Verify Word Meanings

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6th Grade Writing › Verify Word Meanings

Questions 1 - 10
1

Emma’s inference is that literally means “really,” but the dictionary definition is “in an exact sense.” Does the dictionary confirm her preliminary meaning?

No; she should revise her understanding to match the dictionary’s precise definition.

No; she should ignore the dictionary and keep her original inference.

Yes; informal use is always the correct dictionary meaning.

Yes; “exact sense” and “really” mean the same thing in every situation.

Explanation

This question tests CCSS.L.6.4.d: verifying the preliminary determination of the meaning of a word or phrase by checking the inferred meaning in context or in a dictionary to confirm accuracy, refine understanding, or correct misunderstandings. When students encounter unfamiliar words, they make preliminary determinations of meaning by using context clues, analyzing Greek/Latin roots and affixes, or making inferences. However, these preliminary meanings must be verified to ensure accuracy. Verification methods include: (1) Checking the dictionary—look up the word and compare the dictionary definition with your preliminary meaning; if they match, your inference is confirmed; if dictionary provides more specific detail, your understanding is refined; if they differ significantly, your inference needs correction. (2) Testing meaning in context—substitute your preliminary meaning into the sentence and see if it makes logical sense; if it fits smoothly and all context clues support it, inference is likely accurate; if it creates confusion or doesn't fit, meaning needs revision. Verification is essential because initial inferences can be incomplete, imprecise, or incorrect, and checking ensures understanding is accurate and complete. In this scenario, Emma has determined a preliminary meaning of 'literally' as 'really' (likely based on informal usage like 'I'm literally starving'), but the dictionary defines it as 'in an exact sense.' The dictionary does NOT confirm her preliminary meaning—it shows a different, more precise meaning that contradicts her informal understanding. Choice B is correct because it correctly recognizes that the dictionary does not confirm her preliminary meaning and she should revise her understanding to match the dictionary's precise definition. The dictionary definition 'in an exact sense' is significantly different from Emma's inference of 'really'—literally means something happened exactly as stated, not just for emphasis. Emma needs to correct her misunderstanding and learn the formal, accurate meaning of literally as 'exactly' or 'actually,' not as an intensifier meaning 'really.' Choice A is incorrect because it claims 'exact sense' and 'really' mean the same thing, which is false—'literally' means something happened exactly as described (not figuratively), while 'really' is often used as an intensifier. Students must recognize when dictionary definitions contradict their preliminary meanings and be willing to correct their understanding. Verification sometimes reveals that our informal understanding differs from precise formal meaning. To help students verify preliminary word meanings effectively: (1) Example correction: Preliminary: Thought 'literally' means 'really' or 'very' (from informal usage like 'I'm literally starving'). Verification: Dictionary: 'literally (adv.) in a literal manner or sense; exactly; actually.' Result: CORRECTED—informal usage differs from precise formal meaning. (2) Be aware that informal/colloquial usage sometimes differs from formal dictionary definitions—verification helps students learn precise, academic meanings. (3) When verification shows correction is needed, students should revise their understanding completely rather than clinging to incorrect preliminary meanings.

2

Amir’s inference is that consequence means “a result.” Which method should he use to verify the preliminary meaning?

Assume “result” is close enough and skip verification.

Verify by checking only the first three letters of the word.

Look up consequence in a dictionary and compare the definition to his inference.

Use a thesaurus to find a more interesting word, not a definition.

