- Read the passage: Marcus was famished, so he skipped his other chores and quickly ate two slices of pizza and a whole apple. Based on context clues, what does famished mean?
Answer: feeling very hungry and ready to eat
The clue is what Marcus does: he quickly eats two slices of pizza and a whole apple. A person who eats that much, that fast, must be very hungry and ready to eat, so that is the best meaning. "Feeling too full to finish any more food" is the opposite—someone that full would not be eating two slices of pizza and an apple, so the action in the sentence does not fit. "Feeling worried about being late for chores" tries to explain why he skipped his chores, but the sentence connects skipping chores to his hunger, not to worry. "Feeling tired and wanting to take a nap" does not match the clue either, because Marcus is eating quickly, not resting. Always test your answer by putting it back in the sentence and checking that it fits everything Marcus does.
- Read the passage: "In science class, Maya learned that a herbivore, an animal that eats only plants, munches grass and leaves." Based on the context, what does herbivore mean?
Answer: a creature that survives by feeding on grasses, leaves, and other plants
The passage gives you a clue right after the word herbivore: it says "an animal that eats only plants," and then adds that it "munches grass and leaves." So a herbivore must be a creature that survives by feeding on grasses, leaves, and other plants. That matches the meaning the sentence points to. The choice about sleeping through the winter describes hibernation, not eating habits, and the passage says nothing about sleeping. The choice about chasing and catching other animals describes a predator or carnivore, which is the opposite of an animal that eats only plants. The choice calling it a strong-smelling plant is wrong because the passage clearly says a herbivore is an animal, not a plant. When you swap your answer back into the sentence, only the plant-eating creature makes sense with the clue words "eats only plants" and "munches grass and leaves."
- Read the passage: Sofia was apprehensive about the test; she had studied for weeks but still felt her stomach twist as the papers were handed out. Based on context clues, what does apprehensive mean?
Answer: anxious and uneasy about what might happen
The clue is that Sofia's 'stomach twist' as the test began, even though she studied hard. That physical reaction shows worry, so apprehensive means feeling anxious and uneasy about what might happen. 'Proud and confident about being well prepared' twists the clue backward; studying might make you confident, but a twisting stomach shows the opposite of pride. 'Sleepy and relaxed after a good night of rest' ignores the tension in the passage; a nervous stomach is not a relaxed feeling. 'Confused and unsure about the test directions' focuses on the wrong idea; Sofia's problem is her feelings about the test, not whether she understands the directions. When you replace apprehensive with 'anxious and uneasy,' the sentence still makes sense, which confirms it is the best answer. Always try your chosen meaning back in the sentence to check that it fits the clues around the word.
- Read the passage: The puppy was timid, so it hid behind Chen whenever visitors came near. Based on context clues, what does timid mean?
Answer: nervous and easily frightened by others
The clue is that the puppy 'hid behind Chen whenever visitors came near.' Hiding from people shows the puppy is scared of others, so timid means nervous and easily frightened by others. That meaning fits perfectly when you put it back into the sentence. 'Bold and eager to greet everyone loudly' is the opposite of hiding, so it does not match a puppy that runs and hides from visitors. 'Clumsy and always tripping over things' describes how a puppy moves, not how it feels around strangers, so the hiding clue does not point to it. 'Sleepy and slow to wake up in mornings' talks about being tired, but the puppy is clearly awake and reacting to visitors by hiding. Only the first choice explains why the puppy hides when people come near, which is what the context clue tells you.
- Read the sentence: Predators, like wolves, hawks, and lions, hunt other animals for food. Based on the sentence, what does predators mean?
Answer: animals that catch and feed on other creatures
The sentence names wolves, hawks, and lions and tells you they go after other animals to get their food. That means predators are animals that catch and feed on other creatures, which is why that choice is correct. The choice about eating grasses and plants describes plant-eaters, but the sentence clearly shows these animals eat other animals instead. The choice about being hunted and eaten by other animals is backwards—predators do the hunting, they are not the ones being caught. The choice about traveling and living together in large groups talks about how some animals group up, but the sentence says nothing about herds or packs; it only tells you what predators eat. Use the clue 'hunt other animals for food' to match the meaning to the correct choice.
