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JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL

Grade 8
1st Quarter

LEARNING MODULE 1

Unit Topic: Context Clues

I. Gaining in your end!

III. Matter in Hand

Context clues are hints found within a sentence, paragraph, or passage that a reader can use to understand the meanings
of new or unfamiliar words. Learning the meaning of a word through its use in a sentence or paragraph is the most practical
way to build vocabulary, since a dictionary is not always available when a reader encounters an unknown word. A reader
must be aware that many words have several possible meanings. Only by being sensitive to the circumstances in which a
word is used can the reader decide upon an appropriate definition to fit the context. A reader should rely on context clues
when an obvious clue to meaning is provided, or when only a general sense of the meaning is needed for the reader’s
purposes. Context clues should not be relied upon when a precise meaning is required, when clues suggest several
possible definitions, when nearby words are unfamiliar, and when the unknown word is a common one that will be needed
again; in these cases, a dictionary should be consulted.

There are several different types of context clues. Some of them are:

1. DEFINITION / DESCRIPTION CLUE The new term may be formally defined, or sufficient explanation may be given within
the sentence or in the following sentence. Clues to definition include “that is,” commas, dashes, and parentheses.

Examples: a. His emaciation, that is, his skeleton-like appearance, was frightening to see.

“Skeleton-like appearance” is the definition of “emaciation.”

b. Fluoroscopy, examination with a fluoroscope, has become a common practice.

The commas before and after “examination with a fluoroscope” point out the definition of “fluoroscopy.”

c. The dudeen – a short-stemmed clay pipe – is found in Irish folk tales.

The dashes setting off “a short-stemmed clay pipe” point out the definition of “dudeen.”

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2. EXAMPLE CLUES Sometimes when a reader finds a new word, an example might be found nearby that helps to explain
its meaning. Words like including, such as, and for example, point out example clues.

Examples: a. Piscatorial creatures, such as flounder, salmon, and trout, live in the coldest parts of the ocean. “Piscatorial”
obviously refers to fish. b. Celestial bodies, including the sun, moon, and stars, have fascinated man through the centuries.
“Celestial” objects are those in the sky or heavens.
c. In the course of man’s evolution, certain organs have atrophied. The appendix, for example, has wasted away from
disuse. “Atrophied” means “wasted away.”

3. SYNONYM RESTATEMENT CLUE The reader may discover the meaning of an unknown word because it repeats an
idea expressed in familiar words nearby. Synonyms are words with the same meaning.

Examples: a. Flooded with spotlights – the focus of all attention – the new Miss America began her year-long reign. She
was the cynosure of all eyes for the rest of the evening.

“Cynosure” means “the focus of all attention.”

b. The mountain pass was a tortuous road, winding and twisting like a snake around the trees of the mountainside.

“Tortuous” means “winding and twisting.”

4. CONTRAST / ANTONYM CLUE Antonyms are words with opposite meanings. An opposite meaning context clue
contrasts the meaning of an unfamiliar word with the meaning of a familiar term. Words like “although,” “however,” and “but”
may signal contrast clues.

Examples: a. When the light brightens, the pupils of the eyes contract; however, when it grows darker, they dilate.

“Dilate” means the opposite of “contract.”

b. The children were as different as day and night. He was a lively conversationalist, but she was reserved and taciturn.

“Taciturn” means the opposite of a “lively conversationalist.”

5. MOOD / TONE CLUE The author sets a mood, and the meaning of the unknown word must harmonize with the mood.

Examples: a. The lugubrious wails of the gypsies matched the dreary whistling of the wind in the allbut-deserted cemetery.

“Lugubrious,” which means “sorrowful,” fits into the mood set by the words “wails,” “dreary,” and “deserted cemetery.”

IV. Key points to remember

 Context clues are hints found within a sentence, paragraph, or passage that a reader can use to understand the
meanings of new or unfamiliar words.
1. DEFINITION / DESCRIPTION CLUE The new term may be formally defined, or sufficient explanation may be
given within the sentence or in the following sentence.