Explanation

This question tests CCSS.L.6.4.d: verifying the preliminary determination of the meaning of a word or phrase by checking the inferred meaning in context or in a dictionary to confirm accuracy, refine understanding, or correct misunderstandings. When students encounter unfamiliar words, they make preliminary determinations of meaning by using context clues, analyzing Greek/Latin roots and affixes, or making inferences. However, these preliminary meanings must be verified to ensure accuracy. Verification methods include: (1) Checking the dictionary—look up the word and compare the dictionary definition with your preliminary meaning; if they match, your inference is confirmed; if dictionary provides more specific detail, your understanding is refined; if they differ significantly, your inference needs correction. (2) Testing meaning in context—substitute your preliminary meaning into the sentence and see if it makes logical sense; if it fits smoothly and all context clues support it, inference is likely accurate; if it creates confusion or doesn't fit, meaning needs revision. Verification is essential because initial inferences can be incomplete, imprecise, or incorrect, and checking ensures understanding is accurate and complete. In this scenario, Amir has determined a preliminary meaning of 'consequence' as 'a result' based on his initial inference. He needs to verify this preliminary determination to ensure it's accurate and complete. Choice A is correct because it describes the proper verification method—looking up consequence in a dictionary and comparing the definition to his inference. The dictionary would likely define consequence as 'a result or effect of an action or condition,' which would confirm Amir's inference that it means 'a result.' This verification would confirm his preliminary meaning is accurate, though the dictionary might add nuance about consequences often being important or significant results. Choice B is incorrect because it suggests assuming 'result' is close enough and skipping verification—this is problematic because even when preliminary meanings seem accurate, verification often provides additional precision or confirms understanding. Students should always verify to ensure accuracy and build confident vocabulary knowledge. Skipping verification leaves understanding incomplete and tentative. To help students verify preliminary word meanings effectively: (1) Always complete the verification step, even when preliminary meaning seems obvious or 'close enough'—verification transforms tentative knowledge into confirmed understanding. (2) Dictionary verification often adds precision even when confirming—'consequence' might be refined from just 'result' to 'an important result or effect, especially of an action.' (3) Consistent verification builds strong vocabulary habits and ensures students develop accurate, precise word knowledge they can use confidently in academic contexts.

3

Marcus’s inference is that reluctant means “hesitant or unwilling.” After inferring, what should he do to verify it?

Ask someone to guess the meaning without checking any resource.

Use a thesaurus to find a stronger-sounding word instead of verifying.

Look up reluctant in a dictionary and see whether the definition confirms it.

Assume his inference is correct because the sentence mentions a cold pool.

Explanation

This question tests CCSS.L.6.4.d: verifying the preliminary determination of the meaning of a word or phrase by checking the inferred meaning in context or in a dictionary to confirm accuracy, refine understanding, or correct misunderstandings. When students encounter unfamiliar words, they make preliminary determinations of meaning by using context clues, analyzing Greek/Latin roots and affixes, or making inferences. However, these preliminary meanings must be verified to ensure accuracy. Verification methods include: (1) Checking the dictionary—look up the word and compare the dictionary definition with your preliminary meaning; if they match, your inference is confirmed; if dictionary provides more specific detail, your understanding is refined; if they differ significantly, your inference needs correction. (2) Testing meaning in context—substitute your preliminary meaning into the sentence and see if it makes logical sense; if it fits smoothly and all context clues support it, inference is likely accurate; if it creates confusion or doesn't fit, meaning needs revision. Verification is essential because initial inferences can be incomplete, imprecise, or incorrect, and checking ensures understanding is accurate and complete. In this scenario, Marcus has determined a preliminary meaning of 'reluctant' as 'hesitant or unwilling' based on context (likely involving someone's hesitation about jumping into a cold pool). After making this inference, he needs to verify it to ensure accuracy. Choice B is correct because it describes the proper verification method—looking up reluctant in a dictionary and seeing whether the definition confirms it. The dictionary would define reluctant as 'unwilling and hesitant; disinclined,' which exactly matches Marcus's inference of 'hesitant or unwilling.' This verification confirms that his preliminary meaning is accurate and he has correctly understood the word from context. Choice A is incorrect because it suggests assuming his inference is correct just because the sentence mentions a cold pool—while context clues are helpful for initial inference, they don't replace verification. Students should always verify preliminary meanings even when context seems clear, because verification ensures complete and accurate understanding. Verification transforms tentative inferences into confirmed knowledge. To help students verify preliminary word meanings effectively: (1) Example verification process: Preliminary: From sentence 'She was reluctant to jump,' context suggests reluctant = hesitant or unwilling. Verification: Check dictionary: 'reluctant (adj.) unwilling and hesitant; disinclined.' Result: CONFIRMED—preliminary meaning matches dictionary. (2) Even when context strongly suggests meaning, dictionary verification provides authoritative confirmation and often adds precision or nuance. (3) Verification builds vocabulary confidence—once confirmed, students know they can use the word accurately in their own communication.

