French 2 Quiz: Inferring Meaning From Context
10 questions · exam conditions
0:00
Inferring Meaning From ContextQuestion 1 of 10

« Ce matin, Julien a raté son bus et il est arrivé en retard au travail. Son patron l'a regardé d'un air courroucé et lui a dit de ne plus recommencer. »

In the passage above, the word courroucé is unfamiliar to a student. Based on the context clues in the passage, what does courroucé most likely mean?

Pleased and satisfied, because the boss spoke to Julien calmly and gave him a friendly reminder about punctuality
Angry or displeased, because the boss's reaction follows Julien's lateness and includes a stern warning not to repeat it
Confused and uncertain, because the boss may not have understood why Julien was late and needed more information
Tired and distracted, because early morning situations at work often involve supervisors who have not yet fully woken up
← Back to quizzes

French 2 Quiz

French 2 Quiz: Inferring Meaning From Context

Practice Inferring Meaning From Context in French 2 with focused quiz questions that help you check what you know, review explanations, and build confidence with test-style prompts.

What this quiz covers

This quiz focuses on Inferring Meaning From Context, giving you a quick way to practice the rules, question types, and explanations that matter most for French 2.

How to use this quiz

Try each quiz question before looking at the correct answer. Use the explanations to review missed ideas, then come back to similar questions until the pattern feels familiar.

All questions

Question 1

« Ce matin, Julien a raté son bus et il est arrivé en retard au travail. Son patron l'a regardé d'un air courroucé et lui a dit de ne plus recommencer. »

In the passage above, the word courroucé is unfamiliar to a student. Based on the context clues in the passage, what does courroucé most likely mean?

  1. Pleased and satisfied, because the boss spoke to Julien calmly and gave him a friendly reminder about punctuality
  2. Angry or displeased, because the boss's reaction follows Julien's lateness and includes a stern warning not to repeat it (correct answer)
  3. Confused and uncertain, because the boss may not have understood why Julien was late and needed more information
  4. Tired and distracted, because early morning situations at work often involve supervisors who have not yet fully woken up
Explanation: When you encounter an unfamiliar word in French, the surrounding context — the situation, the characters' actions, and the emotional tone — gives you powerful clues about meaning. This question tests exactly that skill. Look at what happens in the passage: Julien missed his bus, arrived late to work, and then his boss looked at him with a "air courroucé" before issuing a stern warning never to let it happen again. Every element points toward a negative, forceful emotional reaction. The sequence — tardiness → sharp look → warning — is the blueprint for understanding the word. B is correct because it aligns perfectly with all the contextual evidence. A boss who responds to an employee's lateness by delivering a direct reprimand ("de ne plus recommencer") is clearly angry or displeased, not neutral or friendly. The word courroucé does in fact mean "angered" or "wrathful" in French, and the context confirms it precisely. A is wrong because nothing in the passage suggests a calm or friendly interaction — there is no positive language, no warmth, and the boss's words function as a warning, not encouragement. C is wrong because the boss doesn't ask any questions or seek clarification; he immediately reacts and issues a directive, which reflects certainty, not confusion. D is wrong because it invents a detail (tired supervisors, early morning grogginess) that has no basis whatsoever in the passage. This is a classic distractor that sounds plausible in isolation but ignores the actual text. Study tip: When decoding unknown vocabulary through context, always ask: What just happened, and what would logically follow? Cause-and-effect sequences are your most reliable clues.

Question 2

« Écoute de classe simulée : L'enseignante dit aux élèves : 'Sortez vos cahiers et notez les points essentiels. Cette matière est ardue, mais avec de la persévérance, vous y arriverez.' »

In this simulated listening excerpt, a student does not know the word ardue. Which combination of context clues most accurately supports inferring its meaning?