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2. EXAMPLE CLUES Sometimes when a reader finds a new word, an example might be found nearby that helps to
explain its meaning. Words like including, such as, and for example, point out example clues.
3. SYNONYM RESTATEMENT CLUE The reader may discover the meaning of an unknown word because it
repeats an idea expressed in familiar words nearby. Synonyms are words with the same meaning.
4. CONTRAST / ANTONYM CLUE Antonyms are words with opposite meanings. An opposite meaning context
clue contrasts the meaning of an unfamiliar word with the meaning of a familiar term. Words like “although,”
“however,” and “but” may signal contrast clues.
5. MOOD / TONE CLUE The author sets a mood, and the meaning of the unknown word must harmonize with the
mood.

V. Think Through (test and tasks)

OC Module 1 Worksheet
Name: Grade Level & Section:
Date: Score: Parent/Guardian’s Signature:

A. Circle the letter of the best meaning for the underlined word as it is used in context.

1. My brother said, “I just freed myself from a very loquacious history professor. All he seemed to want was an audience.” a.
pretentious
b. grouchy
c. talkative
d. worried

2. There is no doubt that the idea of living in such a benign climate was appealing. The islanders seemed to keep their
vitality and live longer than Europeans.
a. tropical
b. not malignant
c. kind
d. favorable

3. It is difficult to imagine a surfeit of talent in one individual, yet Leonard Bernstein simply does not have the time to make
complete use of his talent as conductor, performer, writer, and lecturer.
a. excess
b. variety
c. superiority
d. lack

4. There is a large demand all over the United States for plants indigenous to the desert. Many people in Arizona have
made a good business of growing and selling cacti and other local plants.
a. native
b. necessary
c. foreign
d. alien

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5. After the Romans left, a millennium and a half passed before people again lived in such comfort. Churchill wrote, “From
the year 400 until the year 1900 no one had central heating and very few had hot baths.” a. a decade b. many years c. 1000
years d. a century

6. Many years before, Caesar’s men had tried and failed to invade Britain. No doubt this contributed to the xenophobia of
the Romans. They were cautious about strangers who entered their country.
a. honesty
b. fear of foreigners
c. kindliness
d. stubbornness

7. Such are the vicissitudes of history. Nothing remains the same. Three hundred years of peace ended in darkness and
confusion.
a. evils
b. mistakes
c. changes
d. rules

8. The purpose of the psychiatrist is to mitigate the suffering of the patient.

9. We knew he couldn’t hold out much longer, because he had been doomed from the beginning. One night he met his
ineluctable fate.
a. forgotten
b. inevitable
c. hidden
d. unhappy

10. A combination of fog and industrial smoke, called smog, has vitiated the air in and around many big cities.
a. concentrate
b. fill up
c. replace
d. contaminate

B. In the space provided, write a synonym for each underlined word as it is used in context.

1. His lucid lectures, along with his clearly presented explanations, made him a popular professor.
_____________________

2. Their vociferous chatter made me wish I had ear plugs. _____________________

3. He was so impudent to his mother that I would have punished him if he talked to me that way.
_____________________

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4. The Russians are skillful at sending cryptic messages, open to many interpretations. Our State Department spends
days puzzling over their meanings. _____________________

5. The Great Flood of Noah’s day was caused by incessant rain that fell for 40 days and nights. _____________________

6. The students who arrived late told the teacher an implausible story about stopping to watch a UFO.
_____________________

7. After spending three weeks in the hospital, I had a surfeit of daytime TV programming. _____________________

8. The prisoners liberated from the Nazi death camp were so emaciated that they looked like skeletons.
_____________________

9. Bob decided to be prudent and call ahead for reservations, instead of just showing up. _____________________

10. The ambiguity of Joe’s directions made it almost impossible to find his house. _____________________

C.
RESOURCES:

Sources: http://linglithumanities.blogspot.com/2011/10/notes-on-emergent-period-1935-1945.html http://literature-

This module is for TLCA leaners use only (NOT FOR SALE)