4

From context, Jamal’s inference is that boisterous means “loud and energetic.” How can he verify this preliminary meaning?

Assume the context clue is always correct, so no verification is needed.

Ask a friend if the word sounds like “boast,” then keep that meaning.

Look up boisterous in a dictionary and compare the definition to his inference.

Use a thesaurus to pick any synonym that seems close and stop there.

Explanation

This question tests CCSS.L.6.4.d: verifying the preliminary determination of the meaning of a word or phrase by checking the inferred meaning in context or in a dictionary to confirm accuracy, refine understanding, or correct misunderstandings. When students encounter unfamiliar words, they make preliminary determinations of meaning by using context clues, analyzing Greek/Latin roots and affixes, or making inferences. However, these preliminary meanings must be verified to ensure accuracy. Verification methods include: (1) Checking the dictionary—look up the word and compare the dictionary definition with your preliminary meaning; if they match, your inference is confirmed; if dictionary provides more specific detail, your understanding is refined; if they differ significantly, your inference needs correction. (2) Testing meaning in context—substitute your preliminary meaning into the sentence and see if it makes logical sense; if it fits smoothly and all context clues support it, inference is likely accurate; if it creates confusion or doesn't fit, meaning needs revision. Verification is essential because initial inferences can be incomplete, imprecise, or incorrect, and checking ensures understanding is accurate and complete. In this scenario, Jamal has determined a preliminary meaning of 'boisterous' as 'loud and energetic' based on context clues. This preliminary meaning needs verification to confirm if it accurately captures the word's meaning or if it needs refinement or correction. Choice B is correct because it describes the proper verification method—looking up boisterous in a dictionary and comparing the definition to his inference. Checking the dictionary is the standard method to verify preliminary meanings—comparing the dictionary definition with inferred meaning shows if inference is accurate. The dictionary would likely confirm that boisterous means 'noisy, energetic, and cheerful; rowdy,' which matches Jamal's inference of 'loud and energetic,' confirming his preliminary determination is accurate. Choice A is incorrect because it suggests asking a friend if the word sounds like 'boast,' which is not a reliable verification method—sound-alike words often have completely different meanings, and personal opinions don't provide authoritative confirmation. Students should always verify preliminary meanings using reliable sources like dictionaries, not guesswork based on similar-sounding words. Verification is an essential step in vocabulary development—it ensures students' word knowledge is accurate and precise. To help students verify preliminary word meanings effectively: (1) Teach the VERIFICATION PROCESS as a standard step - After inferring word meaning from context clues, roots, or initial reading, ALWAYS verify. Don't just accept preliminary meaning without checking. (2) VERIFICATION METHOD 1: Check in DICTIONARY - Look up the word in dictionary (print or digital), Compare your preliminary meaning with dictionary definition, Determine result: CONFIRMED (dictionary matches your inference—meaning is accurate), REFINED (dictionary provides more specific/precise meaning than your general inference—'careful' becomes 'extremely careful with great attention to detail'), CORRECTED (dictionary shows different meaning than you inferred—you misunderstood and need to revise). (3) VERIFICATION METHOD 2: Test in CONTEXT - Substitute your preliminary meaning into the sentence where word appears, Ask: Does this make logical sense? Does it fit smoothly? Do all context clues support this meaning? If YES, preliminary meaning is likely accurate. If NO (creates confusion or doesn't fit), need to revise meaning.

5

Chen’s inference is that ambitious means “having a strong desire to succeed.” How can he verify this preliminary meaning in context?

Skip verification because ambitious is a common word.

Check a rhyming list to find a similar-sounding word.

Look up only the prefix and ignore the full dictionary definition.

Substitute “having a strong desire to succeed” into the sentence to test if it fits.