  1. The teacher's encouraging follow-up ('avec de la persévérance') and the classroom setting together suggest 'ardue' means 'boring,' since teachers typically encourage students only when content is unengaging
  2. The word 'ardue' resembles the English word 'arduous,' and the teacher's call for perseverance confirms it means difficult or demanding, since easy subjects do not require encouragement to persist (correct answer)
  3. The instruction to take notes ('notez les points essentiels') suggests 'ardue' means 'important' or 'essential,' since teachers emphasize note-taking for crucial material
  4. The phrase 'vous y arriverez' (you will get there) implies 'ardue' means 'far away' or 'distant,' as the expression metaphorically refers to reaching a remote destination
Explanation: When you encounter an unknown word in a French listening or reading passage, your best strategy is to combine multiple types of context clues — structural (word form), semantic (surrounding meaning), and logical (cause-effect relationships). No single clue is as reliable as two clues pointing to the same conclusion. Here, the teacher says the subject is ardue, then immediately adds "avec de la persévérance, vous y arriverez" — encouraging students to persist. This pairing is the key. If a subject were easy, a teacher wouldn't need to motivate students to push through it. Additionally, ardue closely resembles the English word arduous, meaning difficult or demanding. Two independent signals — cognate recognition and contextual logic — both point to the same meaning, making B the strongest and most reliable inference. Choice A misreads the logic of encouragement. Teachers encourage students precisely because material is challenging, not because it's boring. Boredom and difficulty are distinct problems, and nothing in the passage signals disengagement. Choice C confuses a related idea with the target word. The instruction to take notes tells you the material is important, but ardue is a separate word describing its difficulty — not its importance. These are related but not interchangeable. Choice D over-literalizes the idiom "vous y arriverez." This expression means "you will succeed/manage it," not "you will arrive somewhere physically distant." Treating it as a spatial metaphor is a classic overthinking trap. Study tip: When guessing a French word's meaning, always look for at least two clues converging on the same definition — a cognate plus context is especially powerful and frequently tested.

Question 3

« Bulletin météo simulé : 'Les températures seront caniculaires cette semaine, atteignant 38 degrés dans certaines régions. Les autorités recommandent de s'hydrater régulièrement et d'éviter les sorties aux heures les plus chaudes.' »

In this simulated weather report, a student does not know the word caniculaires. What is the most reliable multi-step inference process, and what does caniculaires most likely mean?

  1. Step 1: Note that temperatures 'reach 38 degrees'; Step 2: recognize this is dangerously hot; Step 3: the advice to hydrate and avoid peak hours confirms extreme heat — so 'caniculaires' means extremely hot or scorching (correct answer)
  2. Step 1: Note the word resembles 'canine'; Step 2: infer this relates to dogs, which are sensitive to heat; Step 3: conclude 'caniculaires' is a technical veterinary term warning pet owners about dangerous conditions
  3. Step 1: Focus on the 38-degree temperature; Step 2: note that 38°C is above normal body temperature; Step 3: infer 'caniculaires' means 'feverish' in a medical sense, describing conditions that cause illness
  4. Step 1: Identify 'autorités' as a signal of official warning; Step 2: note that officials only warn about dangerous weather; Step 3: conclude 'caniculaires' means 'stormy' or 'violent,' since official alerts typically concern severe storms
Explanation: When you encounter an unknown word in French, the most reliable strategy is contextual triangulation — using multiple surrounding clues together rather than relying on a single detail or superficial word resemblance. In this passage, three clues work together powerfully: the temperature reaches 38°C (extremely hot by any standard), authorities urge people to hydrate frequently, and residents are told to avoid going outside during peak hours. These behavioral recommendations only make sense if the weather poses a serious heat danger. Combining all three signals, caniculaires most logically means scorching or extremely hot — which is exactly correct. The word comes from canicule (heat wave), a common French term, and option A models the ideal inference chain by layering evidence progressively. B falls into the "false cognate" trap — yes, caniculaires resembles canine, but word resemblance alone is unreliable, especially when the surrounding context points in a completely different direction. Never let a visual similarity override strong contextual evidence. C narrows in on one detail (38°C ≈ body temperature) and leaps to a medical interpretation, ignoring that the passage is a weather report and that hydration/outdoor-avoidance advice signals environmental heat, not illness. D misreads the role of autorités — officials issue warnings for many types of hazards, and nothing in the passage suggests storms or violence; the advice given fits heat, not severe weather. Study tip: When inferring unknown vocabulary, always gather at least two independent context clues before committing to a meaning. One clue can mislead you; two or three converging clues almost never will.

Question 4

« Le discours du maire a été accueilli avec une indifférence polie. Les habitants, las des promesses non tenues, ont applaudi mollement avant de quitter rapidement la salle. »

A student knows that las can mean 'tired' in French but is unsure whether it functions that way here. Based on context, which interpretation of las is best supported, and what additional reasoning confirms it?

