________. Europeans, however, ________ several. As a result, Europeans think ________ are unfriendly and unwilling to communicate with them.
Try to figure out the missing words.
What is Context? Most Americans can speak only one language. Europeans, however, speak several. As a result, Europeans think Americans are unfriendly and unwilling to communicate with them.
How did you do? How did you
figure out the missing words? What is Context?
Use the words surrounding the
unknown word to help determine the unknown word’s meaning.
“Phobias, such as fear of heights,
water, or confined spaces are difficult to eliminate.” Context Clues: Definition
Unknown word is A chemical
bond is a defined immediately strong force following its use that holds two brief definition, synonym, or more atoms or restatement using together. punctuation-commas, parentheses or dashes. A dialect is a “Be” verb shows the form of speech two ideas are the from a specific same. X = Y region. Synonyms A writer often chooses a more familiar word or words with the same meaning to make the difficult word understandable
Ballet students appear so lithe; they
are so limber and flexible.
The cataract was spectacular; the
steep waterfall dropped abruptly eighty feet. Restatement Close to a synonym, restatement differs in that a difficult word is usually restated in a simpler form —usually set of by commas.
The poetry was sublime, lofty and
moving, and brought tears to my eyes.
The village was depopulated, most of
the residents dead or moved, but the livestock remained untouched. Contrast Antonym, a word The gentleman of opposite was portly, but meaning (notice his wife was thin. the restatement) Contrast clue The mayoral words: but, candidate praised however, in the town contrast to, on council,but the the other hand mayor deprecated it. Explanation
Similar to a definition clue
Generally longer than a definition Usually found in one or more different sentences Context Clues: Explanation The chrome is beginning to corrode. It shows signs of pitting and of being eaten away gradually.
It was a martial parade: signs of the military
were everywhere. Everyone was in uniform; guns, cannon and tanks were on display, and jets flew overhead. Context Clues: Explanation
NOTE: Sometimes the explanation is
presented first.
The puppy was a complete bother
and an annoyance to all the neighbors. It was a continual nuisance. Example
Examples that the Legumes, such as
reader may know to peas and beans, help explain a new produce pods. and unfamiliar concept or term Forest floors are Note the frequently covered punctuation clues: with fungi—molds, commas or hyphens mushrooms, and Signal words—such mildews. as, for example, for instance, to illustrate, specifically Inference
Use reasoning Since Reginald was
and prior nervous, he brought his rabbit foot talisman knowledge with him to the exam. Your experiences provide common- His alibi was upheld sense clues to when John’s friends the meaning of a offered personal word testimony, letters of documentation, and This context clue three videotapes is often a little showing that he was harder to spot present at the party. Limitations of Context Clues
1. Context clues only give the immediate
definition for that particular context. 2. Context clues seldom lead to a precise, complete definition. 3. Sometimes the passage will not contain clues to the meaning of the unfamiliar word.