Language Standards: Determining Meanings of Words and Phrases (CCSS.L.6.4)
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Common Core 6th Grade ELA › Language Standards: Determining Meanings of Words and Phrases (CCSS.L.6.4)
As Lina taped the window frame, she felt a cool draft sneaking through the cracks, so she fetched a blanket to stop the chill while finishing her book report.
What does the word draft most nearly mean as used in the sentence?
a first version of a piece of writing
to select players for a team or service
a current of cool air moving through a space
a beverage served from a barrel
Explanation
Words like cool, through the cracks, and chill show draft refers to moving air, not a written version or a team selection.
When rumors spread about the canceled trip, Jamal tried to counter them by posting the principal's official message, which explained the safety concerns and provided new dates.
What does the word counter most nearly mean as used in the sentence?
a flat surface used for preparing items
to count or tally numbers
to oppose or act against
to move in the opposite direction
Explanation
Because Jamal shared an official message to address rumors, counter means to oppose or act against them, not a countertop, tallying, or physically moving.
Evan was on the verge of sleep after a long day, his eyes drooping and breaths slowing, when a sudden clap of thunder jolted him fully awake.
What does the word "verge" most nearly mean as used in the sentence?
a grassy border beside a road
a promise to do something
to turn sharply while walking
the brink or edge of a state or condition
Explanation
Eyes drooping and breaths slowing show he was nearly asleep; verge means the brink or edge of a state, not a roadside strip, a promise, or a sharp turn.
After surveying students, the council will implement the recycling plan next month, turning ideas into daily routines like labeled bins and scheduled pickups so every classroom participates.
What does the word "implement" most nearly mean as used in the sentence?
a physical tool or instrument
to put into action or carry out
to remove completely
to design something new
Explanation
Because ideas become daily routines, "implement" means to put into action. A quick dictionary check verifies the verb meaning, not the noun "tool" sense.
Although she smiled during the celebration, Priya continued to harbor doubts about the plan, keeping her worries to herself until she could gather more facts.
What does the word harbor most nearly mean as used in the sentence?
a sheltered place for boats
to provide physical shelter
to slow down or delay
to keep in one's mind secretly
Explanation
Clues like kept her worries to herself show harbor means to keep inwardly. It does not refer to a boat harbor or physical sheltering, and not delaying.
The recipe called for a minute pinch of salt, just enough to brighten the flavors without making the dish salty, so the chef sprinkled only a tiny amount over the vegetables.
Which option best clarifies the meaning of minute as used in the sentence?
a sixty-second unit of time
an official summary of a meeting
happening very soon
very small
Explanation
Pinch, just enough, and tiny amount show minute means very small, not a unit of time, meeting notes, or soon.
In the coastal village, rice was a staple, appearing at nearly every meal, from simple breakfasts to celebratory dinners shared by extended families throughout the year.
What does the word staple most nearly mean as used in the sentence?
a small metal fastener used with a stapler
a brief pause or break in activity
to attach papers together using a device
a main or basic item, especially a food regularly eaten
Explanation
Appearing at nearly every meal signals staple means a main/basic food; checking a dictionary confirms the noun sense of a regularly used or eaten item.
Despite the bustling cafeteria, Ms. Perez spoke into a small microphone so every announcement would be audible to students waiting at the far tables during lunch.
Which option best clarifies the meaning of audible using context and word parts?
able to be heard
eager to learn
related to seeing or vision
easily portable
Explanation
The root aud- means hear and -ible means able to; the microphone and announcements to far tables confirm audible means able to be heard.
Jon taped a towel along the bottom of the door to block the draft that kept chilling his ankles while he studied at the desk.
Which option best clarifies the meaning of 'draft' as used in the sentence?
an early version of a piece of writing
a process for choosing players
a drink served from a barrel
a current of air moving indoors
Explanation
Cold air chilling his ankles and a towel at the door suggest moving air, so draft means a current of air, not writing, selection, or a beverage.
The museum asks visitors to conduct themselves politely in the exhibit halls, where delicate artifacts are displayed behind glass to protect them from accidental bumps and fingerprints.
Which dictionary entry best matches the word conduct as used in the sentence?
conduct (noun): a person's behavior or manners.
conduct (verb): to behave or manage oneself in a particular way.
conduct (verb): to lead or direct an activity, such as an orchestra or experiment.
conduct (noun): the ability of a material to carry heat or electricity.
Explanation
Conduct themselves shows a verb with the reflexive pronoun themselves; the context asks visitors to behave, matching the verb entry about managing oneself.