Vocab in Context
Vocab in Context
Vocab in Context
VS2.20
Learning Centre
As you work through the exercises in this handout, do not use a dictionary.
Guess the meanings from the contexts.
J. Robinson/ 2010
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J. Robinson/ 2010
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Punctuation Clues
Punctuation clues are one of the easiest kinds of context clues. With punctuation
clues, the meaning of a word is explained immediately after the word between
brackets, commas or dashes. This type of clue is very common, especially in
college textbooks. Look at the following examples:
Brackets:
A tornado (a violent storm of twisting wind) struck Edmonton and
caused a lot of damage.
Commas:
A tornado, a violent storm of twisting wind, struck Edmonton and
caused a lot of damage.
Dashes:
A tornado a violent storm of twisting wind struck Edmonton and
caused a lot of damage.
Notice that the punctuation is around an explanation of the word.
Exercise 2: Punctuation Clues
Use the punctuation clues to find the meaning of the underlined words. When
youve finished, discuss your answers with your tutor.
1. The deluge, a flood of rain, threatened to drown the little town.
A deluge is ___________________________________________
2. Sleet (half rain and half snow) can be very difficult to drive in due to poor
visibility.
Sleet is ______________________________________________
3. Freezing rain rain which freezes when it hits the earth also causes many
accidents.
Freezing rain is ________________________________________
4. People have gotten lost 10 meters from their homes in blizzards snowfalls
that come down very thickly.
A blizzard is __________________________________________
5. Another dangerous form of weather is hail (falling balls of ice) which has been
known to get so big that it can break a car windshield.
Hail is _______________________________________________
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Definition Clues
A words meaning is often given by including its definition in the sentence. The
definition is linked to the word with a linking word, usually a verb. Here are some
examples of linking words: is, was, are, means, i.e. (that is), involves, is called,
that is and resembles. This type of clue is also very common in college
textbooks.
Look at the following examples:
A cane resembles a walking stick.
Giggling involves laughing in a silly way.
Exercise 3: Definition Clues
Use definition clues to guess the meanings of the underlined words. When
youve finished, discuss your answers with your tutor.
1. Breaking even involves making enough money to pay for business costs but
no more.
Breaking even is ___________________________________________
2. Many new businesses go bankrupt, which means they lose everything.
To go bankrupt is __________________________________________
3. It takes a special kind of person to give up a regular jobs security, i.e. the
safety of a weekly paycheque, to go into business on her own.
Security is ________________________________________________
4. Small enterprises are usually defined as businesses with fewer than 50
employees and less than $2 million in annual (yearly) revenues.
An enterprise is ____________________________________________
6. Entrepreneurs are people who start their own businesses.
An entrepreneur is _________________________________________
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Example Clues
Example clues give you examples of the unknown word. You must figure out
what the examples have in common in order to figure out the meaning of the
word. Examples are usually introduced by expressions like these: such as, for
instance, including, for example, and like. Look at this one:
Large corporations like General Foods, Shell Oil, Nortel and Canadian
Pacific are often less innovative than smaller ones.
This sentence gives you 4 examples of large corporations. Think about the
examples. What do they have in common? They are all large companies. So, a
corporation must be a company.
Exercise 4: Example Clues
Use example clues to guess the meanings of the underlined words. When youve
finished, discuss your answers with your tutor.
1. A great part of Canadas economy is based on its natural resources, for
instance coal, oil and wood.
A natural resource is _______________________________________
2. Despite the risks, new businesses are expanding everywhere, from natural
resources, manufacturing, construction, real estate, retail trade and especially
service industries such as consulting and tourism.
A service industry is ________________________________________
3. The reporter talked to many auto-industry executives, e.g. company presidents
and vice-presidents.
An executive is ____________________________________________
4. The research company said that less-established car makers such as Subaru
and Isuzu could be forced out of North America.
Less-established is _________________________________________
5. The Big Three are designing radical new cars including vehicles that use radar
and advanced computers.
Radical is _________________________________________________
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Exercise 5: Review I
Use knowledge of the world, punctuation, definition and example clues to guess
the meanings of the underlined words. When youve finished, discuss your
answers with your tutor.
