Reading Skill: Contextual Clues

In the early 1600s, a dangerous trip across the Atlantic Ocean was a daunting idea. The Europeans, who would someday be known as the Pilgrims, must have been a very determined and brave group of settlers.

A daunting task is one that would _______ someone.

• tickle

• amuse

• lose or misplace

• frighten or intimidate

The United States has a vast amount of newly discovered clean geothermal (natural heat from the Earth’s crust) energy. Tapping into this energy source could provide at least 10 times the energy that can be obtained from the nation’s known coal reserves.

 What does “vast” mean?

• a large amount

• not enough

• dangerous

• having no known use

The United States has a vast amount of newly discovered clean geothermal (natural heat from the Earth’s crust) energy. Tapping into this energy source could provide at least 10 times the energy that can be obtained from the nation’s known coal reserves.

Which word in the above paragraph means supplies that are available to be used?

• geothermal

• tapping

• continent

• reserves

Your cousin claimed to be late because the doors of his house were frozen shut. Even though I have my doubts, his explanation is plausible. It got really cold last night. I'll just have to take his word for it.

If a statement is plausible, __________.

• you must always believe it

• you should never believe it

• it's hard to understand because it makes no sense

• it's believable enough to possibly be true

If you don't curtail your spending, you'll be broke in no time at all!

Which word is a synonym of "curtail"?

• reduce

• follow

• increase

• buy

No word must ever leak out about this military action! It has to be a clandestine operation in order to succeed.

Which word is a synonym of "clandestine"?

• familiar

• useful

• dangerous

• secret

Put this medicine on your arm and rub it into your skin until it's invisible. It will inhibit the infection's attempt to spread.

What does “inhibit” mean?

• live in a certain place

• block or slow down

• itch or burn

• help to do something important

Fortunately, the dizzy spell was transient. He was able to continue playing within seconds and had no trouble winning the match.

When you describe an event as “transient,” you are saying that __________.

• it is prolonged

• it is quite harmful

• it helps you to win

• it doesn't last long

When they heard the good news about the court’s decision, the angry crowd cheered and then began to disperse. “It looks like everyone is going home,” one reporter stated.

Which would be the opposite of “disperse”?

• move

• argue

• gather

• retreat

Sunshine said, “Amber, why are you making such a big deal about Robert’s hair? Yes, he did dye it purple. It is rather unusual for a guy to have purple hair. On the other hand, it’s not exactly going to change the course of world history. It’s really quite a trivial matter.”

What does “trivial” mean?

• strange

• unimportant

• disgusting

• dangerous