- Read the passage: The desert is arid; it is very dry because it rarely rains. Based on context clues, what does arid mean?
Answer: lacking moisture and water
The passage says the desert is very dry because it rarely rains. Since "arid" describes this place with little rain, it must mean lacking moisture and water. "Having freezing temperatures" is about being cold, but the passage talks about dryness, not temperature. "Covered in thick greenery" is the opposite of a dry desert with little rain, so plants would struggle there. "Located beside a coastline" describes where a place sits, not how dry it is, and a coast would have plenty of water. Only "lacking moisture and water" matches the clue that it rarely rains.
- Read the passage: "Predators like wolves, hawks, and lions hunt other animals for food." Based on the passage, what does predators mean?
Answer: animals that catch and eat other creatures
The word 'predators' is explained by two clues in the sentence. The examples 'wolves, hawks, and lions' are all animals known for chasing and catching other animals, and the phrase 'hunt other animals for food' tells you exactly what they do. Put together, predators are animals that catch and eat other creatures, so that choice is correct. The choice about grazing on grass and green plants describes plant-eaters, but the passage says predators hunt other animals for food, not plants. The choice about gathering seeds and berries to store also focuses on eating plants and ignores the hunting clue. The choice about migrating long distances to find water talks about travel and water, which nothing in the sentence mentions. To find the answer, look at the examples after 'like' and the action words, then test your meaning in the sentence to see if it makes sense.
- Read the passage: "After soccer practice, Jamal was famished, so he ate two sandwiches." Based on the passage, what does famished mean?
Answer: very hungry after all that exercise
The right answer is very hungry after all that exercise. The passage gives you a cause-and-effect clue: Jamal was famished, "so he ate two sandwiches." Eating two sandwiches is what a very hungry person does, so famished must mean very hungry. "Very sleepy after all that running" is a tempting choice because soccer practice can make you tired, but the sentence talks about eating, not resting, so it does not fit. "Very full from the two sandwiches" mixes up the order of events—Jamal ate because he was famished, so he was empty and hungry before the sandwiches, not full. "Very angry about the long practice" describes a mood, but nothing in the sentence shows Jamal being upset, and being angry would not lead him to eat two sandwiches. Only very hungry makes sense with the clue that he ate.
- Read the sentence: "Unlike her cheerful brother, Sofia felt melancholy when the trip was canceled." What is the meaning of melancholy here?
Answer: gloomy and low-spirited
The word "Unlike" signals a contrast between Sofia and her cheerful brother, so "melancholy" must mean the opposite of cheerful. That points to gloomy and low-spirited, which fits her reaction to bad news about the canceled trip. The choice meaning excited and full of energy is the opposite of gloomy, so it matches the brother, not Sofia. Nervous and worried about it names a feeling you might have before something happens, but the trip was already canceled, so it does not fit the contrast with cheerful. Annoyed and quick to argue describes irritation, not the sad, downhearted feeling the contrast clue points to. Only gloomy and low-spirited fits both the clue word "Unlike" and the disappointing situation.
- Read the passage: "Citrus fruits, such as oranges, lemons, and grapefruits, have a tangy taste." What does citrus mean in this passage?
Answer: fruits like oranges, lemons, and grapefruits
The passage gives you an examples clue: the phrase "such as oranges, lemons, and grapefruits" lists what citrus fruits are. Since all three examples are fruits with a tangy taste, citrus must mean fruits like oranges, lemons, and grapefruits. When you swap that meaning into the sentence, it makes perfect sense.
The choice about vegetables is wrong because carrots and peas are not fruits, and the passage clearly calls citrus a kind of fruit. The choice about berries is wrong because, while berries are fruits, the passage names oranges, lemons, and grapefruits, not strawberries or blueberries. The choice about melons is wrong for the same reason: melons are fruits too, but they are not the examples the passage gives. Always match your answer to the exact examples the text provides.