Explanation

This question tests CCSS.L.6.4.d: verifying the preliminary determination of the meaning of a word or phrase by checking the inferred meaning in context or in a dictionary to confirm accuracy, refine understanding, or correct misunderstandings. When students encounter unfamiliar words, they make preliminary determinations of meaning by using context clues, analyzing Greek/Latin roots and affixes, or making inferences. However, these preliminary meanings must be verified to ensure accuracy. Verification methods include: (1) Checking the dictionary—look up the word and compare the dictionary definition with your preliminary meaning; if they match, your inference is confirmed; if dictionary provides more specific detail, your understanding is refined; if they differ significantly, your inference needs correction. (2) Testing meaning in context—substitute your preliminary meaning into the sentence and see if it makes logical sense; if it fits smoothly and all context clues support it, inference is likely accurate; if it creates confusion or doesn't fit, meaning needs revision. Verification is essential because initial inferences can be incomplete, imprecise, or incorrect, and checking ensures understanding is accurate and complete. In this scenario, Chen has determined a preliminary meaning of 'ambitious' as 'having a strong desire to succeed' and the question asks specifically about verifying this meaning in context. Chen needs to test whether his preliminary determination makes logical sense when substituted into the original sentence. Choice A is correct because it describes the proper context-based verification method—substituting 'having a strong desire to succeed' into the sentence to test if it fits. Testing the meaning in context by substituting it into the sentence confirms if it makes logical sense. If Chen reads 'The ambitious student studied every night,' and substitutes his meaning to get 'The student having a strong desire to succeed studied every night,' the sentence flows logically and makes perfect sense, confirming his inference is accurate. Choice B is incorrect because it suggests skipping verification because ambitious is a common word—this is problematic because even common words should be verified, especially when students are developing precise vocabulary knowledge. Students should always verify preliminary meanings to ensure accuracy, regardless of how common the word seems. Verification builds precise vocabulary understanding. To help students verify preliminary word meanings effectively: (1) VERIFICATION METHOD 2: Test in CONTEXT - Substitute your preliminary meaning into the sentence where word appears, Ask: Does this make logical sense? Does it fit smoothly? Do all context clues support this meaning? If YES, preliminary meaning is likely accurate. If NO (creates confusion or doesn't fit), need to revise meaning. (2) Context testing is particularly useful when dictionary access is limited or when confirming that a specific dictionary definition fits the particular usage. (3) Both verification methods (dictionary and context) can be used together for maximum accuracy—context testing confirms logical fit, while dictionary checking confirms precise definition.

6

Keisha’s inference is that resilient means “strong.” The dictionary says “able to recover quickly from difficulties.” What does verification show?

It contradicts her inference completely, so the word means “fragile.”

It refines her inference, making it more precise than just “strong.”

It proves she should use a thesaurus instead of a dictionary to verify.

It confirms her inference exactly, so no changes are needed.

Explanation

This question tests CCSS.L.6.4.d: verifying the preliminary determination of the meaning of a word or phrase by checking the inferred meaning in context or in a dictionary to confirm accuracy, refine understanding, or correct misunderstandings. When students encounter unfamiliar words, they make preliminary determinations of meaning by using context clues, analyzing Greek/Latin roots and affixes, or making inferences. However, these preliminary meanings must be verified to ensure accuracy. Verification methods include: (1) Checking the dictionary—look up the word and compare the dictionary definition with your preliminary meaning; if they match, your inference is confirmed; if dictionary provides more specific detail, your understanding is refined; if they differ significantly, your inference needs correction. (2) Testing meaning in context—substitute your preliminary meaning into the sentence and see if it makes logical sense; if it fits smoothly and all context clues support it, inference is likely accurate; if it creates confusion or doesn't fit, meaning needs revision. Verification is essential because initial inferences can be incomplete, imprecise, or incorrect, and checking ensures understanding is accurate and complete. In this scenario, Keisha has determined a preliminary meaning of 'resilient' as 'strong,' but the dictionary provides a more specific definition: 'able to recover quickly from difficulties.' The verification shows that her preliminary meaning needs refinement—while 'strong' captures part of the meaning, the dictionary provides a more precise understanding. Choice C is correct because it recognizes that verification refines her inference, making it more precise than just 'strong.' The dictionary definition 'able to recover quickly from difficulties' is more specific than the general quality of being 'strong'—it specifies a particular type of strength involving recovery and bouncing back from challenges. Keisha's preliminary meaning wasn't wrong, but it was incomplete and general; the dictionary refines it to a more precise, specific meaning about resilience as the ability to recover and adapt. Choice A is incorrect because it claims the dictionary confirms her inference exactly, when actually the dictionary provides a more specific meaning than her general inference of 'strong.' The dictionary doesn't just confirm—it refines and makes more precise. Verification often reveals that preliminary meanings are on the right track but need refinement for precision. To help students verify preliminary word meanings effectively: (1) Example refinement: Preliminary: From context, 'resilient' seems to mean 'strong.' Verification: Dictionary: 'resilient (adj.) able to recover quickly from difficulties; flexible and adaptable.' Result: REFINED—preliminary meaning was general ('strong'), dictionary provides precise meaning (able to recover/adapt). (2) Recognize three verification outcomes: CONFIRMED (exact match), REFINED (preliminary was general, dictionary is specific), CORRECTED (preliminary was wrong). (3) Refinement is common—context often suggests general meanings, while dictionaries provide precise, complete definitions that enhance understanding.