1. The asp, a small poisonous snake, is found in Africa, Europe, and Arabia.
An asp is _____________________________________________
2. Rodents such as mice, rats and beavers, can often do a lot of damage.
A rodent is ____________________________________________
3. Gardeners curse the mole (a small rodent that likes to dig in soft soil).
A mole is _____________________________________________
4. The hare resembles a large rabbit.
A hare is _____________________________________________
5. She screamed when she saw the arachnid moving across its web.
An arachnid is _________________________________________
6. Many restaurants serve molluscs for example, snails, oysters and clams.
A mollusc is ___________________________________________
7. Cetaceans, including whales and dolphins, are thought to have high
intelligence.
A cetacean is __________________________________________
8. Many people are afraid of reptiles like lizards, snakes and turtles.
A reptile is ____________________________________________
9. The large dog used by the Inuit in northern Canada to pull sleds is called a
husky.
A husky is ____________________________________________
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Comparison Clues
Comparison clues show that two or more things are alike. Words like similar, as
well as, both and likewise show that comparison is possible. Look at this
example:
Washing windows is a tedious job. Similarly, cleaning the oven is very
boring.
The word similarly shows that there is something the same in the two sentences.
Washing windows and cleaning the oven are different, so the similarity must be
in the description. We can guess that tedious and boring must have similar
meanings.
Exercise 6: Comparison Clues
Use comparison clues to guess the meaning of the underlined words. When
youve finished, discuss your answers with your tutor.
1. A soft cloth will soak up a lot of water. Likewise, a sponge is very absorbent.
Absorbent means _____________________________________________
2. Spot cleaners as well as other bleach products are good at getting out stains.
A spot cleaner is ______________________________________________
3. A large family seems to have an infinite amount of laundry to do. Similarly,
there are always an endless number of dishes to wash.
Infinite means ________________________________________________
4. Both the vacuum cleaner and the smaller portovac are useful in doing the
rugs.
A portovac is _________________________________________________
5. Pat finds washing dishes relaxing. In the same way, Jane finds folding laundry
soothing.
Soothing means _______________________________________________
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Contrast Clues
With contrast clues, you use the opposite of known information to figure out the
meaning of an unknown word. Connecting words like however, yet, on the other
hand, instead of, but, while and although are used to show that meanings are
opposite. Look at this example:
Although some old people abhor change, most of them enjoy new things
and experiences.
In this sentence the word although shows that there is some opposite meaning in
the two parts of the sentence. Both parts are about old people and their attitudes
to change. The opposite meaning must be between abhor and enjoy. Abhor
probably means the opposite of enjoy. So, abhor probably means dislike.
Exercise 7: Contrast Clues
Use contrast clues to guess the meanings of the underlined words. When youve
finished, discuss your answers with your tutor.
1. Many of the elderly who go to programs at Centennial House are highly
stimulated. On the other hand, old people who stay home all the time are usually
bored.
To be stimulated means _______________________________________
2. Alzheimers disease is a common problem in old age, but many old people
continue to have healthy minds.
Alzheimer s disease is ________________________________________
3. While many people live in rest homes, others still live on their own or with their
families.
A rest home is _______________________________________________
4. Many old people stay home in inclement weather, yet they go out walking on
nice days.
Inclement weather is __________________________________________
5. Instead of vegetating at home, lots of old people are very active in the
community.
To vegetate is ________________________________________________
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Referent Clues
Referent clues is when an unknown word is referred to (mentioned) again using a
synonym or explanation of the word. Synonyms often follow words like this, that,
these, those, or the. Sometimes, however, there is no obvious clue word. The
reader just sees that the meanings are probably similar from the ideas in the
sentence. Look at this example:
She yelled out the window at her neighbours dog. Then she said to her
husband, That hound is always waking me up at night with its barking.
Tomorrow Im going to complain.
In this example, that comes before the unknown word. This suggests that a
hound has already been mentioned. We can guess that that hound refers to the
dog. So, a hound is probably a dog.
Exercise 8: Referent Clues
Use referent clues to guess the meanings of the underlined words. When youve
finished, discuss your answers with your tutor.
