Finding Out Word Meanings

What shall we do when we come across unfamiliar words in our reading? Many times we can figure out the meaning of an unfamiliar word from clues provided by context. The context clues that might be helpful for you to recognize the meaning of a new word include: INTRODUCTION Reading Skills

1. Some sentences give the definition for a difficult word with the help of punctuation such as commas, dashes ( 破折号） or parentheses （括号）. Example : A spelunker is a person with a strange hobby—caves. A spelunker crawls into a hole in the ground for just one reason: he enjoys it. 洞穴探险家

2. Context sometimes gives examples to illustrate a difficult word rather than define it. We can use the examples to figure out the meaning of an unfamiliar word. Example : Perhaps the world’s most pressing problem is shortage of food, particularly of foods rich in proteins. Traditional sources of proteins are meat, fish, eggs and milk. Grains such as wheat and rice contain protein but in much smaller amounts. “ 蛋白质 ”.

3. Synonyms ( 同义词 ) are words or phrases that are similar in meaning. A synonym is one type of context clue that helps you to determine the meanings of unfamiliar words. Example : If you happened to be sitting in the woods outside the city, you might have witnessed a strange sight. You would have seen a very proud-looking man riding along on horseback, saying something to himself and suddenly disappearing down a pit. 看到

4. Antonyms ( 反义词 ) are words or phrases that have opposite meanings to other words or phrases. Antonym clues can help you understand new words. Example : Socrates knew how to ask questions that made people think. What is the difference between good and evil? What is the difference between beauty and ugliness?

5. Sentences before or after a sentence that has a difficult word sometimes explain the meaning of the word. Example : The nations of Eastern Europe... are considered the most polluted of all the world’s industrialized countries. Heavy metals from coal mining have contaminated much of the area’s waters. Rivers, land, and forests are so contaminated that many are now biologically dead. polluted or made dirty.

6. Sometimes we can use our own experiences, or our knowledge about a certain topic, to find out the meaning of an unfamiliar word. Example : Indonesians have traditionally favored large families, and their major religion, Islam, frowns on birth control. does not approve of

7. Word part clues. We can often figure out an unfamiliar word because we know the prefix or suffix attached to the root word, or the two words that make up a compound word. Example : The great majority of nations concern themselves with economic development, regardless of its effect on the global ecology. we know that this adjective is formed by adding the suffix “-al” to the noun “globe”.

Ex. Now read the following sentences to figure out the meanings of the underlined words and expressions by using context clues. Choose the answer that is the closest match.

1. Children in the cities had few options, fewer choices of places to play. A. something to choose B. something to offer C. something to give D. something to read 2. Psychologists have been studying the changes people experience when they leave rural areas and move into urban environments. A. forest B. surrounding city C. countryside D. city 1. Children in the cities had few options, fewer choices of places to play. A. something to choose B. something to offer C. something to give D. something to read 2. Psychologists have been studying the changes people experience when they leave rural areas and move into urban environments. A. forest B. surrounding city C. countryside D. city

3. Without grass and trees and bushes and, yes, dirt and mud to get dirty in, children miss an important part of childhood. A. something very easy to do B. wet earth C. money paid for a child D. a quality of being loveable 4. They want to build more parks, but land in cities is quite costly. So they look for land that no one else wants. A. expensive B. cheap C. excellent D. poor 3. Without grass and trees and bushes and, yes, dirt and mud to get dirty in, children miss an important part of childhood. A. something very easy to do B. wet earth C. money paid for a child D. a quality of being loveable 4. They want to build more parks, but land in cities is quite costly. So they look for land that no one else wants. A. expensive B. cheap C. excellent D. poor

5. In Flagstaff, Arizona, a thousand miles of bike trails lead into the San Francisco Peaks, the highest summit in the state. A. summer residence B. military post C. mountain top D. lakeside beach 5. In Flagstaff, Arizona, a thousand miles of bike trails lead into the San Francisco Peaks, the highest summit in the state. A. summer residence B. military post C. mountain top D. lakeside beach