Context Clues Practice

“Claudia, who had eaten cereal and drunk pineapple juice, scolded him about the need to eat properly. Breakfast food for breakfast, and lunch food for lunch. Jaime countered with complaints about Claudia’s narrow-mindedness.” – E. L. Konigsburg, From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil & Frankweiler 

• Put on the kitchen counter 

• Suggested

• Appreciated

• Proposed against 

“There was plenty of bread left on the table, but it was sliced bakery bread from the Cameron’s shop, wrapped in plastic, and the Boggart looked at it with disdain. Compared to the wonderful coarse wholemeal bread the MacDevon had baked once a week, this was poor stuff.” – Susan Cooper, The Boggart

• Contempt

• Approval

• Obedience

• Excitement

“He and mom went outside after supper and sat on the swing. I could hear murmured conversation from them, but I didn’t try to eavesdrop.” – Susan Beth Pfeffer, Life as We Knew It

• Ignore

• Acquiesce

• Listen in

• Drop by

“Serafina listened as he told her of the rumors that had swept the town. Amid the fog of rumor, a few facts had begun to emerge clearly.” – Phillip Pullman, The Subtle Knife

• To avoid

• Disbelief

• Become visible

• Drift away

“The farms were not nearly so well cared for here as they were farther back. There were fewer houses and fewer fruit trees, and the farther they went the more dismal and lonesome the country became.” – L. Frank Baum, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz 

• Inviting

• Obscure

• Gloomy

• Picturesque

“From the threshold, I saw the glow of the railroad lantern. A fire burned in the little stove, warming the air slightly but not enough to dispel the odor of the kerosene, damp earth, and old wool.” – Mary Downing Hahn, Stepping on the Cracks

• Heighten

• Lengthen

• Disperse

• Accentuate

“Upon seeing the wet, dirtied, cashmere sweater-twigs and reeds sprouting from the sleeves-Floy threw her arms up in exasperation.” – Kevin Henkes, Words of Stone

• Tiredness

• Irritation

• Praise

• Apprehension

“The winding key was still revolving, but more and more slowly. The melody faltered. Another few widely spaced notes plinked, and then it stopped.” – Natalie Babbit, Tuck Everlasting

• Unsteadily

• Habitually

• Readily

• Understandably

“When he reached the crest, I saw the ragged uncouth figure outlined for an instant against the cold blue sky. He looked round him with a furtive and stealthy air, as one who dreads pursuit. Then he vanished over the hills.” – Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, The hound of the Baskervilles

• Unhealthy

• Obvious

• Overt

• Nonchalant

 “Oh, I wouldn’t doubt for a minute that you started it, Jane. You cause havoc wherever you go. First my poor garden, and now this!” said Mrs. Tifton, indicating the rest of the music room with a dramatic sweep of her arm.” – Jeanne Birdsall, The Penderwicks

• Greatness

• Destruction

• Peace

• Distinction