1. Yesterday some shysters came to my door. Those dishonest men pretended
they were doing a survey and then tried to convince me to buy a magazine.
A shyster is _______________________________________________
2. My neighbours have a beautifully landscaped yard. It is well arranged with
beautiful shrubs, lush looking trees and bright flowers.
Landscaped means _________________________________________
3. Junk mail is a huge cause of pollution. These flyers advertising all sorts of
things are put through the mail slot and usually not even looked at before they
are thrown in the garbage.
Junk mail is _______________________________________________
4. Cathy gave a shower for her friend Jill. Everyone gave presents to Jill for her
baby at the party.
A shower is _______________________________________________
5. Paul paid his rent late. The delay was caused by Pauls bank. They lost his
deposit.
A delay is __________________________________________________
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Exercise 9: Review II
In this exercise, use all 7 types of context clues (knowledge of the world,
punctuation, definition, example, comparison, contrast and referent) to guess the
meanings of the underlined words. When youve finished, discuss your answers
with your tutor.
1. Anne of Green Gables is a famous Canadian childrens story.
Anne of Green Gables is ____________________________________
What type of clue did you use? _______________________________
2. It is the story of a young orphan (both her parents are dead).
An orphan is ______________________________________________
What type of clue did you use? ________________________________
3. She gets sent to live with an elderly couple (Matthew and Marilla) who live on
a farm on Prince Edward Island. They want to adopt a boy, but Anne is sent
to become part of their family instead.
To adopt is ________________________________________________
What type of clue did you use? _________________________________
4. They want a boy to help with the farm chores such as planting crops,
chopping wood and picking apples.
A chore is __________________________________________________
What type of clue did you use? _________________________________
5. However, Anne is a very engaging child. She interests Matthew and he wont
send her back.
Engaging means ____________________________________________
What type of clue did you use? _________________________________
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11. Marilla shears off Annes once beautiful hair, and Anne has to wear a bonnet
(hat) to cover up her bald head.
To shear off is _______________________________________________
What type of clue did you use? __________________________________
A bonnet is __________________________________________________
What type of clue did you use? __________________________________
12. By the end of the book, Marilla adores Anne instead of disliking her as she did
at the beginning.
To adore is _____________________________________________________
What type of clue did you use? _____________________________________
13. Anne has become an exemplary young lady. For instance, she wins a
university scholarship, she saves a young childs life, and she has become
truly beautiful.
Exemplary means _______________________________________________
What type of clue did you use? _____________________________________
14. Unlike many of her friends who lose their imaginations as they grow up, Anne
retains her vivid imagination into adulthood.
To retain means _________________________________________________
What type of clue did you use? ______________________________________
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Conclusion
Using context clues can help you to increase your vocabulary. It can also help
you to be a better reader and make reading more enjoyable. When you read, try
to use context clues as much as possible. Only use a dictionary when a word
seems very important and you cant guess the meaning. When you do use a
dictionary, using context clues will help you to choose the correct meaning from
the choices your dictionary gives you.
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Answer Key
Exercise 1: Using your Knowledge of the World
1. Some vegetarians believe that killing animals is wrong. Others are vegetarian
because they think meat is bad for people.
A vegetarian is probably a person that does not eat meat.
2. The driver swerved to miss the little boy who stepped out into the road.
To swerve is probably moved out of the way.
3. The podiatrist told the woman to take the medicine for 5 days and call him if
she didnt feel better.
A podiatrist is probably a doctor.
4. She picked the irises and arranged them in a vase to put on the coffee table.
An iris is probably a flower.
5. Her tea was tepid, so she put it in the microwave.
Tepid probably means a lukewarm a cool temperature.
Exercise 2: Punctuation Clues
1. The deluge, a flood of rain, threatened to drown the little town.
A deluge is a flood of rain.
2. Sleet (half rain and half snow) can be very difficult to drive in due to poor
visibility.
Sleet is half rain and half snow.
3. Freezing rain rain which freezes when it hits the earth also causes many
accidents.
Freezing rain is rain which freezes when it hits the Earth.
