MEETING 12

VOCABULARY IN CONTEXT
QUESTIONS
 Vocabulary in context questions

Determine the meaning of an unfamiliar word or

expression
 Identify the question!

What’s the meaning of ABC in line 5?

 The word ABC in line 8 could best be replaced
by …
 The word ABC in line 2 is closest in meaning to
…
 Vocabulary in context questions

 Single words (usually nouns, verbs,

adjectives, and adverbs).
 “Correct" definitions of the word
 Vocabulary in context questions
Clues
 A passage sometimes restate a word in
order to define it.
For example:
When Henry Gonzalez was elected to Congress,
many of his Spanish speaking constituents, the voters in
his district, felt he would fight for their rights
 Vocabulary in context questions
Clues
 Examples used in context may help reveal the
meaning.
For example,
The scientist was accused of several acts of espionage,
such as photographing secret documents and taping
private conversations.
 Vocabulary in context questions
Clues

 Many gardeners use some kind of mulch, such

as chopped leaves, peat moss, grass clippings,
pine needles, or wood chips, in order to stop
the growth of weeds and to hold in moisture.
 Mulch is clearly plant matter.
 Vocabulary in context questions
Clues

 Look for familiar words that may be

synonyms of words which are not known.
For example,
The club’s coffers were so low that the members
had to ask for donations to refill the treasury.
 Vocabulary in context questions
Clues
 The first state to institute compulsory
education was Massachusetts, which made it
mandatory for students to attend school 12
weeks a year.
 The word mandatory is a synonym for the
word compulsory.
 Vocabulary in context questions
Clues
 An unknown word may be compared or shown
to be similar to a more common word.
For example,
As in so many polluted cities, the air in our
community is sometimes too contaminated to
breathe.
 Vocabulary in context questions
Clues

 An unknown word may be contrasted with a

more familiar word.
For example,
The team’s uniforms were immaculate before the
game, but by the end of the first half they were filthy.
 Vocabulary in context questions
Clues
 In the 1820's the Southern states supported
improvements in the national transportation
system, but the Northern states balked.
 Since the Southern states supported
improvements, and since a word signaling
contrast (but) is used, it is clear that the
Northern states disagreed with this idea, and
that the word balked must mean objected or
refused.
 Vocabulary in context questions
Clues
 An unfamiliar word may be related to the cause
or effect of an action, feeling, or idea.
For example,
Will Rogers was considered to be
a humanitarian because he worked to improve
people’s lives.
 Follow these steps

 Look at the word being asked about and the four

answer choices. If you are familiar with the word, guess
which answer is correct.
Do not mark your answer sheet yet.
 Follow these steps

 If you were unfamiliar with the word, see if context

clues in the before or after help you guess the meaning.
 Follow these steps

 Does one seem more logical, given the context of the

sentence, than the other three? If not, do any seem
illogical? (Those you can eliminate.)
 Follow these steps

 Does one seem more logical, given the context of the

sentence, than the other three? If not, do any seem
illogical? (Those you can eliminate.)
 Follow these steps

 If you're still not sure, make the best guess you can and
go on.
 WHERE QUESTIONS

 A piece of information is found

 Determine which line the information is
found
WHERE QUESTIONS

Where in the passage does …?

 WHERE QUESTIONS

The answer can be in any of the lines in the

passage
 WHERE QUESTIONS

The answer can be in a line or two

 WHERE QUESTIONS
Example,
The words capital and capitol are confused in
spelling and in meaning by a lot of people who try
to use them. Both their spellings and their
meaningss are quite closely related. A capital in the
location of the centre of government officials meet.
Thus, in the United States, for example, the Capitol
building is located in Washington, D.C., which is the
capital city of the United States.
 WHERE QUESTIONS
Where in the passage does the author
define the word capital?
A. Lines 1-2
B. Lines 4-5
C. Line 6
D. Line 8
GOOD LUCK!