All flashcards
Flashcard 1: Which word choice creates a more formal tone: "kids" or "children"?
Answer: Children. "Children" is standard academic vocabulary; "kids" is informal.
Flashcard 2: Which word has the more negative connotation: "slender" or "scrawny"?
Answer: Scrawny. "Scrawny" implies unhealthy thinness; "slender" is neutral/positive.
Flashcard 3: Choose the best meaning of "pressure" in: "Peer pressure can influence decisions."
Answer: Social influence to act a certain way. "Peer" context indicates social force, not physical.
Flashcard 4: Choose the best meaning of "volume" in: "The volume of the gas increased as it warmed."
Answer: The amount of space something occupies. Scientific context about gas expansion indicates physical space.
Flashcard 5: Which word choice sounds more objective for informational writing: "claims" or "proves"?
Answer: Claims. "Claims" acknowledges uncertainty; "proves" suggests absolute truth.
Flashcard 6: Identify the allusion: "He met his Waterloo during the debate."
Answer: Napoleon's final defeat at the Battle of Waterloo. Waterloo was Napoleon's decisive, final defeat in 1815.
Flashcard 7: Identify the allusion: "This plan is a Trojan horse."
Answer: Greek myth/history: the Trojan Horse from the Trojan War. References the deceptive gift that led to Troy's fall.
Flashcard 8: Identify the relationship in the analogy: "Mitochondria are the cell's power plants."
Answer: Function comparison (energy production). Both mitochondria and power plants generate energy for their systems.
Flashcard 9: What is the impact of using loaded language (strong connotations) in informational text?
Answer: It shapes tone and can influence the reader's viewpoint. Strong connotations can bias readers or reveal author bias.
Flashcard 10: Identify the context clue type: "Arid, or extremely dry, climates..."
Answer: Definition (restatement) clue. The phrase directly defines the unfamiliar word.
Flashcard 11: What is a technical meaning of a word?
Answer: A specialized definition used in a specific field or discipline. Words with precise meanings within particular subjects or professions.
Flashcard 12: What is figurative language in informational text?
Answer: Nonliteral wording used for effect, comparison, or emphasis. Goes beyond literal meaning to create vivid imagery or comparisons.
Flashcard 13: Choose the best meaning of "draft" in: "The committee reviewed the draft of the policy."
Answer: A preliminary version of a document. Context of committee and policy indicates a document version.
Flashcard 14: Identify the context clue type: "The terrain was rugged; sharp rocks tore our shoes."
Answer: Example/detail clue. Specific details illustrate the meaning of "rugged."
Flashcard 15: Identify the context clue type: "Unlike mammals, reptiles are ectothermic."
Answer: Contrast clue. "Unlike" signals opposite characteristics between the terms.
Flashcard 16: Identify the tone: Which word choice is more formal, “kids” or “children”?
Answer: Children. "Children" is professional language; "kids" is casual.
Flashcard 17: What is the difference between denotation and connotation in a word’s meaning?
Answer: Denotation is literal meaning; connotation is implied feeling or association. Denotation is dictionary definition; connotation is emotional association.
Flashcard 18: Identify the connotation: Which word sounds more positive, “inexpensive” or “cheap”?
Answer: Inexpensive. "Cheap" suggests poor quality; "inexpensive" just means low cost.
Flashcard 19: Which context clue type signals meaning by showing what the word is not?
Answer: Contrast or antonym clue. Words like "but" or "however" signal opposite meanings.
Flashcard 20: Which context clue type provides instances that reveal a word’s meaning?
Answer: Example or illustration clue. Specific examples clarify the general term's meaning.
Flashcard 21: Identify the tone shift: Which word is more urgent, “request” or “demand”?
Answer: Demand. "Demand" implies forceful insistence; "request" is polite.
Flashcard 22: Identify the allusion: If a text calls a difficult choice “a real Sophie’s choice,” what is it?
Answer: An allusion to another story used to suggest a painful, impossible decision. References the novel/film about choosing between two beloved children.
Flashcard 23: Identify the purpose: What does the analogy “the heart is a pump” help the reader do?
Answer: Understand the heart’s function by comparing it to a familiar machine. Pump analogy clarifies how the heart circulates blood mechanically.
Flashcard 24: What does it mean to interpret a word’s meaning “in context” in informational text?
Answer: Use surrounding details to choose the meaning that fits the passage. Context clues from nearby words help determine the intended meaning.
Flashcard 25: Identify the technical meaning: In science, what does “theory” most nearly mean?
Answer: A well-supported explanation based on evidence, not a guess. In science, "theory" means rigorously tested explanation, not speculation.
Flashcard 26: What is figurative language, as opposed to literal language, in a text?
Answer: Nonliteral meaning used for effect, not the exact dictionary meaning. Words used creatively beyond their literal definitions for emphasis or imagery.
Flashcard 27: What is the most reliable method for confirming a word’s meaning after using context clues?
Answer: Check a dictionary or glossary and match the definition to the context. Verifies your context-based inference with authoritative sources.
Flashcard 28: What is a technical meaning of a word in informational text?
Answer: A specialized, domain-specific definition used in a field or subject. Precise terminology specific to academic or professional fields.
Flashcard 29: Identify the figurative meaning: In “a flood of emails,” what does “flood” mean?
Answer: A very large number arriving quickly. "Flood" metaphorically suggests overwhelming quantity.
Flashcard 30: What is tone in an informational text, and what does word choice have to do with it?
Answer: Tone is the author’s attitude; word choice creates and signals that attitude. Specific words reveal whether the author is formal, critical, or enthusiastic.