LA Grade6- AA.4 Use context to identify the meaning of a word

Read the passage and then answer the question.

Although plants don't talk, they do communicate with each other by sending messages. For example, scientists have found that some trees can communicate to share resources like water. They do this by sending messages through an underground network. A certain kind of fungus connects all the trees in the forest together, forming a large network. Scientists believe this information-sharing web may allow larger, older trees to help younger trees survive. This improves the health of the entire forest. The details of how the communication works are still obscure, so further research is needed to better understand the process.

What is the meaning of obscure as used in the passage?

• not clearly understood

• well established

• highly unusual

• scientific

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.4

CCSS.RI.7.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RI.5.4

CCSS.RL.5.4

Select the text from the paragraph that best helps you understand that obscure means not clearly understood. There may be more than one correct choice.

Although plants don't talk, they do communicate with each other by sending messages. For example, scientists have found that some trees can communicate to share resources like water. They do this by sending messages through an underground network. A certain kind of fungus connects all the trees in the forest together, forming a large network. Scientists believe this information-sharing web may allow larger, older trees to help younger trees survive. This improves the health of the entire forest. The details of how the communication works are still obscure, so further research is needed to better understand the process.

(a)  

Tags

CCSS.L.1.6

CCSS.L.3.6

CCSS.L.4.6

CCSS.RL.1.4

Read the passage and then answer the question.

Before the end of 1955, most people had never heard of Minnie Mangum. She had worked for many years at a bank in Norfolk, Virginia, and though she was known for being generous with her friends, she was by no means famous. That changed on December 29, 1955, when Mangum was arrested for embezzling about three million dollars. She had used the money she took from the bank to buy gifts for friends and family members, including homes and eighty-five cars. She was sentenced to twenty years in prison.

What is the meaning of embezzling as used in the passage?

• printing fake bills

• borrowing cash from friends

• losing money by gambling

• stealing from the workplace

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.4

CCSS.RI.7.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.RL.5.1

Select the text from the paragraph that best helps you understand that embezzling means stealing from the workplace. There may be more than one correct choice.

Before the end of 1955, most people had never heard of Minnie Mangum. She had worked for many years at a bank in Norfolk, Virginia, and though she was known for being generous with her friends, she was by no means famous. That changed on December 29, 1955, when Mangum was arrested for embezzling about three million dollars. She had used the money she took from the bank to buy gifts for friends and family members, including homes and eighty-five cars. She was sentenced to twenty years in prison.

(a)  

Tags

CCSS.L.3.4D

CCSS.L.6.4C

CCSS.L.7.4C

CCSS.L.8.4C

CCSS.L.9-10.4C

Read the passage and then answer the question.

When they set out to create what would become the Oxford English Dictionary, the Philological Society of London had an ambitious goal: provide the definition and etymology of every word in the English language. Published in 1928, the first ten-volume edition covered more than four hundred thousand words and phrases, making it the most thorough dictionary of its time. Not only did it tell readers what words meant, but it also traced their history. Because language evolves, the dictionary has been updated over the years to account for new words or changing meanings; in March 2014, for example, the words bestie and beat boxer were added.

What is the meaning of etymology as used in the passage?

• the popularity of a word

• the function of a word

• the meaning of a word

• the history of a word

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.4

CCSS.RI.7.4

CCSS.RI.4.10

CCSS.RI.5.10

CCSS.RI.8.4

Select the text from the paragraph that best helps you understand that etymology means the history of a word. There may be more than one correct choice.

When they set out to create what would become the Oxford English Dictionary, the Philological Society of London had an ambitious goal: provide the definition and etymology of every word in the English language. Published in 1928, the first ten-volume edition covered more than four hundred thousand words and phrases, making it the most thorough dictionary of its time. Not only did it tell readers what words meant, but it also traced their history. Because language evolves, the dictionary has been updated over the years to account for new words or changing meanings; in March 2014, for example, the words bestie and beat boxer were added.

(a)  

Tags

CCSS.L.3.4D

CCSS.L.6.4C

CCSS.L.7.4C

CCSS.L.8.4C

CCSS.L.9-10.4C

Read the passage and then answer the question.

In the northeastern United States and Canada, the year 1816 brought unusually cold conditions. A June snowstorm dumped a foot of snow in some areas. In July and August, temperatures fell below freezing—crops froze, and many people went hungry. Normal summer conditions never occurred. For years, scientists were baffled about what happened. Now, however, they believe that the cause was volcanic dust in the atmosphere. The previous year, far across the ocean, Indonesia's Mt. Tambora had erupted in an enormous explosion, shooting tons of ash and dust into the air. Scientists believe that this dust caused the sun's rays to be reflected back into space, leading to the big chill.

What is the meaning of baffled as used in the passage?

• educated

• furious

• nervous

• puzzled

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.4

CCSS.RI.7.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RI.5.4

CCSS.RL.5.1

Select the text from the paragraph that best helps you understand that baffled means puzzled. There may be more than one correct choice.

In the northeastern United States and Canada, the year 1816 brought unusually cold conditions. A June snowstorm dumped a foot of snow in some areas. In July and August, temperatures fell below freezing—crops froze, and many people went hungry. Normal summer conditions never occurred. For years, scientists were baffled about what happened. Now, however, they believe that the cause was volcanic dust in the atmosphere. The previous year, far across the ocean, Indonesia's Mt. Tambora had erupted in an enormous explosion, shooting tons of ash and dust into the air. Scientists believe that this dust caused the sun's rays to be reflected back into space, leading to the big chill.

(a)  

Tags

CCSS.L.1.6

CCSS.L.3.6

CCSS.L.4.6

CCSS.RL.1.4

Read the passage and then answer the question.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born in Austria in 1756. When he was very young, he showed great musical aptitude, playing the keyboard by the age of three and writing musical compositions by the age of five. His father, a musician, gave Mozart lessons in piano and other instruments. After this early start, Mozart spent his life studying, playing, and composing music. Over the course of his life, he wrote more than six hundred musical works of many different types. His music is still popular and is performed often today.

What is the meaning of aptitude as used in the passage?

• weariness of something

• ability to do or learn something

• lack of interest in something

• enjoyment of something

Tags

CCSS.L.3.4D

CCSS.L.6.4C

CCSS.L.7.4C

CCSS.L.8.4C

CCSS.L.9-10.4C

Select the text from the paragraph that best helps you understand that aptitude means ability to do or learn something. There may be more than one correct choice.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born in Austria in 1756. When he was very young, he showed great musical aptitude, playing the keyboard by the age of three and writing musical compositions by the age of five. His father, a musician, gave Mozart lessons in piano and other instruments. After this early start, Mozart spent his life studying, playing, and composing music. Over the course of his life, he wrote more than six hundred musical works of many different types. His music is still popular and is performed often today.

(a)  

Tags

CCSS.L.3.4D

CCSS.L.6.4C

CCSS.L.7.4C

CCSS.L.8.4C

CCSS.L.9-10.4C