7

Sofia’s inference is that meticulous means “very careful and detailed.” To verify the preliminary meaning, she should _____.

Use the word in a new sentence and assume that proves the meaning.

Rely only on how the word sounds and skip the dictionary.

Look up meticulous in a dictionary and compare it to her inference.

Choose the first dictionary definition without checking the sentence’s context.

Explanation

This question tests CCSS.L.6.4.d: verifying the preliminary determination of the meaning of a word or phrase by checking the inferred meaning in context or in a dictionary to confirm accuracy, refine understanding, or correct misunderstandings. When students encounter unfamiliar words, they make preliminary determinations of meaning by using context clues, analyzing Greek/Latin roots and affixes, or making inferences. However, these preliminary meanings must be verified to ensure accuracy. Verification methods include: (1) Checking the dictionary—look up the word and compare the dictionary definition with your preliminary meaning; if they match, your inference is confirmed; if dictionary provides more specific detail, your understanding is refined; if they differ significantly, your inference needs correction. (2) Testing meaning in context—substitute your preliminary meaning into the sentence and see if it makes logical sense; if it fits smoothly and all context clues support it, inference is likely accurate; if it creates confusion or doesn't fit, meaning needs revision. Verification is essential because initial inferences can be incomplete, imprecise, or incorrect, and checking ensures understanding is accurate and complete. In this scenario, Sofia has determined a preliminary meaning of 'meticulous' as 'very careful and detailed' based on her initial inference. She needs to verify this preliminary determination to confirm its accuracy and ensure she understands the word's precise meaning. Choice B is correct because it describes the proper verification method—looking up meticulous in a dictionary and comparing it to her inference. The dictionary would define meticulous as 'showing great attention to detail; very careful and precise,' which confirms Sofia's inference of 'very careful and detailed.' This verification confirms that her preliminary meaning is accurate and she has correctly understood the word. Choice A is incorrect because it suggests choosing the first dictionary definition without checking the sentence's context—this is problematic because many words have multiple definitions, and students must select the definition that fits the specific context. However, for single-definition words like meticulous, context-checking is still important to ensure the meaning makes sense in the sentence. Verification is an essential step that confirms accurate understanding. To help students verify preliminary word meanings effectively: (1) COMPARE precision levels - Context might suggest general meaning: 'meticulous' = careful, Dictionary provides precise meaning: 'meticulous' = showing great attention to detail, very careful and precise, Verification refines understanding from general → specific. (2) Even when preliminary meaning seems accurate, dictionary verification often provides additional nuances or more precise wording that enhances understanding. (3) Verification builds confidence in word usage—once confirmed, students can use the word accurately in their own writing and speaking.

8

Based on the root VIS (“see”), Maya’s inference is that supervise means “watch over.” Which method would verify this preliminary meaning?

Only check the root VIS and ignore the rest of the word.

Replace the word with any synonym, even if the sentence stops making sense.