4. People have gotten lost 10 meters from their homes in blizzards snowfalls
that come down very thickly.
A blizzard is a snowfall that comes down very thickly.
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5. Another dangerous form of weather is hail (falling balls of ice) which has been
known to get so big that it can break a car windshield.
Hail is falling balls of ice.
Exercise 3: Definition Clues
1. Breaking even involves making enough money to pay for business costs but
no more.
Breaking even is making enough money to pay for business costs but not
more.
2. Many new businesses go bankrupt, which means they lose everything.
To go bankrupt is to lose everything.
3. It takes a special kind of person to give up a regular jobs security, i.e. the
safety of a weekly paycheque, to go into business on her own.
Security is the safety of a weekly paycheque.
4. Small enterprises are usually defined as businesses with fewer than 50
employees and less than $2 million in annual (yearly) revenues.
An enterprise is a business with few than so employees and less than $2
million in yearly revenues.
6. Entrepreneurs are people who start their own businesses.
An entrepreneur is a person who starts his or he own business.
Exercise 4: Example Clues
1. A great part of Canadas economy is based on its natural resources, for
instance coal, oil and wood.
A natural resource is a substance that comes from nature.
2. Despite the risks, new businesses are expanding everywhere, from natural
resources, manufacturing, construction, real estate, retail trade and especially
service industries such as consulting and tourism.
A service industry is business that provides a service.
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8. Many people are afraid of reptiles like lizards, snakes and turtles.
A reptile is an animal like a lizard, snake or turtle.
9. The large dog used by the Inuit in northern Canada to pull sleds is called a
husky.
A husky is a large dog used to pull sleds.
Exercise 6: Comparison Clues
1. A soft cloth will soak up a lot of water. Likewise, a sponge is very absorbent.
Absorbent means soaks up water.
2. Spot cleaners as well as other bleach products are good at getting out stains.
A spot cleaner is something that cleans stains.
3. A large family seems to have an infinite amount of laundry to do. Similarly,
there are always an endless number of dishes to wash.
Infinite means endless.
4. Both the vacuum cleaner and the smaller portovac are useful in doing the
rugs.
A portovac is a small vacuum.
5. Pat finds washing dishes relaxing. In the same way, Jane finds folding laundry
soothing.
Soothing means relaxing.
Exercise 7: Contrast Clues
1. Many of the elderly who go to programs at Centennial House are highly
stimulated. On the other hand, old people who stay home all the time are usually
bored.
To be stimulated means entertained.
2. Alzheimers disease is a common problem in old age, but many old people
continue to have healthy minds.
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Exercise 9: Review II
1. Anne of Green Gables is a famous Canadian childrens story.
Anne of Green Gables is a famous Canadian childrens story.
What type of clue did you use? Definition.
2. It is the story of a young orphan (both her parents are dead).
An orphan is a person whose parents are dead.
What type of clue did you use? Punctuation.
3. She gets sent to live with an elderly couple (Matthew and Marilla) who live on
a farm on Prince Edward Island. They want to adopt a boy, but Anne is sent
to become part of their family instead.
To adopt is to make someone elses child part of your family.
What type of clue did you use? Comparison.
4. They want a boy to help with the farm chores such as planting crops,
chopping wood and picking apples.
A chore is a job that needs to be done.
What type of clue did you use? Example.
5. However, Anne is a very engaging child. She interests Matthew and he wont
send her back.
Engaging means interesting.
What type of clue did you use? Referent.
6. Marilla and Matthew live in a small town called Avonlea.
Avonlea is a small town.
What type of clue did you use? Definition.
7. The people of Avonlea expect their children to be very obedient. Likewise,
Marilla expects Anne to always do what she is told.
Obedient means to do what youre told.
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13. Anne has become an exemplary young lady. For instance, she wins a
university scholarship, she saves a young childs life, and she has become
truly beautiful.
Exemplary means a good role model.
What type of clue did you use? Example.
14. Unlike many of her friends who lose their imaginations as they grow up, Anne
retains her vivid imagination into adulthood.
To retain means to keep.
What type of clue did you use? Contrast.
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