious = c. unaware deciduous = a. leaves fall
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Acknowledgements:
5. adapted from http://www.eslteachersboard.com/cgi-bin/lessons/index.pl?read=1141
6. adapted from http://edhelper.com/language/Context_Clues605.html
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Context clues summary
These are the types of clues that will help you (there are 6 in all):
- framework based clue (the meanings of surrounding words, background information you find in the text, your experience and common sense).
- punctuation clues.
- definition clues.
- contrast clues.
- comparison clues.
- example clues.
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Exercise 2.a
What kind of clue is given? The words in bold show the kind of clue.
- The seasonal wind of the Indian Ocean and southern Asia is a monsoon.
- Nicotine, a coloruless and oily drug in tobacco, stains the teeth of chain smokers.
- My sister is extremely neat in appearance while she is slovenly in her housekeeping.
- Birds are oviparous; similarly, fish and reptiles lay eggs that hatch outside of the body.
- Various means (ways) of conveyance–for example, cars, subways, and ships are used worldwide.
- The angry driver shouted vehemently during his fight with the other driver.
Acknowledgment
Retrieved from: http://www.eslteachersboard.com/cgi-bin/lessons/index.pl?read=1141
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Answers
6. Framework based clue 5. Example clue 4.Comparison clue
3. Contrast clue 2. Punctuation clue 1 Definition clue
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Exercise 2.b
Find the meaning or synonym of the underlined words in Ex 2a. Choose the closest meaning.
- monsoon = type of tree, type of weather, name of a sea, area between Indian Ocean and Southern Asia
- nioctine = a brand of cigarette, engine oil, a drug, a kind of tobacco
- slovenly = neat, untidy, housekeeper, good
- oviparous = egg layer, dangerous, can fly, eats eggs
- conveyance = escalator, conveyor belt, manufacture, transport
- vehemently = strongly, weakly, slowly, kindly
Answers
6. strongly 5. transport 4. egg layer 3. untidy 2. a drug 1. type of weather
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Meaning of phrasal verbs from context
Common phrasal verbs with multiple meanings
What do the words in bold mean? Choose the best answer.
1.The plane will take off in 30 minutes. You should go to the boarding gate now
a. imitate (copy) b.get off the ground c. remove d. leave.
2.You must be warm in that jacket.Why don’t you take it off?
a. imitate (copy) b.get off the ground c. remove d. leave
3.So you want to talk about your idea for combating (fighting) terrorism. I can give you twenty minutes of my time now if that OK, but I have been asked to be ready to take off at a moment’s notice. If there is an emergency, I may have leave quickly and see the chief officer.
a. imitate (copy) b.get off the ground c. remove d. leave
4. When I was young I liked to run through the fields.
a. move fast across b.start and continue until the end c.put a knife in someone d. give information about
5. I need to run you through the new fire safety regulations (rules).
a. move fast across b.start and continue until the end c.put a knife in someone d. give information about
6. The German soldier was determined (set) to kill me. Since had no bullets left, he tried to run me through. I managed to shoot him before it was too late.
a. move fast across b.start and continue until the end c.put a knife in someone d. give information about
Answers
1. b. get off the ground 2. c. remove 3 d. leave
4. a. move fast across 5. d. give information about 6. c.put a knife in someone
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Meaning of phrasal verbs using the 6 types of context clues
What do the words in bold mean? Choose the best answer.
1.Framework clue
I’m not sure right now how we can fix (resolve) this. You damaged my car, but I’m sure we can work something out.
a. remove something b. find a resolution (agreeable result) c. fix (repair) the car together
2.Definition clue
I will not put up with your bad behavior. I will not tolerate (accept) it.
a. endure (stay with) b. increase c. resist (fight)
3. Examples clue
Person A “I must get on top of my homework”
Person B.”Why not (I suggest) do the most important homework tonight? I will stay and help you. Forget about any homework where there are no grade points at stake (to be awarded). Then make sure you do one hour homework every night.”
a. to gain control of a difficult situation b. climb on top of homework books c. get the highest possible grade
4. Comparison clue
Andy stands up for himself. He similar to his brother Jack. Jack can and will defend himself with words if he needs to.
a. stand up tall b. never asks others to stand up c. defend with words
5. Contrast clue
I though he’d grown out of going drifting. It seems he hasn’t. He’s like a teenager, he goes drifting almost every night.
a. become wiser b. stopped, due to being older or wiser c. become too fat or tall to fit
6. Punctuation clue
“Why are you sitting watching boring TV every night, ignoring your problem? You really need to visit the doctor, Maria. Why put it off again?” Putting important things off, delaying necessary action or response, can cause pain and stress. It can even damage your health.
a. switch off the TV b. cancel an appointment c. delaying action
Answers: 1. b. 2. a. 3. a 4. c. 5. b 6.c.