- Read the passage: Unlike her cheerful brother, Sofia felt melancholy after the game ended. Which definition best fits melancholy here?
Answer: gloomy and unhappy inside
The passage says Sofia felt melancholy "unlike her cheerful brother." The word "unlike" is a contrast clue, so melancholy must mean the opposite of cheerful. Something that means gloomy and unhappy inside is the opposite of happy and cheerful, so that is the best fit. "Angry that the game was over" names a negative feeling, but being angry is not the opposite of cheerful, and nothing shows Sofia felt mad. "Brave about facing a challenge" is a positive feeling that matches cheerful instead of contrasting with it, so the clue "unlike" rules it out. "Confused about what happened" describes not understanding something, but the passage gives no hint that Sofia was puzzled—only that she felt the opposite of her cheerful brother. When you use the contrast clue, only the choice meaning gloomy and unhappy makes sense in the sentence.
- What is the meaning of ancient as used in this passage?
Answer: existing from very long ago
The passage says the tools were dug up from a settlement that existed thousands of years ago, so ancient must mean existing from very long ago. The choice about being shiny and recently made is the opposite of something thousands of years old, so it cannot fit. The choice about being shaped from metal tells you what a tool might be made of, not how old it is. The choice about being heavy and hard to carry describes weight, not age, so it does not match the clue either. Only 'existing from very long ago' matches the time clue in the sentence.
- Read the passage: Chen was timid, so he stayed quiet and hid behind his mother whenever new people came to visit. What is the meaning of timid in this passage?
Answer: shy and easily frightened around others
The passage never defines timid directly, so you have to use the clues in the sentence. Chen 'stayed quiet' and 'hid behind his mother whenever new people came to visit.' Someone who hides and stays quiet around strangers is nervous and shy, so 'shy and easily frightened around others' is the best meaning. 'Loud and eager to meet new people' is the opposite of hiding and staying quiet, so it does not fit the clues. 'Polite and helpful toward every guest' might sound nice, but nothing in the passage shows Chen helping anyone—he is avoiding the guests, not serving them. 'Curious and quick to ask questions' also breaks the clues, because a curious child would come forward and talk, not hide and go silent. Only 'shy and easily frightened around others' matches both actions in the sentence. When you meet an unknown word, look at what the person does or how they act, and try each meaning in the sentence to see which one truly fits.
- Read the passage: Jamal was famished after soccer practice, so he ate two whole sandwiches before dinner. What is the meaning of famished as used here?
Answer: very hungry after using up his energy
The best answer is very hungry after using up his energy. The passage doesn't tell you what famished means directly, so you use context clues instead. Jamal ate two whole sandwiches before dinner right after soccer practice. Eating that much food shows he was extremely hungry, which matches this meaning. Watch out for very excited about how the game turned out: playing soccer might make someone excited, but that doesn't explain why he ate so much food. Very sleepy after a long, tiring afternoon uses the idea of being worn out from practice, but being tired wouldn't cause someone to eat two sandwiches. Very full from eating a big lunch earlier is the opposite of what the clues show; if Jamal were already full, he wouldn't eat two more sandwiches before dinner. Only extreme hunger explains his actions in the passage.
- Read the sentence: The earthquake caused destruction, leaving buildings in ruins. Which meaning best fits destruction here?
Answer: serious harm that wrecks and breaks things
The sentence says the earthquake left buildings in ruins, which tells you that a lot of harm happened. So destruction means serious harm that wrecks and breaks things. "A slow repair that fixes broken walls" is the opposite of what happened, because repairing means fixing, not damaging. "A loud warning that keeps people safe" points to a signal, not to harm, so it does not fit buildings in ruins. "A careful plan that guides new building" describes planning before construction, but the sentence shows things being destroyed, not planned. Only serious harm matches buildings left in ruins.
- Read the passage: Predators like wolves, hawks, and lions hunt other animals for food. Based on context clues, what does predator mean?
