Context Clues
 There are 4 common types on context clues:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Examples
Synonyms
Antonyms
General Sense of the Sentence or Passage
Antonym
a word or phrase that means the
opposite of another word.
 They are signaled by words and phrases such as
 However
 But
 Yet
 On the other hand
 In contrast
 Or two other points of view will be introduced
Example Sentences- What is the
context clue?
He was born in a very
wealthy family, but he
died in an indigent one.
BUT- Which two words mean
the opposite?
He was born in a very
wealthy family, but he
died in an indigent one.
Wealthy and Indigent
He was born in a very
wealthy family, but he
died in an indigent one.
Then…….what does indigent
mean?
POOR!!!
 New Sentence
Your science project is much
more elaborate than mine. In
fact, mine looks quite simple
when compared to yours.
 Which two points of view are being expressed?
Your science project is
much more elaborate
than mine. In fact, mine
looks quite simple when
compared to yours.
What is my science project
like?
Your science project is much
more elaborate than mine.
In fact, mine looks quite
simple when compared to
yours.
Your science project is much
more elaborate than mine.
In fact, mine looks quite
simple when compared to
yours.
 Sooooooo……what is your science project???
Your science project is much
more elaborate than mine. In
fact, mine looks quite simple
when compared to yours.
 It is the opposite of simple.
Complex
Complicated
Last Example
A memo that is brief and to the point is
more likely to be read than one that is
verbose and rambling.
 Memo 1
Memo 2
 Brief and to the point
verbose
a.Argumentative
b.Wordy
c.Short
WORDY
Blah blah blah blah
blah blah
General Sense of the Sentence
or Passage
 Draw conclusions based on the information
given with the word.
 Ask yourself questions about the passage.
 Look for the logic of a sentence/passage
and make connections.
TYPES OF CONTEXT CLUES
General Sense of the Sentence or Passage
Look at the cartoon below. To understand the meaning of opportune, ask
yourself: Is this a good time for the boss to tell the injured worker that
he’s been fired?
“This may not be the opportune time to tell
you this, Cranston, but you’re fired.”
TYPES OF CONTEXT CLUES
General Sense of the Sentence or Passage
Look at the cartoon below. To understand the meaning of opportune, ask
yourself: Is this a good time for the boss to tell the injured worker that
he’s been fired?
“This may not be the opportune time to tell
you this, Cranston, but you’re fired.”
Since the boss realizes that “this may not be the opportune time,” his
words to Cranston strongly suggest that opportune means “suitable.”
TYPES OF CONTEXT CLUES
General Sense of the Sentence or Passage
Read the sentence below. Then think about the question that
follows to figure out the meaning of rectified.
One argument against capital punishment is that if an
innocent person is executed, the mistake cannot be rectified.
(What cannot be done about a mistake as final as an execution?)
Rectified means
A. remembered.
B. predicted.
C. corrected.
TYPES OF CONTEXT CLUES
General Sense of the Sentence or Passage
Read the sentence below. Then think about the question that
follows to figure out the meaning of rectified.
One argument against capital punishment is that if an
innocent person is executed, the mistake cannot be rectified.
(What cannot be done about a mistake as final as an execution?)
Rectified means
A. remembered.
B. predicted.
C. corrected.
Because the innocent person is dead, there is no way to correct the
mistake of having executed the person.
TYPES OF CONTEXT CLUES
General Sense of the Sentence or Passage
Read the sentence below. Then think about the question that
follows to figure out the meaning of extricate.
It took two days for volunteers to extricate the little girl
from the bottom of the well.
(How would volunteers try to help the trapped girl?)
Extricate means
A. free.
B. delay.
C. remember.
TYPES OF CONTEXT CLUES
General Sense of the Sentence or Passage
Read the sentence below. Then think about the question that
follows to figure out the meaning of extricate.
It took two days for volunteers to extricate the little girl
from the bottom of the well.
(How would volunteers try to help the trapped girl?)
Extricate means
A. free.
B. delay.
C. remember.
If the girl is at the bottom of a well, the volunteers would try to free
her.
ExampleA former employee, irate because
he was fired, broke into the office
and destroyed all the computers.
How would you feel if you got
fired?
What kind of person breaks into
an office and destroys
computers?
A former employee, irate
because he was fired, broke
into the office and destroyed all
the computers.
An angry person!!!
Next Example
Jeong Il and Nagisa thought they
would stay good friends forever. But
after graduation, their lives diverged:
Nagisa got a boyfriend, and Jeong Il
moved to Spain.
What was their relationship like after
graduation?
A. Came together
B. Improved
C. Went in different directions.
Jeong Il and Nagisa thought they
would stay good friends forever.
But after graduation, their lives
diverged: Nagisa got a boyfriend,
and Jeong Il moved to Spain.
Went in different directions