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Meaning of passives from context
What do the words in bold mean? Choose the best answer.
1. Contrast clue
Tea is harvested all year round, whereas outdoor grown oranges are available for picking only half the year.
a. brought in from the fields b. drunk or eaten c. planted out in the fields
2. Comparison clue.
After Bonzo, Emma’s dog, did so much damage to her Mum’s new villa, it was confined to the garden for a month. Emma was made to stay somewhere too, in her room, for the whole weekend. Her mother was angry with for not exercising the dog enough.
a. destroyed b. made to stay c. made smaller
3. Framework clue
We are staying with my parents, while our house is being renovated. It was looking old and tired. It really needs a lot of work done. Their place (house) has plenty (lots) of space and lots of spare bedrooms.
a. returned to a new condition b. made bigger c. made safer
4. Punctuation clue
We went back to see the old house I used to live in as a child. I was disappointed. It‘d been demolished, flattened and swept away, like it had never existed.
a. imaginary b. returned to a new condition c. pulled down
5. Examples clue
was snatched
6. Definition clue
were forgiven
Answers:
1.a. brought in from the fields 2. b. made to stay 3.a. returned to a new condition
4.c. pulled down
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Quick Practice
Exercise 1
Find the meaning/synonym of the underlined words.
- Another component, or part, of blood is red blood cells.
- Kangaroos, opossums, and other marsupials usually carry their young in a pouch.
- Bob hiked the forests of Maine in October because he wanted to see the fall foliage.
- In contrast to how stiff it got in the refrigerator, the dough became pliable when the baker rolled it out.
- Bees and flowers have a symbiotic relationship; in other words, they each help the other to survive.
- A megalopolis is an enormous city.
- Somnambulism, or sleepwalking, can be dangerous.
Quiz:
- component = a. person b. computer c. part
- marsupials = a. insects b. flightless birds c. animals that usually carry their young in a pouch
- foliage = a. trees b. leaves c.branches
- pliable = a. hard as iron b. strong/unbreakable c. soft/bendy
- symbiotic = a. simple medicine b. living things helping each other to live c. like a machine
- megalopolis = a. small town b. medium sized city c.very big city
- somnambulism = a. ambulance b. walking in one’s sleep c. not many
Answers:
7. walking in one’s sleep 6. very big city 5. living things helping each other to live. 4. soft/bendy 3. leaves 2. animals that usually carry their young in a pouch 1. part
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Exercise 2
Find the meaning of underlined word in each sentence.
1. Mark is obsessed with dogs; he likes them better than people!
A. preoccupied B. excited about
2. Roger is obnoxious, just like his dog that never stops barking.
A. encouraging B. unpleasant
3. No one comes into my yard because my dog is vehement about protecting us.
A. fierce B. sweet
4. Joel is ambivalent about dogs, he can’t decide whether he wants one or not. A. unhappy B. unsure
5. Aaron asked if he could have a dog, but his parents rejected the idea.
A. refused B. liked
6. My dog Sparky needs constant reassurance because he is so insecure.
A. lacking confidence B. lacking security
7. We think George will be a good dog trainer because he has so much composure.
A. experince B. patience
8. Harvey doesn’t like other dogs. He is so antisocial.
A. not social B. overly social
9. Spot never gets sick because he has an extremely healthy constitution. A. thinking B. physical state
10. I was very dissatisfied when Fluffy failed dog obedience. A. pleased B. not pleased
Answers:
1. A 2.B 3.A 4.B 5.A 6. A 7. B 8.A 9. B 10.B
Acknowledgement:
Adapted from: http://www.englishworksheetsland.com/grade2/readfoundation/9/4mansbest.pdf
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More quick practice
http://www.softschools.com/quizzes/language_arts/context_clues/quiz1539.html
http://www.proprofs.com/quiz-school/story.php?title=word-meaning-wwwrhlschoolcom
http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/dynamic_multiple_choiceB2.html
https://www.quia.com/quiz/3804250.html
http://highered.mheducation.com/sites/0073123587/student_view0/chapter3/context_clues__exercise_1.html
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Reading Passages
Banana Smoothies
Find the meaning of the bold words
Banana smoothies first appeared in the 1930s. Since then, they have become very popular across the world. Not only is the banana smoothie delicious, but it has many of the nutrients our bodies need to function (work / be well).
