Republic of the Philippines

8
Department of Education
Region v
SCHOOLS DIVISION OF SORSOGON
JAIME G. ESPEÑA HIGH SCHOOL

ENGLISH
LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEET 1
NOTING CONTEXT CLUES
Quarter1 Week1
Name of the Student:____________________________________________________
Grade & Section: ________________________________
Date:_________________
I.INTRODUCTORY CONCEPT
This Learning Activity Sheet (LAS) is designed and written with you in mind
to help you master the skills that you can use in many different learning situations.
The varied activities presented in this lesson cater to your diverse vocabulary levels
so that you will have a great time learning!
As you go through, you are expected to enhance your knowledge and
improve your vocabulary skills with the rich and varied traditions of the Afro-Asian
countries by noting context clues. It sounds interesting, isn’t it? I bet you are now
very thrilled to launch yourself into a fun-filled learning experience!

II. LEARNING SKILLS FROM MELCs

At the end of the lesson, you are expected to:
determine the meaning of words and expressions that reflect the local culture by noting context clues.
(African literature) EN8V-lf-6
III. ACTIVITIES
A. Let Us Review/ Pre-test
Directions: Read the lifted sentences from the story entitled Sacrificial Egg from
Africa’s father of modern writing and greatest storyteller Chinua Achebe. Determine
the meaning of the underlined words or expressions that reflect Africa’s local
culture. Encircle the letter that corresponds to the correct answer.

1. A few palm-kernels lay desolately in the dust around the (processing)

machine.
a. Broken part of a human hand
b. Symbol of victory superiority
c. Edible seeds of the oil palm fruit

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 d. Symbol of victory or superiority

2. Sometimes it was a lone fisherman and his wife in a small vessel from the
swift-flowing Anambara. What body of water is an Anambara in Africa?
a. sea b. river c. lake d. trench
3. Some of the beautiful young women you see squeezing through the crowds
are not people like you or me but mammy-wota who have their (majestic)
town in the depths of the river.
a. market vendors c. water spirits
b. mother goddesses d. dead bodies of water
4. Having passed his Standard Six in a mission school he had come to Umuru
to work as a clerk in the offices of the all-powerful European trading
company. To what level of education does the underlined phrase mean?
a. elementary c. senior high school
b. junior high school d. undergraduate studies
5. Who would have believed that the great boisterous market could ever be
quenched like this? But such was the strength of Kitikpa, the incarnate
power of smallpox. What words will give you meaning to the underlined
word?
a. boisterous c. quenched
b. incarnate power d. incarnate power of smallpox

B. Let Us Study
Context clues are hints in the sentence that help good readers figure out the
meanings of unfamiliar words. When we look at the “context” of a word, we look at
how it is being used. Based on how these words are used, and on our knowledge of
the other words in the sentence, we make an educated prediction as to what the
challenging vocabulary word may mean.

Context clues are words that appear in sentences to help understand the
meanings of difficult words

Context clues are of different types

Types of Context Clues Meaning Examples

1. Definition/Description The new term may be His emaciation that is,
Clue formally defined, or his skeleton-like
sufficient explanation appearance, was
may be given within frightening to see.
the sentence or in the
following sentence. “Skeleton-like
Clues to definition appearance” is the
include “that is,” definition of
commas, dashes, and “emaciation.”
parentheses.
2. Examples Clues Sometimes when a Celestial bodies,
reader finds a new including the sun,
word, an example moon, and stars, have
might be found nearby fascinated man through
that helps to explain its the centuries.
meaning. Words like
including, such as, and “Celestial” objects are

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 for example, point out those in the sky and
example clues. heavens.
3. Synonym/Restatemen The reader may The mountain pass was
t Clue discover the meaning of a tortuous road,
an unknown word winding and twisting
because it repeats an like a snake around the
idea expressed in trees of the
familiar words nearby. mountainside.
Synonyms are words
with the same “Tortuous” means
meaning. “winding and “twisting.”
4. Contrast/Antonym Antonyms are words When the light
Clue with opposite brightens, the pupils of
meanings. An opposite the eyes contract,
meaning context clue however, when it grows
contrast the meaning darker, they dilate.
of an unfamiliar word
with the meaning of a “Dilate” means the
familiar term. Words opposite of “contract.”
like “although,”
“however,” and “but”
may signal contrast
clues.
5. Mood/Tone Clue The author sets a The lugubrious wails of
mood, and the meaning the gypsies matched the
of the unknown word dreary whistling of the
must harmonize with wind in the all-but-
the mood. deserted cemetery.