  1. 'Las' here means 'tired' in the sense of physical exhaustion from attending the meeting, confirmed by the fact that inhabitants left quickly, likely because they were fatigued after a long event
  2. 'Las' here means 'skeptical' or 'doubtful,' since the inhabitants have experienced unfulfilled promises and their applause reflects rational disbelief rather than an emotional state of weariness
  3. 'Las' here most likely means 'angry,' since the inhabitants' polite indifference and weak applause suggest suppressed frustration that is close to open hostility toward the mayor
  4. 'Las' here means 'tired' in the figurative sense of being fed up or weary of broken promises, confirmed by the causal phrase 'des promesses non tenues' and the resulting lukewarm applause and quick departure (correct answer)
Explanation: When you encounter a vocabulary question like this, don't just rely on your baseline definition of a word — let the surrounding text guide you toward the precise shade of meaning the author intends. Here, las does indeed mean 'tired,' but French uses this word in both literal and figurative registers. The figurative sense — being fed up, weary, or exhausted of something — is signaled by the preposition de followed by a noun phrase. Notice the construction: las des promesses non tenues (tired of unkept promises). This structure points directly to emotional or psychological weariness, not physical fatigue. The inhabitants' behavior reinforces this: their applause was mollement (lukewarm) and they left quickly — classic signs of disillusionment, not post-event tiredness. Answer D captures all of this perfectly, linking the cause (des promesses non tenues) to the emotional state (las) to the resulting behavior (weak applause, quick exit). A is tempting because 'tired' is technically correct, but it forces a literal, physical interpretation that the passage doesn't support. Nothing suggests the meeting was unusually long or exhausting physically — that reading ignores the causal phrase about broken promises entirely. B misidentifies las as 'skeptical,' which is not a recognized meaning of the word. While skepticism might be implied by the broader scene, you shouldn't replace an actual French word with a synonym just because the context feels like it fits. C projects 'angry' onto the passage, but the text explicitly describes indifférence polie — polite indifference, not suppressed hostility. Anger and weary indifference are emotionally distinct. Study tip: When French uses las/lasse de + noun, think figurative weariness — being fed up — not physical tiredness. Context clues like cause-and-effect phrases are your best tool for pinning down the right register.

Question 5

« Marc est quelqu'un de très casanier. Le week-end, pendant que ses amis font des randonnées ou visitent des musées, il préfère rester chez lui à lire ou à regarder des films. »

A student encounters the word casanier and must infer its meaning. Which answer demonstrates the most complete and accurate use of context clues?

  1. The student recognizes the root 'cas-' (related to 'casa,' meaning house in Romance languages) and confirms the meaning through contrast — Marc stays home while friends go out — concluding 'casanier' means 'homebody' or 'stay-at-home person' (correct answer)
  2. The student focuses on Marc's reading and film-watching and infers 'casanier' means 'intellectual' or 'cultured,' since indoor hobbies like reading suggest an educated, studious personality type rather than a preference for location
  3. The student uses the contrast with friends' activities and concludes 'casanier' means 'antisocial' or 'unfriendly,' since Marc consistently avoids group outings and chooses solitary activities over socializing with others
  4. The student notes that Marc avoids physical activities like hiking and concludes 'casanier' means 'sedentary' or 'physically inactive,' interpreting the word as a description of Marc's health habits and lifestyle choices
Explanation: When you encounter an unfamiliar word in French, you should use multiple types of context clues together — linguistic roots, sentence structure, and logical contrast — rather than latching onto just one piece of evidence. This question tests exactly that layered inference skill. Answer A demonstrates the strongest reasoning because it combines two independent clues that point to the same conclusion. First, recognizing that casanier shares its root with casa (house, common across Romance languages including Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese) suggests the word relates to home life. Second, the passage's contrast — pendant que ses amis font des randonnées ou visitent des musées, Marc préfère rester chez lui — confirms that Marc's defining trait is staying home rather than going out. Two clues converging on "homebody" makes the inference reliable and complete. Answer B is a classic over-interpretation trap. Reading and watching films are Marc's chosen activities, but they don't define casanier — they're just what he does at home. Plenty of intellectuals travel and hike; the word describes location preference, not intellectual character. Answer C makes a reasonable-sounding but logically flawed leap. Avoiding group outings doesn't mean Marc is antisocial or unfriendly — he simply prefers being home. The passage never suggests hostility toward others, only a preference for indoor solitude. Answer D isolates one detail (avoiding hiking) and over-generalizes it. Marc also avoids museum visits, which aren't physically demanding at all, so "sedentary" doesn't fully account for the pattern. Study tip: When inferring word meaning, always look for at least two independent context clues that agree. One clue alone can lead you astray — convergence builds confidence.