Banana smoothies are made from fresh bananas using an electric blender. The fresh fruit gives it that chunky but creamy look. The ice keeps it cool in the hot summer heat. Bananas have a lot of healthy carbohydrates which makes them a perfect food for athletes and people with active lifestyles.
Smoothies help to give energy after a difficult workout. Doctors recommend bananas to who have heart problems and high blood pressure, as they lower the risk of stroke and heart attacks. Another good thing about this wonderful fruit is that it protects against depression and keeps you in a good mood. Banana smoothies, when mixed with yogurt and other fruits like apples or mangos, protect you from stomach ulcers and help your digestive system.
Bananas are a low-calorie food; there are about 100 calories in a medium sized banana. They make you feel full, so if you eat a banana, you will avoid snacking between meals. This is beneficial because it helps you to reach your weight loss goals. But make sure you don’t put sugar in your smoothie. Bananas are sweet enough
- they (in paragraph 1) = A. people B. nutrients C.banana smoothies
- nutrients (in paragraph 1) = A. things within food you need in order to live B. banana smoothies C. yellow fruit
- it ( (in paragraph 2) = A. electric blender B. a smoothie C. ice
- risk (in paragraph 3) = A. bananas B. chance C. impossible
- depression (in paragraph 3) = A. good heath B. low mood C. high spirits (mood)
- ulcers (in paragraph 3) = A. stomach sores B.bad people C.sugar
- digestive system (in paragraph 3) = A. parts of the body that help you breathe B. banana smoothies C. parts of the body that help change food to energy.
- beneficial (in paragraph 4) = A. low-calorie B. sweet tasting C. helpful
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Answers:
8. beneficial (in paragraph 4) = helpful
7. digestive system (in paragraph 3) = parts of the body that help change food to energy
6. ulcers (in paragraph 3) = stomach sores
5. expression in paragraph 3) = low mood
4. risk (in paragraph 3) = chance
3. it ( (in paragraph 2) = a smoothie
2. nutrients (in paragraph 1) = things within food you need in order to live
1. they (in paragraph 1) = banana smoothies
Acknowledgement: adapted from KSU exam preparation material.
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Improving Your English
Find the meaning of the bold words
Today, millions of people want to learn or improve their English but it is difficult to find the best method. Is it better to study in Britain or America or to study in your own country?
The advantages of going to Britain seem obvious. Firstly, you will be able to listen to the language all the time you are in the country. You will be surrounded completely by the language wherever you go. Another advantage is that you have to speak the language if you are with other people. In Italy, it is always possible, in the class, to speak Italian if you want to and the learning is slower.
On the other hand, there are also advantages to staying at home to study. You don’t have to make big changes to your life. As well as this, it is also a lot cheaper than going to Britain but it is never possible to achieve the results of living in the UK. If you have a good teacher in Italy, I think you can learn in a more concentrated way than being in Britain without going to a school.
So, in conclusion, I think that if you have enough time and enough money, the best choice is to spend some time in the UK. This is simply not possible for most people, so being here in Italy is the only viable option. The most important thing to do in this situation is to maximise your opportunities: to speak only English in class and to try to use English whenever possible outside the class.
Retrieved from http://www.esl-lounge.com/student/reading/3r1-learn-english-reading.php
- method → school, language, teacher, way.
- obvious → impossible to see, difficult to see or understand, easy to see, difficult
- surrounded → everywhere around, surprised, not next to, speaking
- advantages → bad things, good things, difficult things, easy things
- achieve → not get, get, stop, give away
- concentrated → focused, confused, diffiult, relaxing
- viable → easy, workable, legal, clear
- situation → urgent, place or circumstances, emergency, exam or test
- maximise your opportunities → improve your accent, avoid mistakes by not trying, make the most of your chances, learn Italian
Answers
- method → way.