“Lugubrious,” which
means “sorrowful,” fits
into the mood set by
the words “wails,”
“dreary,” and “deserted
cemetery.”
6. Experience Clue Sometimes a reader During those first
knows from experience bewildering weeks, the
how people or things thoughts of a college
act in a given situation. freshman drift back to
This knowledge high school where he
provides the clue to a was “in,” knew
word’s meaning. everyone, and felt at
home. A feeling of
nostalgia sweeps over
him.

7. Analysis or Structure The parts used to The story is incredible.

Clue construct a word can
be direct clues to The root cred means “to
meaning. Knowledge of believe, and the prefix
prefixes, roots, and in means “not.”
suffixes can aid a Therefore, if a story is
reader in using this incredible, it is

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 type of context clue. unbelievable.
Learning one word part
can add dozens of
words to a reader’s
vocabulary. The power
of word parts lies in the
ability to combine the
roots and affixes with
the context in which a
word is used to
discover the author’s
meaning.
8. Inference Clue Sufficient clues might She told her friend, “I’m
be available for the through with blind
careful reader to make dates forever. What a
an educated guess at dull evening! I was
the meaning. bored every minute. The
conversation was
absolutely vapid.”

“Vapid”means
“uninteresting.”
9. Cause and Effect Clue The author explains She wanted to impress
the reason for or the all her dinner guests
result of the word. with the food she
Words like “because,” served, so she carefully
“since,” “therefore,” studied the necessary
“thus,” “so,”etc. may culinary arts.
signal context clues.
“Culinary” means “food
preparation.”

C. Let Us Practice
Directions: Read the lifted sentences from selected short stories of some emerging
contemporary writers of Uganda. Determine the meaning of the underlined words
native in Uganda and are reflective of Africa’s local culture.
Identify the thing or person being referred by the native African words in each item.
Encircle the letter that corresponds to the correct answer.

1. Uncle Tom found us playing in the banana plantations. We were searching

for nsenene, the grasshopper which appeared seasonally when it rained in
our village.
-In the Plantation, Oyet Sisto Ocen
a. crickets b. mammal c. reptile d. banana fruit

2. Majid went out to get his khubz and laban. On special days and during
Ramadan, he survived on the food from the mosque.
- The sign, Sneha Susan Shibu
a. faith and prayer c. bread and yogurt
b. dress and slippers d. soda drink and barbeque

3. Your mother points down to the heavy lemon green sash of her gomesi. Its
tassels are trailing on the bus, covered in red soil.

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 - Getting Somewhere, Lilian Aujo
a. Miniskirt b. long dress c. sweater d. pajamas
4. Most lovers prefer to walk rather than use a boda-boda, especially when the
distance is short.
- The Gem and Your Dreams,
Gloria Kembabazi Muhatane
a. sneakers b. ferry boat c. taxi d. habal-habal
5. She was asking about Muntu and Sera – the first humans on earth and then
moved on to some tale, mentioning Gipiir and Labong.
-Legal Alien, Rutangye Crystal Butungi
a. Firsts storytellers c. creator-gods
b. Great, great ancestors d. moon-god and sun-god

Next task:
Complete the table with the clues that you have used to get the meaning of
the five African terms. Pick word/s from the sentence itself, then identify what type
of context clue is used. The first one is done for you.

TERMS CLUES TYPES OF CLUES

1.nsenene Grasshopper definition
2.khubz and laban
3.gomesi
4.boda-boda
5.Muntu and Sera

D. Let Us Remember

Context clues are the words and sentences that surround a word and help

explain the word's meaning. Context clues are hugely important because
their comprehension and effective usage leads to academic success. They can
increase the learner’s vocabulary, reading comprehension, and make learners
better readers.

E. Let Us Practice More

Directions: Write a sentence using the given word or expression. Make sure there
is/are clue/s that will help your readers get its meaning. Since you will be dealing
with words unfamiliar to you, the definitions are provided to guide you in
constructing sentences. You will make use of the type of clue indicated in each
item. Write your sentence on the space provided below each item.

