Use context clues to choose a word that fits a sentence.

Have you ever come across a word you didn't know while reading a book? You probably didn't run to the dictionary every time. Instead, you looked at the words around it to figure out what it meant. That is exactly what context clues are — helpful hints hiding in the sentence!

People have been using clues like these for thousands of years. Let's look at how reading and testing have changed over time.

On the ISEE, you will see about 17 sentence completion questions. Each one has a sentence with one blank and four answer choices (A through D). Your job is to be a word detective and find the answer that fits best!

Context clues are like puzzle pieces. When you put them together, they show you the big picture. There are a few main types of clues you should look for. Let's learn them!

Let's look at a diagram that shows how context clues work. Imagine you see this sentence on the ISEE: "Because it was raining heavily, the soccer game was ______." Let's see how the clues in this sentence point you to the answer.

See how the clues in the sentence work together? "Because" tells you there is a reason. "Raining heavily" is that reason. So the blank must be the result of heavy rain. That's why "canceled" fits perfectly!

Now that you know the types of context clues, let's learn a step-by-step plan. This strategy works every time you face a sentence completion on the ISEE. Think of it like a recipe — follow the steps, and you'll cook up the right answer!

Step 3 is the secret weapon! When you think of your own word first, you won't get tricked by "close but wrong" answers. Your prediction keeps you focused on what the sentence really needs.

Signal words are special words that tell you the direction of a sentence. Some signal words say "the next part agrees with the first part." Others say "the next part is the opposite!" Knowing these words is like having a map that shows you where the sentence is going.

Here's a trick: when you see a same-direction word like "because" or "so," the blank will feel like it agrees with the rest of the sentence. When you see an opposite-direction word like "but" or "although," the blank will feel like a surprise or a switch.

Let's walk through an ISEE-style sentence completion together. We'll use our 4-step strategy. Ready? Let's go!

The answer choices are: (A) worried, (B) confused, (C) confident, (D) tired

The ISEE test makers are sneaky sometimes! They put in wrong answers that look tempting. Let's learn about the most common traps so you don't fall for them.

The great news is that context clues aren't just for the ISEE. You use this skill every single day! When you read a book, watch a movie, or even listen to a friend tell a story, your brain uses context clues to understand new words and ideas.

As you get older and read harder books, you'll face tougher vocabulary. Tests like the ISEE Middle Level and Upper Level have even harder sentence completions — some with two blanks! But don't worry. The same detective skills you're learning now will help you then too.

Time to put your skills to the test! Use the 4-step strategy on each question. Remember: read the sentence, find the clues, predict a word, then pick the best answer. You've got this!