- obvious → easy to see or understand
- surrounded → everywhere around
- advantages → good things
- achieve → get
- concentrated → focused
- viable → workable
- situation → place or circumstances
- maximise your opportunities → make the most of your chances
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When the Ground Shakes
Use a dictionary to find the meaning of these words (if you don’t know them already): panic, hurricane, flood, surge, earthquake, obstacles, regardless, approach, distressing
Find the meaning of the bold words without a dictionary
Earthquakes are often devastating, killing people and destroying buildings. One of the most important things to remember when calamity strikes (hits) is not to panic. A panicky person cannot think clearly. A person who panics cannot maneuver through the obstacles presented by a disaster, such as a tornado or hurricane. Each kind of disaster requires a different action. For example, a tornado requires (needs) people to go to the center of a building (preferably a room with no windows) or a basement and to cover their heads. A hurricane, on the other hand, requires evacuation because the storm surge can flood areas. If the storm surge rises too high, people will be stranded on rooftops and unable to get to safety. In the event of an earthquake, people should get outside or stand in doorways for protection. Seismic activity causes the ground to shake and buildings to come toppling down in some cases. Regardless of the kind of natural disaster, a calm approach will allow you to think things through and act appropriately for the situation.
Adapted from
Click to access ccslh_g6_lv_8_3b_link3.pdf
Exercise: choose the correct or closest meaning if there is no correct meaning.
devastating → exciting, enormous, highly destructive or damaging, ground shaking.
calamity → damaging or distressing event, memorable or important event, earthquake, death
maneuver → destroy completely, move around, plan ahead. live dangerously
evacuation → drying out, patience, courage, moving out
stranded → can’t understand, can’t move, can’t communicate, living
seismic → rescure, building, hurricane, earthquake
toppling → falling, slowly, eventually, gently
appropriately → in a fitting way , not exactly correctly, without panic, proceeding (going) cautiously
Answers:
devastating → highly destructive or damaging
calamity → damaging or distressing event
maneuver → move around
evacuation → moving out
stranded → can’t move
seismic → earthquake
toppling → falling
appropriately → in a fitting way
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Confronted with texts, language learners may be stuck by a shortage of vocabulary inventory and thus be unable to understand what texts are about. The first thing that a learner does to understand a difficult word is to look it up using the nearest dictionary. There are however techniques learners may use to get the meaning of such vocabulary items. One of these techniques is guessing meaning from context.
No matter what level our students are in, they will often come across difficult words in texts they are exposed to. Inferring and guessing the meanings of unfamiliar words is a strategy that is worth developing.
Guessing from context refers to the ability to infer the meaning of an expression using contextual clues. These clues may be purely linguistic or situational:
- Linguistic context: the linguistic environment in which a word is used within a text
- Situational context: extra-linguistic elements that contribute to the construction of meaning may involve background knowledge of the subject.
What this amounts to is that learners should be able to infer the meaning of an unknown word using:
- The meaning of vocabulary items that surround it;
- The way the word is formed;
- Background knowledge of the subject and the situation.
Techniques for guessing
Texts are often full of redundancy and consequently, students can use the relation between different items within a text to get the meaning. Our prior knowledge of the world may also contribute to understanding what an expression means.
- Synonyms and definitions:
- Kingfishers are a group of small to medium-sized brightly colored birds
- When he made insolent remarks towards his teacher they sent him to the principal for being disrespectful
- Antonym and contrast
- He loved her so much for being so kind to him. By contrast, he abhorred her mother
- Cause and effect
- He was disrespectful towards other members. That’s why he was sent off and penalized.
- Parts of speech
- Whether the word is a noun, a verb, an adjective, or an adverb, functioning as a subject, a predicate, or an object.
- Examples
- A trojan is an example of a computer virus
- Word forms (the morphological properties of the word)
- Getting information from affixes (prefixes and suffixes) to understand a word. Examples: dis- (meaning not), –less (meaning without)…
- General knowledge
- The French constitution establishes laïcité as a system of government where there is a strict separation of church and state.
These techniques help students get the meaning of words or at least narrow the possibilities. If need be using the dictionary should be the last resort to fine-tune the understanding of a vocabulary item