Answer: an animal that hunts other animals
The passage gives you two kinds of clues. The examples 'wolves, hawks, and lions' are all animals known for hunting, and the explanation 'hunt other animals for food' tells you exactly what they do. Putting these together, a predator is an animal that hunts other animals, so that choice is correct. The choice saying an animal that eats only plants describes a plant-eater, which is the opposite of a hunter and doesn't match the clue about hunting for food. The choice saying an animal that is hunted by others mixes up the predator with the prey; the passage shows these animals doing the hunting, not being hunted. The choice about animals that live together in large groups talks about where or how animals live, but the passage gives no clue about grouping, only about hunting. When you try each meaning in the sentence, only 'an animal that hunts other animals' makes sense with the wolves, hawks, and lions example.
- Read the sentence: Unlike her cheerful sister, Maya felt melancholy all afternoon. Which meaning best fits melancholy?
Answer: gloomy and low in spirits
The word "unlike" signals a contrast between Maya and her cheerful sister, so melancholy must mean the opposite of cheerful. Feeling gloomy and low in spirits is that opposite, which is why it fits best. Being worried and unsure describes anxiety or confusion, not the down mood the sentence points to. Being excited and full of energy is close to cheerful, so it matches the sister, not Maya's contrasting feeling. Being calm and comfortably relaxed is a pleasant, settled mood, which also does not fit a word meant to contrast with cheerful. Only gloomy and low in spirits captures the sad, downcast feeling the context clue reveals.
- Read the passage: "The forest canopy, the top layer of leaves and branches, blocked the sunlight below." Which definition of canopy best fits the context?
Answer: the upper part of the trees where leaves and branches spread out
The passage tells you that the canopy "blocked the sunlight below," and the words right after canopy give a clue: it is a top layer of leaves and branches. That matches "the upper part of the trees where leaves and branches spread out," which is high up and would block sunlight from reaching the ground. "A heavy metal tool that workers use to chop down large trees" is wrong because a tool cannot block sunlight over a whole forest, and nothing in the passage mentions cutting trees. "A small dark cave found on the side of a rocky mountain" is wrong because a cave is a low, hollow space, not a top layer, and the passage is about a forest, not a mountain. "The tangled roots of the trees hidden deep under the ground" is wrong because roots are below the soil, so they could not block sunlight coming from above. Only the upper layer of the trees fits every clue in the sentence.
- Read the passage: The climate was arid, similar to a place with little rain, so the ground cracked and plants dried out. Based on the passage, what does arid mean?
Answer: dry, with rain almost never falling
The passage gives you two big clues about what 'arid' means. First, it compares the climate to 'a place with little rain.' Second, it tells you the effects: 'the ground cracked and plants dried out.' Both clues point to one idea, so the best answer is that arid means dry, with rain almost never falling. When you put that meaning back into the sentence, it makes perfect sense. The choice about being wet with rivers flowing all year is the opposite of what the clues say, since dry ground and dead plants show there is very little water. The choice about being cold with heavy snow describes temperature, but the passage never mentions cold or snow, only dryness. The choice about being windy with ocean storms sounds like weather too, but nothing in the passage talks about wind, storms, or the ocean. Remember to let the clues in the sentence guide you: cracked ground and dried-out plants tell you the land needs rain, so 'arid' has to mean dry.
- Read the passage: Citrus fruits, such as oranges, lemons, and grapefruits, have a tangy taste. What does citrus mean in this passage?
Answer: a kind of fruit like oranges and lemons
The passage gives you examples right after the word: 'such as oranges, lemons, and grapefruits.' These example words are the clue that tells you what citrus means. All three examples are fruits that share a tangy, sour taste, so citrus must name that group. The choice 'a kind of fruit like oranges and lemons' names the exact fruits listed in the passage, which is why it is correct. The choice 'a kind of fruit like apples and bananas' is wrong because apples and bananas are not listed and are sweet, not tangy. The choice 'a kind of fruit like cherries and grapes' is wrong for the same reason: those fruits are not in the passage and do not match citrus. The choice 'a kind of fruit like peaches and plums' is also wrong because peaches and plums are stone fruits, not the sour fruits the passage names. Remember: when you see 'such as' or 'like,' the words that follow are examples that help you figure out a new word's meaning.