Question 6

« La petite ville était autrefois prospère, mais depuis la fermeture de l'usine principale, les habitants ont dû se débrouiller tant bien que mal. Les rues jadis animées sont maintenant désertes et beaucoup de commerces ont mis la clé sous la porte. »

A student does not know the expression mettre la clé sous la porte. Using the overall context of the passage, what does this expression most likely convey?

  1. That the shop owners locked their doors temporarily for a holiday and planned to reopen after a short break
  2. That the shop owners moved their businesses to a larger, more prosperous city nearby to find better economic conditions
  3. That the shops permanently closed down, as indicated by the town's economic decline, empty streets, and general hardship (correct answer)
  4. That the shop owners installed new security systems with better locks to protect their merchandise from theft in the declining town
Explanation: When you encounter an unfamiliar expression in French, the surrounding context is your most powerful tool. Rather than guessing the idiom's literal meaning, scan the passage for emotional tone, cause-and-effect relationships, and repeated themes — these clues will point you toward the correct interpretation. Here, the passage paints a picture of economic decline: the town was once prosperous, but a factory closure forced residents to struggle ("se débrouiller tant bien que mal"). The streets that were once lively ("jadis animées") are now empty ("désertes"). This consistent downward trajectory — prosperity → closure → hardship → emptiness — strongly suggests that "mettre la clé sous la porte" represents something final and negative. Answer C fits perfectly: the shops permanently closed, which logically continues the pattern of decline already established in every preceding detail. Answer A is a trap because it introduces the idea of a temporary closure for a holiday, which contradicts the passage's tone of irreversible hardship. Nothing in the text suggests optimism or a planned return. Answer B is plausible on its own, but the passage never mentions businesses relocating — it emphasizes abandonment and struggle, not adaptation or movement elsewhere. Answer D is creative but entirely unsupported; there is no mention of theft or security concerns anywhere in the passage. As a study strategy, remember that French idiom questions on this exam rarely require you to already know the expression — they test whether you can use context clues effectively. Train yourself to identify the emotional direction of a passage (rising, falling, neutral) before attempting to decode unfamiliar vocabulary. That direction almost always reveals the answer.

Question 7

« Extrait d'un courriel professionnel : 'Suite à notre réunion de jeudi, je vous transmets ci-joint le rapport préliminaire. Certains chiffres restent à affiner, mais les grandes lignes sont désormais établies.' »

A student encounters the phrase les grandes lignes and must infer its meaning from context. Which reasoning chain most accurately leads to the correct inference?

  1. Step 1: 'Lignes' literally means 'lines'; Step 2: the email is professional and references a formatted report; Step 3: 'les grandes lignes' refers to the bold or large-font lines used to organize the document's headers and sections
  2. Step 1: The report follows a Thursday meeting, implying an agenda was set; Step 2: professional reports often document what was decided; Step 3: 'les grandes lignes' refers to the main agenda items or action points agreed upon during that meeting
  3. Step 1: 'Grandes' means large and 'lignes' can mean figures in accounting; Step 2: the phrase appears near 'chiffres' (numbers); Step 3: 'les grandes lignes' refers to the largest numerical totals in the report, as opposed to the smaller figures still being refined
  4. Step 1: The report is 'préliminaire' (preliminary), signaling incompleteness; Step 2: 'certains chiffres restent à affiner' shows details are still missing; Step 3: by contrast, 'les grandes lignes sont établies' must mean the broad framework or main outlines are already in place (correct answer)
Explanation: When you encounter an unfamiliar idiomatic phrase in French, the most reliable strategy is to use contrast and context rather than translating word-by-word. Idioms rarely mean exactly what their individual words suggest, so look for structural clues in the surrounding sentences. Here, the email sets up a clear contrast: certains chiffres restent à affiner (some figures still need refining) is placed in opposition to les grandes lignes sont désormais établies (the grandes lignes are now established). This contrast is your biggest clue. If the details are still incomplete, then whatever les grandes lignes refers to must be the opposite — something broad, foundational, and already settled. That points to "the main outlines" or "the overall framework," which is exactly what this common French idiom means. Answer D correctly follows this logic step by step, using the word préliminaire as a signal of incompleteness and then reading the two clauses as a contrast pair. Answer A falls into the literal-translation trap — lignes does mean "lines," but inferring it refers to document headers ignores the idiomatic nature of the phrase entirely. Answer B makes a reasonable guess about meeting agendas, but it introduces information not present in the text; the email doesn't describe what was decided, only that a report is being sent. Answer C is misled by proximity — just because grandes lignes appears near chiffres doesn't mean it refers to large numbers. Mixing accounting vocabulary with an unrelated idiom is a classic distractor move. Study tip: When you see a French idiom near a contrast word like mais or mais encore, use that opposition to infer meaning — what the idiom isn't often tells you exactly what it is.

