1 Vocabulary in Context Free Online FlashCards

What are context clues?

Context clues are information in nearby words, sentences, or passages that helps explain an unfamiliar word.

What does “perilous” mean in “The path was perilous—dangerous and difficult to travel”?

Perilous means dangerous. The phrase “dangerous and difficult to travel” restates its meaning.

What does “nocturnal” mean when owls and bats are given as examples?

Nocturnal means active at night. Owls and bats are examples of nocturnal animals.

What does “timid” suggest in contrast with Lena confidently addressing a crowd?

Timid means shy or hesitant. The contrast with Lena confidently addressing the crowd suggests her brother avoids attention.

What does “slick” mean if people nearly slipped on the sidewalk?

Slick means slippery. The result—people nearly slipping—provides the clue.

What does “frail” mean if a kitten is too weak to climb steps?

Frail means weak or delicate. The kitten being too weak to climb the steps explains the word.

How can you test a guessed word meaning in context?

Mark the word, reread its sentence and nearby text, propose a meaning, then reread with that meaning. Revise the guess if it does not fit.

When should you check a dictionary or glossary?

Check a dictionary or glossary when context does not settle the meaning or when a guess remains uncertain.

What is a prefix? Give the meaning of re- in “reread.”

A prefix comes at the beginning of a word. Re- often means “again,” as in reread.

What is the base word in “reread,” and what does a base word carry?

A base word carries the central meaning. In “reread,” read is the base word.

What does the suffix “-less” mean in “fearless”?

A suffix comes at the end of a word and may change its meaning or grammatical role. “Fearless” means without fear because -less means “without.”

What does the root “spect” mean?

A root is a meaningful word element shared by related words. Spect relates to looking or seeing.