Grade: Grade 7 Subject: SAT/ACT Skills Unit: Reading Craft Lesson: 3 of 6 SAT: Craft+Structure ACT: Reading

Word Meaning in Context

Use context clues to determine word meanings.

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Types of Context Clues

  • Definition clues: The meaning is directly stated
  • Synonym clues: A similar word appears nearby
  • Antonym clues: An opposite word helps by contrast
  • Example clues: Examples illustrate the meaning
  • Inference clues: Overall context suggests the meaning

Practice

Question 1: "The verbose speaker went on for hours, using far more words than necessary." What does "verbose" mean?

Answer

Wordy, using too many words. Context: "far more words than necessary."

Question 2: "Unlike her gregarious sister, Maya was shy and preferred being alone." What does "gregarious" mean?

Answer

Sociable, outgoing. Context: It's the opposite of "shy" and "preferred being alone."

Question 3: "The enigma puzzled everyone; no one could solve the mystery." What does "enigma" mean?

Answer

A puzzle or mystery. Context: "puzzled everyone" and "mystery" are clues.

Question 4: "The benevolent king, known for his kindness, helped the poor." What does "benevolent" mean?

Answer

Kind, generous. Context: "known for his kindness" and "helped the poor."

Question 5: "The teacher's explanation was so lucid that even the confused students understood." What does "lucid" mean?

Answer

Clear, easy to understand. Context: "even the confused students understood."

Question 6: "Nocturnal animals, such as owls and bats, are active at night." What does "nocturnal" mean?

Answer

Active at night. Context: examples (owls, bats) and "active at night."

Question 7: "His frugal habits allowed him to save money by never wasting anything." What does "frugal" mean?

Answer

Economical, avoiding waste. Context: "save money" and "never wasting."

Question 8: "The arduous journey exhausted the travelers with its difficulty." What does "arduous" mean?

Answer

Difficult, requiring great effort. Context: "exhausted" and "difficulty."

Question 9: "The meticulous editor checked every word, leaving no detail unexamined." What does "meticulous" mean?

Answer

Very careful and precise. Context: "checked every word" and "no detail unexamined."

Question 10: "Her ambivalent feelings meant she was torn between two choices." What does "ambivalent" mean?

Answer

Having mixed or conflicting feelings. Context: "torn between two choices."