Question 8

« Après des heures de négociation, les deux parties ont finalement trouvé un terrain d'entente. L'accord, bien que lacunaire sur certains points techniques, a été salué par les observateurs comme une avancée significative. »

A student encounters the word lacunaire and is unsure of its meaning. Which inference strategy best leads to the correct meaning, and what does lacunaire most likely mean here?

  1. Cognate strategy plus concessive structure: 'lacunaire' resembles the English/Latin 'lacuna' (a gap), and 'bien que' signals a limitation — together suggesting the agreement has incomplete or missing sections on certain technical points (correct answer)
  2. Surrounding tone strategy: because the agreement was praised overall, 'lacunaire' must mean 'detailed and thorough,' since observers would not commend something they recognized as deficient
  3. Signal-word strategy: since 'bien que' introduces a contrast, 'lacunaire' must mean 'controversial,' pointing to political disagreements that divided the two negotiating parties
  4. Modifier strategy: since 'lacunaire' modifies technical points, it most likely means 'complex' or 'highly specialized,' indicating the agreement addresses advanced subject matter beyond ordinary understanding
Explanation: When you encounter an unfamiliar word in French, the strongest approach combines multiple clues rather than relying on just one. Here, you have two powerful tools working together: word origin and grammatical structure. The word lacunaire descends from the Latin lacuna, meaning a gap or hole — the same root behind the English word "lacuna." Even if you've never seen lacunaire before, that resemblance is a valuable signal. Meanwhile, the phrase bien que ("although/even though") is a classic concessive connector in French, meaning it introduces a limitation or drawback that contrasts with the main claim. So the sentence is saying: "the agreement was praised... but it has [lacunaire] aspects on certain technical points." Both clues point the same direction — something is missing or incomplete. That's exactly what A captures: an incomplete or gap-filled agreement. B commits a logical error by assuming that because observers praised the agreement, every descriptor in the sentence must be positive. But concessive structures exist precisely to acknowledge flaws alongside praise — the whole point of bien que is to introduce something negative. C correctly identifies bien que as a contrast marker, but then invents a meaning ("controversial") with no support from the word's form or context. Contrast signals a flaw, not necessarily a political dispute. D confuses the modifier relationship — just because lacunaire describes technical points doesn't mean it means "complex." That reasoning ignores the concessive structure entirely. Study tip: On French reading questions, always combine grammatical signals (like bien que, pourtant, malgré) with cognate recognition — together, they're far more reliable than either strategy alone.

Question 9

« La conférence s'est déroulée dans une atmosphère feutrée. Les intervenants chuchotaient presque, et même les applaudissements semblaient retenus, comme si tout le monde craignait de rompre un silence sacré. »

A student does not know the adjective feutrée as used to describe the atmosphere. Which inference is best supported by the passage?