Look up supervise in a dictionary to confirm the root-based inference.

Decide the meaning from the prefix only and skip verification.

Explanation

This question tests CCSS.L.6.4.d: verifying the preliminary determination of the meaning of a word or phrase by checking the inferred meaning in context or in a dictionary to confirm accuracy, refine understanding, or correct misunderstandings. When students encounter unfamiliar words, they make preliminary determinations of meaning by using context clues, analyzing Greek/Latin roots and affixes, or making inferences. However, these preliminary meanings must be verified to ensure accuracy. Verification methods include: (1) Checking the dictionary—look up the word and compare the dictionary definition with your preliminary meaning; if they match, your inference is confirmed; if dictionary provides more specific detail, your understanding is refined; if they differ significantly, your inference needs correction. (2) Testing meaning in context—substitute your preliminary meaning into the sentence and see if it makes logical sense; if it fits smoothly and all context clues support it, inference is likely accurate; if it creates confusion or doesn't fit, meaning needs revision. Verification is essential because initial inferences can be incomplete, imprecise, or incorrect, and checking ensures understanding is accurate and complete. In this scenario, Maya has determined a preliminary meaning of 'supervise' as 'watch over' based on the Greek root VIS (meaning 'see'). This root-based inference needs verification to confirm that the complete word meaning matches her preliminary determination. Choice A is correct because it identifies the proper verification method—looking up supervise in a dictionary to confirm the root-based inference. When students use Greek/Latin roots to infer meaning, they should always verify because roots provide clues but the complete word meaning may be more specific. The dictionary would confirm that supervise means 'observe and direct the execution of a task, project, or activity,' which aligns with Maya's inference of 'watch over' based on the VIS root, confirming her preliminary determination is accurate. Choice B is incorrect because it suggests only checking the root VIS and ignoring the rest of the word, which is incomplete verification—roots are helpful starting points, but prefixes, suffixes, and the complete word formation affect meaning. Students should verify the entire word's meaning, not just analyze individual parts. Verification ensures that root-based inferences capture the full, accurate meaning of the complete word. To help students verify preliminary word meanings effectively: (1) Handle ROOT-BASED inferences - If you used Greek/Latin roots to infer meaning (VIS=see, so supervise = watch over), Check dictionary to confirm root-based inference is accurate, Dictionary confirms: 'supervise: watch over and direct' (VIS=see connection verified). (2) Recognize that roots give clues but may not provide complete meaning—the prefix 'super-' (over/above) combines with VIS to create the specific meaning of watching over from a position of authority. (3) Always verify the complete word, not just the root, because affixes modify and specify the root's general meaning.

9

Yuki’s inference is that draft means “a first version,” but the dictionary lists: 1) “a current of air,” 2) “a first version.” Which definition verifies her preliminary meaning?

Both definitions at the same time, because a word always means everything.

Neither definition; she should ignore the dictionary and trust her guess only.

Definition 1, because it is listed first in the dictionary.

Definition 2, because it matches her inference and can fit writing context.

