Context Clues

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Context Clues

• Benchmark 1g
• TLW analyze and evaluate vocabulary using context
  clues.

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HeyWhat does that word mean?!?

• When you read, do you occasionally come across a
  word you do not know?
• How would you figure out the meaning of a word?
• What if you did not have a dictionary?

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What are Context Clues?

• Context clues are words in the same sentence or
  passage that gives you clues to what an
  unfamiliar word means.
• These clues will help you understand the meaning
  of the unknown word in a story or passage.

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Five Types of Context Clues

• There are five types of context clues
• Definition context clues
• Synonym context clues
• Antonym context clues
• Description or Example context clues
• Visual context clues

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Definition Context Clues

• The author includes a definition to help the
  reader understand the meaning of a word.
• The verbs is, are, or to be are signals
  indicating that the definition of the word can be
  found within the sentence.
• These verb forms are usually found between the
  unknown word and its definition.

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Definition Context Clues

• Example
• The Eskimo was having difficulty climbing up
  the pingo, or Artic hill.
• In this example, the author gave the definition
  of a pingo, which is an Artic hill.

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Synonym Context Clues

• When the author includes a synonym (a word that
  means the same or about the same) for the unknown
  word.
• The word like or or can be a signal words
  indicating a synonym context clue within the
  sentence. Signal words are not always used, so
  dont rely on them.

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Synonym Context Clues

• Example
• After seeing the picture of the starving
  children, we all felt compassion or pity for
  their suffering.
• In the example, the author gives you the word
  pity, which is a synonym for compassion.

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Antonym Context Clues

• An antonym context clue is when the author gives
  an antonym (a word that means the opposite) for
  the unknown word.
• The words not or but are signal words
  indicating that the antonym of the word can be
  found within the sentence.

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Antonym Context Clues

• Example
• Most birds are herbivores, not meat eaters.
• Because the sentence uses an obvious antonym, a
  good reader will understand that herbivores eat
  plants instead of meat.

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Description or Example Context Clues

• The author includes one or more examples or
  descriptions to help the reader understand the
  unknown word.
• Look for words and phrases like such as,
  including, for example, and consists of.
• Colons () and dashes (-) are also signal
  descriptions or examples.

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Description or Example Context Clues

• Example
• The Native American gave the wounded soldier a
  cardamom potion. The herbs strong smell was
  enough to cure the hurt man.
• You can gather from the second sentence that
  cardamom must be an herb used for medicine.

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Visual Context Clues

• The author includes a picture, drawing, chart,
  graph, or other type of visual to help the reader
  understand the meaning of a word.
• Always read the sentence first, then look at the
  photo, drawing, chart, or graph for a clue to the
  unknown word.

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Visual Context Clues

• Example
• Peggy had an exultant look on her face.
• You can tell by the picture that exultant
• means happy.

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Context Clues and Meanings

• Our Girl Scout troop took an excursion, a short
  journey, to a museum.
• What type of context clue is being used?
• An example context clue is being used.
• What does excursion mean?
• A. Trip B. Class
• C. Paintings D. Lunch

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Context Clues and Meanings

• Our Girl Scout troop took an excursion, a short
  journey, to a museum.
• What type of context clue is being used?
• An example context clue is being used.
• What does excursion mean?
• A. Trip B. Class
• C. Paintings D. Lunch

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Context Clues and Meanings

• Jerry is very clumsy, but his sister Jenny is
  adroit.
• What type of context clue is being used?
• An antonym context clue is being used.
• What does adroit mean?
• A. Pretty B. Robot
• C. Graceful D. Smart

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Context Clues and Meanings

• Jerry is very clumsy, but his sister Jenny is
  adroit.
• What type of context clue is being used?
• An antonym context clue is being used.
• What does adroit mean?
• A. Pretty B. Robot
• C. Graceful D. Smart

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Context Clues and Meanings

• The harlequin, like the circus clown, is a clown
  who likes to perform.
• What type of context clue is being used?
• A synonym context clue is being used.
• What does harlequin mean?
• A. Book B. Clown
• C. Shadow D. Animal

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Context Clues and Meanings

• The harlequin, like the circus clown, is a clown
  who likes to perform.
• What type of context clue is being used?
• A synonym context clue is being used.
• What does harlequin mean?
• A. Book B. Clown
• C. Shadow D. Animal

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Context Clues and Meanings

• The infuriated man could not figure
• out his laptop computer.
• What type of context clue is being used?
• A visual context clue is being used.
• What does infuriated mean?
• A. Sad B. Confused
• C. Happy D. Angry

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Context Clues and Meanings

• The infuriated man could not figure
• out his laptop computer.
• What type of context clue is being used?
• A visual context clue is being used.
• What does infuriated mean?
• A. Sad B. Confused
• C. Happy D. Angry