Using Context Clues in Nonfiction Text

Which sentence helps you understand the meaning of the word "ancient?"

• Throughout time, gum has been a material that is chewed, not swallowed.

• Modern gums are made with several different materials including certain types of waxes and rubbers.

• Scientists have found birch bark tar with teeth marks in it that has led them to conclude that people were chewing gum 5,000 years ago.

What does the word "cling" mean as it is used in the

passage?

• to hold on tightly

• to grab and let go

• a type of food bears eat

• to swing from tree to tree

Clues in a text that help you figure out the meaning of an unknown word

• Context Clues

• Text Features

• Text Structure

• Infer

These help you find the meaning of a word; they are the words surrounding a word

• domain specific vocabulary

• synonym

• context clues

• antonym

are hints that the author gives to help define a difficult or unusual word. The clue may appear within the same sentence as the word to which it refers, or it may follow in a preceding sentence.

• Context clues

• Strategies

• Themes

• Settings

• Main ideas

In 1620, the Pilgrims set sail on the Mayflower for the long, perilous journey to America. Many passengers feared for their lives during the powerful thunderstorms. They only had enough food for a few short months. What would happen to them if they were blown off course? It was a time of great concern for everyone on board. From this paragraph, you can infer that the word perilous means:

• joyful

• simple

• dangerous

• boring

What is the question above asking you to do?

• It's asking you to look up the definition of the word gobble.

• It's asking you to find what the character gobbled.

• It's asking you to decide which definition, which is already provided, is the way the word is used in context.

In 1620, the Pilgrims set sail on the Mayflower for the long, perilous journey to America. Many passengers feared for their lives during the powerful thunderstorms. They only had enough food for a few short months. What would happen to them if they were blown off course? It was a time of great concern for everyone on board. From this paragraph, you can infer that the word perilous means:

• joyful

• simple

• dangerous

In 1620, the Pilgrims set sail on the Mayflower for the long, perilous journey to America. Many passengers feared for their lives during the powerful thunderstorms. They only had enough food for a few short months. What would happen to them if they were blown off course? It was a time of great concern for everyone on board. From this paragraph, you can infer that the word perilous means:

• joyful

• simple

• dangerous

• boring

Clues that surround words that help the reader understand the meaning.

• context clues

• effect

• synonym

• homophone