1. GRIOT is a praise singer or poet who possesses a repository of oral tradition

passed down from generation to generation.

CLUE to use in the sentence: MOOD/TONE

Sentence #1:______________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________.
2. UCU is a Zulu term that means “love letters”. Ucu is said to have been
contained in the beaded bracelet that girls send boys during courtship. After
a while, the girl reveals the message to the boy courting her.

CLUE to use in the sentence: CAUSE and EFFECT

Sentence #2:______________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________.

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3. OTJIZE is a beauty cosmetic in Namibia made from red soil and milk fat. It
is applied to the skin for protection from the sweltering heat of the sun. This
makes the appearance of their skin reddish.

CLUE to use in the sentence: CAUSE and EFFECT

Sentence #3: _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________.
4. LOBOLA is a traditional African custom where the groom pays the father of
the bride to compensate for the ‘loss’ of the man’s daughter. Traditionally,
lobola is paid in cattle, but today many modern couples pay lobola in cash.

CLUE to use in the sentence: SYNONYM

Sentence #4:______________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________

A. Evaluation/Performance
Directions: Read the following sentences lifted from Chinua Achebe’s
Madman published in 1973 as a part of the collection titled Girls at War and
Other Stories. Determine the meaning of the underlined words. Choose the
letter that corresponds to the best answer, then write the clue/s that can be
used to arrive at meanings. Use the space provided below.

1. Not any tiny neighborhood market where a handful of garrulous women

might gather sunset to gossip and buy ogili for the evening’s soup…
a. fish fillet b. flavoring oils c. bats d. sticky rice
CLUE/s: ___________________________________________________

2. One day the driver of a mammy-wagon and his mate came down on him
shouting, pushing and slapping his face. They said their lorry very nearly
ran over their mother, not him.
a. motor struck b. ambulance c. bicycle d. speed boat
CLUE/s:_____________________________________________________

3. Nwibe was a man of high standing in Ogbu and was rising higher; a man
of wealth and integrity. He had just given notice to all the ozo men of the
town that he proposed to seek admission into their honoured hierarchy
in the coming initiation season.
a. Bear-like b. authorities c. elderly d. highly respected
CLUE/s:____________________________________________________

4. On that Eke day Nwibe had risen early so as to visit farm beyond the
stream and do some light work before going to the market at midday to
drink a horn or to of palm-wine his peers and perhaps buy that bundle of
roofing thatch for the repair of his wives’ huts.
a. Christmas Day b. New Year’s Day c. Holy Week d.Market Day
CLUE/s:_________________________________________________

5. Throwing down the one his long basket of yams, the other his calabash of
palm-wine held on a loop, the men gave him a desperate chase. [He was
planning to made yam balls and healthy porridge out of the yams.]
a. rice b. vegetables c. root crops d. tuna flakes
CLUE/s:_________________________________________________

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IV. COMMENTS/SUGGESTIONS/REFLECTION

What have you learned? What can you say? What will you suggest?

VII. REFERENCES

Fernandez, Ruel C. (2020). English 8 Module 1: Knowing Africa’s Local Culture

Through Literature. Legaspi City: DepeD Region V

Coetzee, J.M. Lies.The New York Review. NYREV, Inc.

https://www.google.com/url?
sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.nybooks.com/articles/
2017/12/21/lies/&ved=2ahUKEwj56rqO7q_pAhUqBKYKHcP1CQEQFjAAegQIBxAB
&usg =AOvVaw3eXXNBwd2AXfY9US2-0rHY

Gordimer, N. City of the dead, city of living. Granta Publications hChristianfacfacy-

of-thedead-city-of-
theliving/&ved=2ahUKEwjqqd6r7a_pAhXQEqYKHQCXABMQFjAAegQIAhAB&usg=A
OvVa w0jucgtyl31pnpaz-ExaCkP&cshid=1589339125257

Mafhouz, N. Half a day. coachcenglish.weebly.com

https://www.google.com/url?
sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://coachcenglish.weebly.co
m/uploads/1/3/3/7/13371658/half_a_day.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjX4c_o7K_pAhUFG
6YKHVl KD_YQFjAAegQIAhAB&usg=AOvVaw0mYMQ1V8ADjJMPFExbHdkw
Context clues

Prepared by: Lea H. Halim

Teacher I

Quality Assured by: Alma T. Gabrentina

Master Teacher II