  1. The atmosphere was tense and hostile, since whispering and restrained applause often signal that the audience strongly disagrees with the speakers and is suppressing open conflict out of politeness
  2. The atmosphere was muffled, hushed, or subdued, since speakers whispered, applause was held back, and everyone seemed to fear breaking what the passage calls a 'sacred silence' — all pointing to a quiet, softened quality (correct answer)
  3. The atmosphere was festive and celebratory, since events with multiple speakers ('intervenants') and audience applause are typically organized for special commemorative or ceremonial occasions with a reverent tone
  4. The atmosphere was formal and bureaucratic, since 'feutrée' likely relates to 'feutre' (felt fabric), suggesting the room was officially decorated with ceremonial cloth in keeping with the conference's institutional character
Explanation: When you encounter an unknown word in a French reading passage, treat the surrounding context as your dictionary. Look for behavioral clues, emotional signals, and explicit descriptions that paint a picture of what the word must mean. Here, everything in the passage points toward quietness and softness: speakers are nearly whispering ("chuchotaient presque"), applause is held back ("retenus"), and the crowd fears breaking a "silence sacré." Each detail independently suggests a muted, hushed quality — and together they overwhelmingly confirm that feutrée means something like "muffled" or "subdued." Answer B captures this perfectly, using the passage's own evidence to reconstruct the word's meaning without needing to know it in advance. Answer A misreads the tone. Whispering and restrained applause don't signal hostility or suppressed conflict here — the phrase "silence sacré" (sacred silence) gives the scene a reverent, almost peaceful quality, not a tense one. Answer C is tempting because conferences with speakers and applause do sometimes feel celebratory, but nothing in the passage suggests festivity — the reverential hush is the opposite of a celebration. Answer D is a clever-sounding trap: feutre does mean "felt fabric," and feutrée is indeed derived from it (felt muffles sound), but the passage gives you no evidence about room decorations or institutional ceremony — you'd be inventing a detail that isn't there. Study tip: On vocabulary-in-context questions, resist the urge to guess based on one word alone. Always read the full passage for behavioral and sensory clues — French authors often show you the meaning of a key word through the details that surround it.

Question 10

« Elle avait travaillé sans relâche pendant des mois, renonçant aux sorties et aux loisirs. Quand elle a finalement reçu son diplôme, la fierté de ses parents était palpable — on pouvait presque la toucher dans l'air de la salle. »

The word palpable appears in the passage. A student who knows Spanish or English may recognize it as a cognate, but the passage provides additional context. Which answer best explains why the contextual evidence alone — without relying on cognate knowledge — supports the correct meaning?

  1. The phrase 'on pouvait presque la toucher' introduces a hypothetical, suggesting 'palpable' means 'imaginary' or 'hard to believe,' since the pride was so great it seemed unreal and almost fictional
  2. The word 'palpable' follows 'fierté' (pride), and since the passage describes a positive outcome, the student can infer 'palpable' is a positive intensifier meaning 'admirable' or 'worthy of respect,' consistent with the celebratory tone
  3. The metaphor 'on pouvait presque la toucher' (one could almost touch it) directly glosses the word 'palpable,' and the emotional buildup (months of sacrifice, the moment of receiving the diploma) confirms this pride was intensely felt and almost physically present (correct answer)
  4. The contrast between months of renouncing leisure and the final reward indicates 'palpable' means 'deserved' or 'well-earned,' since the parents' pride is justified by the effort described in the passage
Explanation: When a question asks you to use contextual evidence alone to determine meaning, your job is to look for the passage's own built-in clues — definitions, synonyms, examples, or explanatory phrases that function as a gloss for the unknown word. Here, the passage doesn't leave you guessing about palpable. The phrase immediately following it — "on pouvait presque la toucher dans l'air de la salle" ("one could almost touch it in the air of the room") — is essentially the author explaining the word in plain language. This is a classic appositive gloss: the writer defines a term by restating it metaphorically right beside it. Combined with the emotional arc of the passage — months of sacrifice, the climactic moment of receiving a diploma — the passage signals that this pride is intensely real, almost physically present. That's exactly what C captures. A misreads "on pouvait presque la toucher" as introducing doubt or unreality. The word presque ("almost") is a rhetorical intensifier here, not a signal of fiction or disbelief. The context is celebratory, not skeptical. B makes a reasonable inference about tone but draws the wrong conclusion. "Positive intensifier" is too vague, and neither "admirable" nor "worthy of respect" is supported by the explanatory phrase about touching — that phrase points to physical presence, not moral judgment. D is a tempting trap: the passage does describe earned effort, but "deserved" or "well-earned" describes the pride's justification, not its quality or nature. The word palpable tells you how the pride felt, not whether it was merited. Your strategy: always scan the sentences surrounding an unknown word for restatements or explanatory metaphors — authors often gloss difficult vocabulary for the reader without announcing it.