How can you use context clues to define an unknown word?

How can you use context clues to define an unknown word?

• A. Look at nearby words and sentences to infer the meaning.
• B. Look at the font style.
• C. Rely on the title alone.
• D. Skip the word and move on.

Answer: (A)

Using context clues means looking at nearby words and sentences to infer a word’s meaning. When you meet an unfamiliar word, scan the surrounding text for hints like a quick explanation, an example, or a restatement that shows what the word means. For example, in a sentence like “The meadow looked parched after days without rain, a dry landscape where plants struggled to survive,” you can figure out that parched means very dry from the clues about dryness in the same sentence. This approach connects the unknown word to information you already understand, making it easier to learn it. Relying on font style, the title alone, or skipping the word doesn’t provide the meaning, so context clues are the reliable tool here.

Using context clues means looking at nearby words and sentences to infer a word’s meaning. When you meet an unfamiliar word, scan the surrounding text for hints like a quick explanation, an example, or a restatement that shows what the word means. For example, in a sentence like “The meadow looked parched after days without rain, a dry landscape where plants struggled to survive,” you can figure out that parched means very dry from the clues about dryness in the same sentence. This approach connects the unknown word to information you already understand, making it easier to learn it. Relying on font style, the title alone, or skipping the word doesn’t provide the meaning, so context clues are the reliable tool here.