PART I
SIX STEPS TO BETTER READING KILLS
Chapter 1 Vocabulary in Context
I.
Context Clues
Here are four common types of context clues:
? Examples ? Synonyms ? Antonyms
? General Sense of the Sentence or Passage
1. Examples
1. Nocturnal creatures, such as bats and owls, have highly developed senses that
enable them to function in the dark. Nocturnal means a. feathery b. flying c. active at night
2. The adverse effects of this drug, including dizziness and headaches, have caused
it to be withdrawn from the market. Adverse means a. deadly b. harmful c. expensive
3. Common euphemisms include “final resting place” (for grave), “pass away” (for
die), and “comfort station” (for toilet). Euphemisms means
a. unpleasant reactions b. answers c. substitutes for offensive terms
Practice 1
Pay attention to the examples of the italicized word.
1. The meager meal, consisting of only a spoonful of rice and a few beans, was the
most the neglected boy had eaten all day. Meager means a. small b. sweet c. filling
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2. Some mentally ill people have bizarre ideas, for instance, they may think that the
TV is talking to them or that others can steal their thoughts. Bizarre means a. strange b. realistic c. creative
3. There are several common gambits used in bars, such as “How do you like this
place?” and “You remind me of someone.” Gambits means a. games b. conversation starters c. steps
4. Since my grandfather retired, he has developed such avocations as gardening,
fishing, and long distance cycling. Avocations means a. hobbies b. vacations c. jobs vocation职业
5. In biology class today, the teacher discussed such anomalies as two heads and
webbed feet. Anomalies means a. groups b. definitions c. abnormalities
6. Nepotism is commonplace where I work: the boss’s daughter is vice-president of
the company; her husband is in charge of the personnel department, and their son has just started working in the company. Nepotism means
a. Arguments among employees b. Favoritism to relatives
c. Confusion among management
7. You can’t take certain courses unless you’ve taken a prerequisite course. For
instance, you can’t take “English Literature” unless you’ve taken “Comprehensive English I.” Prerequisite means
a. required as a prior condition b. happening at the same time c. of the same difficulty level
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8. The smallest thing, like an ice cream on a hot day or a balloon in the air, can make
a child delirious. Delirious means a. sympathetic b. depressed c. overjoyed
9. Lisa can be blunt to the point of cruelty. She once told a guy that she’d never date
him because he is so short.
Blunt means a. clever b. sophisticated c. rudely straightforward
10. Those in sedentary occupations, such as drivers and writers, need to make special
effort to exercise. Sedentary means
a. characterized by sitting b. low-paid c. challenging Seden ≈ sedan轿子
2. Synonyms
Context clues are often found in the form of synonyms: words that mean the same as the unknown word. Synonyms may be purposely included by an author to help readers understand a less familiar word. In such cases, 1) the synonyms are usually set off by special punctuation within the sentence, such as commas, dashes, or parentheses; 2) and they may be introduced by or, that is, too, also, in other words etc. 3) A synonym may also appear anywhere in a sentence as a restatement of the meaning of the unknown word.
In each of the following sentences, the word to be defined is italicized. Underline the synonym for the italicized word in each sentence.
1. Are you averse—opposed to—the decision? 2. His naivety, or innocence, was obvious.
3. The salesperson tried to assuage the angry customer’s feelings, but there was no
way to soothe her. (Hint: here, a synonym of the italicized word is used later in the sentence to restate the word’s meaning.)
You should have underlined “opposed to “ as a synonym for averse, “innocence” as a synonym for naivety, and “sooth” as a synonym for assuage.
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Practice 2
Each sentence below includes a word or phrase that is a synonym of the italicized word. Underline the synonym of the italicized word in each case.
1. I hope that the ideas could stir your imagination so that you can turn your
bedsitter, your single room, into a personal haven.
2. We could see by his visage, or facial expression, that he was worried. 3. This dictionary is unabridged, that is, complete.
3. Antonyms
Antonyms—words and phrases that mean the opposite of a word—are also useful as context clues. Antonyms are often signaled by words and phrases such as however, but, on the other hand, and in contrast.
In the sentences below, underline the words that mean the opposite of the italicized words; then decide on the meaning of the word in italics.
1. The students thought the professor’s explanation of his course requirements was
nebulous, however, no one asked him to make himself clear. Nebulous means a. boring b. vague c. fascinating
2. Religion in America are not static, but changing, especially in this period of
shifting values. Static means a. unchanging b. unknown c. hurtful
3. Many people have pointed out the harmful effects that a working mother may
have on the family, yet there are many salutary effects as well. Salutary means a. well-known b. beneficial c. harmful
Practice 3
Each sentence below includes a word or phrase that is an antonym of the italicized word. Pay attention to the antonym of the italicized word in each case. Then, based on these clues, decide on the meaning of the word in italics.
1. He was born to a family that possessed great wealth, but he died in indigence.
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Indigence means a. a hospital b. an accident c. poverty
2. Many politicians do not give succinct answers to questions, but long, vague ones. Succinct means
a. brief and to the point b. clever c. complete
3. “I’ve caught several students surreptitiously checking answer sheets during my
exams,” said the professor. “However, until today I never saw one openly lay out a cheat sheet on his desk.” Surreptitiously means a. legally b. secretly c. loudly
4. In the early days of automobile manufacturing, stringent laws controlled
motorists’ speed; in contrast, the laws designed to protect consumers from faulty products were extremely weak. Stringent means a. informal b. not effective c. strict
5. While Lynn’s house is decorated plainly, her clothing is very flamboyant. Flamboyant means
a. simple and inexpensive b. elaborate and colorful c. washable and enduring
6. It’s amazing that Roselyn always appears immaculate, yet her apartment is often
quite dirty. Immaculate means a. dirty b. clean c. weak
7. When I spilled soda on Peter’s shirt—an action that was purely inadvertent—he
refused to believe it was not intentional. Inadvertent means a. intentional b. unintentional c. annoying advertent留意的
8. As the number of leaves on the tree dwindled, the number on the ground
increased.
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