Explanation

This question tests CCSS.L.6.4.d: verifying the preliminary determination of the meaning of a word or phrase by checking the inferred meaning in context or in a dictionary to confirm accuracy, refine understanding, or correct misunderstandings. When students encounter unfamiliar words, they make preliminary determinations of meaning by using context clues, analyzing Greek/Latin roots and affixes, or making inferences. However, these preliminary meanings must be verified to ensure accuracy. Verification methods include: (1) Checking the dictionary—look up the word and compare the dictionary definition with your preliminary meaning; if they match, your inference is confirmed; if dictionary provides more specific detail, your understanding is refined; if they differ significantly, your inference needs correction. (2) Testing meaning in context—substitute your preliminary meaning into the sentence and see if it makes logical sense; if it fits smoothly and all context clues support it, inference is likely accurate; if it creates confusion or doesn't fit, meaning needs revision. Verification is essential because initial inferences can be incomplete, imprecise, or incorrect, and checking ensures understanding is accurate and complete. In this scenario, Yuki has determined a preliminary meaning of 'draft' as 'a first version,' and the dictionary shows two definitions: 1) 'a current of air,' 2) 'a first version.' She needs to verify which definition matches her preliminary meaning and fits her writing context. Choice B is correct because it identifies that definition 2 matches her inference and can fit writing context. For words with multiple definitions, students must match their preliminary meaning to the appropriate numbered definition and confirm it fits their specific context. Definition 2 'a first version' exactly matches Yuki's inference and would fit a writing context (like 'writing the first draft of an essay'), confirming her preliminary meaning is accurate for this usage. Choice A is incorrect because it suggests choosing definition 1 simply because it's listed first, ignoring that it means 'a current of air' which doesn't match her inference of 'a first version.' Students must read all definitions and select the one that matches their preliminary meaning and context, not just pick the first one listed. Verification for multiple-meaning words requires matching the specific definition to the context. To help students verify preliminary word meanings effectively: (1) Handle MULTIPLE DEFINITIONS - Many words have multiple numbered definitions in dictionary (run: 1. move quickly, 2. operate, 3. compete for office), Read the sentence context to determine which definition fits this specific usage, Select the numbered definition that makes sense in context. (2) Match preliminary meaning to the appropriate numbered definition—don't assume first definition is always correct. (3) Context determines which definition applies—'draft' in writing context means 'first version,' while 'draft' in weather context means 'current of air.'

10

Carlos’s inference is that charge means “accuse,” but the dictionary lists: 1) “ask for a price,” 2) “rush forward,” 3) “accuse.” How can he verify which meaning fits?

Pick definition 1 because it is the most common, without reading the context.

Use only the word’s sound to decide, not the dictionary.

Choose definition 3 and re-read the sentence to confirm it matches the context.

Decide it means “electricity” because he has heard that meaning before.

Explanation

This question tests CCSS.L.6.4.d: verifying the preliminary determination of the meaning of a word or phrase by checking the inferred meaning in context or in a dictionary to confirm accuracy, refine understanding, or correct misunderstandings. When students encounter unfamiliar words, they make preliminary determinations of meaning by using context clues, analyzing Greek/Latin roots and affixes, or making inferences. However, these preliminary meanings must be verified to ensure accuracy. Verification methods include: (1) Checking the dictionary—look up the word and compare the dictionary definition with your preliminary meaning; if they match, your inference is confirmed; if dictionary provides more specific detail, your understanding is refined; if they differ significantly, your inference needs correction. (2) Testing meaning in context—substitute your preliminary meaning into the sentence and see if it makes logical sense; if it fits smoothly and all context clues support it, inference is likely accurate; if it creates confusion or doesn't fit, meaning needs revision. Verification is essential because initial inferences can be incomplete, imprecise, or incorrect, and checking ensures understanding is accurate and complete. In this scenario, Carlos has determined a preliminary meaning of 'charge' as 'accuse,' and the dictionary lists three definitions: 1) 'ask for a price,' 2) 'rush forward,' 3) 'accuse.' He needs to verify which definition matches his inference and fits the context of his sentence. Choice B is correct because it describes the proper verification process for multiple-meaning words—choosing definition 3 (which matches his inference) and re-reading the sentence to confirm it matches the context. For words with multiple definitions like 'charge,' students must both match their preliminary meaning to a definition AND verify that definition fits the specific context by testing it in the sentence. If the context involves legal or blame situations, definition 3 'accuse' would fit and confirm his inference. Choice A is incorrect because it suggests picking definition 1 just because it's most common, without reading the context—this would give the wrong meaning if the sentence is about accusing someone rather than pricing. Students must use context to select the appropriate definition, not just pick based on frequency or position. Verification requires both dictionary checking and context testing for multiple-meaning words. To help students verify preliminary word meanings effectively: (1) For multiple-meaning words, verification is a two-step process: First, find which numbered definition matches your preliminary meaning; Second, test that definition in your specific context to confirm it fits. (2) Context is crucial—'The lawyer will charge him with theft' uses definition 3 (accuse), while 'The store will charge ten dollars' uses definition 1 (ask for a price). (3) Re-reading with the selected definition substituted helps confirm the right choice—if it flows logically and makes sense, verification is complete.