Transcript Context Clues ppt. - Madison County Schools

Standardized Test Practice
Vocabulary Strategies
Denotation and Connotation
A word’s denotation is its actual, literal
meaning. It is the meaning you would find if
you looked the word up in a dictionary.
A word’s connotation is the meaning
associated with the word. The connotation
may be more emotional, or tied to an idea or
feeling about the word. Connotations can be
positive, negative, or neutral.
Denotation and Connotation
Example:
The words skinny, scrawny, slender, and slim all
mean approximately the same thing.
Denotation?
Connotation?
• scrawny
• slender
• slim
• skinny
Technique 1…Context Clues
1. Words or phrases within the text and near the
word in question can help you figure out the
meaning of unknown words. The most
commonly used context clues techniques are as
follows:
– Words that clarify are often set off by commas and
will use a synonym as a context clue
– Example: Authors, unless they are trying to be
erudite, or knowledgeable, want readers to
understand their writing.
– In the above sentence, the word erudite means
knowledgeable. Notice that the meaning is explicitly
stated and set off by commas.
Context Clues Continued
Sometimes antonyms , or
opposites, are used for clarity.
• Example: The librarian was
perturbed when the student’s
cell phone rang. He would
have been happier if the
student had silenced her
phone prior to entering the
library.
• By using a phrase in which the
opposite is shown, the reader
can predict the meaning of
perturbed as being “unhappy.”
Sometimes, authors restate the
unfamiliar word using phrases
like “in other words” or “such
as” followed by an explanation.
This provides extra information.
•
Example: The teacher was
unpredictable; in other words,
he was always changing his
mind.
• Example: Ocean predators,
such as sharks and barracudas,
feed on smaller fish.
Technique 2…Words with Multiple Meanings
• Many words have multiple meanings, but the first step in
deciding which meaning of a word is being used is to
figure out the word’s part of speech - if the word is
being used as a noun, verb, or adjective in a particular
sentence. Second, you should look at the context in
which the word is used.
• Example: The captain told the sailor to mop the deck.
– In this sentence is deck referring to a collection of cards, to
knock someone off his feet, or the upper floor or platform of a
ship?
– Part of Speech and Context Clue:
• In this sentence, the word “deck” is a noun; therefore your answer must
be a noun.
• The word “captain” is used which implies a ship; therefore, the upper
platform of a ship is your best answer.
Test Tactics
• Here is an example of a test item you might see. Practice what you
just learned.
President Calvin Coolidge was known as a man of few
words. Once at a dinner party, a guest told him she had
made a bet that she could make Coolidge say more than
three words. Coolidge’s succinct reply was: “You lose.”
• What does the word succinct mean as used in the excerpt?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Honest and direct
Funny and entertaining
Short and to the point
Off topic
Succinct is an adjective.
It modifies the noun reply.
The text also states that he was a man of FEW WORDS which
provides additional information about Coolidge as a clue. The
fact that she bet she could make him say more than three words is also a
clue, especially since he only spoke two words in reply.
What does the word succinct mean as
used in the excerpt?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Honest and direct
Funny and entertaining
Short and to the point
Strange and off the subject
Synonym and Antonym Test Items May
Ask…
• “Which pair of words from the passage is
most similar in meaning?” (for synonym) and
“Which pair of words from the passage is
most opposite in meaning?” (for antonym)
• For this type of question, go back to the passage and find
each word; use context clues to figure out the meaning; use
this knowledge to choose the correct answer.
• Example: Which pair of words from the passage is most
opposite in meaning?
a. Help, assist
b. Invent, create
c. Reveal, conceal
d. Thwart, prevent
Use what you know, the context clues,
and the question stem to choose the
correct answer.
• Example: Which pair of words from the
passage is most opposite in meaning?
a. Help, assist (synonyms)
b. Invent, create (synonyms)
c. Reveal, conceal (antonyms)
d. Thwart, prevent (If the sentence from the
passage read “He never did anything to
thwart his father’s success,” you could infer
that thwart might mean prevent.)
Sometimes test items ask you to
analyze words and phrases. They will
look like the following:
• Read the following sentence from the passage.
What does the sentence below tell the reader
about Alexandra?
Alexandra never wore makeup, seeing no need to
“gild the lily” as she conceitedly put it.
a. She believes she is very beautiful.
b. She feels embarrassed by her looks.
c. She prefers to look plain and natural.
d. She hates to spend money on herself.
Let’s Analyze That By
Looking at the Phrases in Red
Alexandra never wore makeup, seeing no need to
“gild the lily” as she conceitedly put it.
Even if you are uncertain of the phrase “gild the
lily,” the reader can infer that it means “to add
extra or to add an adornment.“ Since she wore
no makeup and since she is conceited, the
reader can infer that she thinks she is beautiful.
a. She believes she is very beautiful.
b. She feels embarrassed by her looks.
c. She prefers to look plain and natural.
d. She hates to spend money on herself.
Test Tactics
• This is a question that might assess your understanding of
multiple-meaning words.
• Read the sentence from the passage. In which of the
following sentences does state have the same meaning as
used in the sentence below.
After competing in the demolition derby, Derek’s
car was in a terrible state.
a. The rescuers asked the lost girl to state her
name.
b. The puzzling ending left moviegoers in a state
of confusion.
c. The company moved its main plant to
another state.
d. The state law was slightly different from the
federal one.
What is the part of speech of state as it is used?
What words help you understand the meaning? Underline them.
After competing in the demolition derby, Derek’s car was in a
terrible state.
a. The rescuers asked the lost girl to state her name.
b. The puzzling ending left moviegoers in a state of confusion.
c. The company moved its main plant to another state.
d. The state law was slightly different from the federal one.
Both demolition and terrible help the reader.
State is a noun meaning condition. The article a and the adjective
terrible indicate that in this sentence, state is a condition.
a. State is an infinitive, not a noun.
b. State refers to a condition of the mind.
c. and d. State refers to a nation or territory. Also in d, state is an adjective.
Peyton Manning article
That did not prevent his season from ending with
the fairy-tale finish of a 24-10 Super Bowl victory
over the Carolina Panthers.
The author uses the term “fairy-tale” to suggest
that the game was:
A. Too good to be true
B. Not played fairly
C. Not very interesting
D. Too much like a cartoon
That did not prevent his season from ending
with the fairy-tale finish of a 24-10 Super Bowl
victory over the Carolina Panthers.
The author uses the term “fairy-tale” to suggest
that the game was:
A. Too good to be true
B. Not played fairly
C. Not very interesting
D. Too much like a cartoon
“Paint Pals”
Part A
How do the girls’ personalities help shape the plot
of “Paint Pals”?
A. Their cheerful natures allow them to make it
through a terrible day.
B. Their love of children helps them do a great job
taking care of the toddlers
C. Their overconfidence ruins what should have
been a fun learning experience
D. Their inexperience prevents them from
knowing what to expect from the toddlers.
Answer
How do the girls’ personalities help shape the
plot of “Paint Pals”?
A. Their cheerful natures allow them to make it
through a terrible day.
B. Their love of children helps them do a great
job taking care of the toddlers
C. Their overconfidence ruins what should have
been a fun learning experience
D. Their inexperience prevents them from
knowing what to expect from the toddlers.
Part B
What additional story element helps
shape the plot?
A. The setting in a preschool
B. The personality of the teacher
C. The setting during the early
afternoon
D. The personalities of the individual
children
Answer
What additional story element helps
shape the plot?
A. The setting in a preschool
B. The personality of the teacher
C. The setting during the early
afternoon
D. The personalities of the individual
children