Which term refers to clues in a text used to deduce the meaning of unknown words?

Which term refers to clues in a text used to deduce the meaning of unknown words?

• A. Contextual Clues
• B. Context of Use
• C. Converseness
• D. Denotative Meaning

Answer: (A)

Contextual clues are hints in the surrounding text that help you figure out what an unfamiliar word means. When you run into a word you don’t know, look at the nearby words and sentences for signals: a nearby synonym or restatement, an example that clarifies the term, a contrast that shows the opposite meaning, or a brief definition embedded in the sentence. For example, in a sentence like “The ground was parched after weeks of drought,” you can infer that parched means very dry because dryness is being described and linked to drought. Another clue might be “She wore an ostentatious hat, a flashy, attention-grabbing accessory,” where the descriptive words point to the idea of showy or flashy. By picking up these surrounding cues, you deduce the meaning without needing a dictionary, improving your ability to read and understand new vocabulary.

Contextual clues are hints in the surrounding text that help you figure out what an unfamiliar word means. When you run into a word you don’t know, look at the nearby words and sentences for signals: a nearby synonym or restatement, an example that clarifies the term, a contrast that shows the opposite meaning, or a brief definition embedded in the sentence. For example, in a sentence like “The ground was parched after weeks of drought,” you can infer that parched means very dry because dryness is being described and linked to drought. Another clue might be “She wore an ostentatious hat, a flashy, attention-grabbing accessory,” where the descriptive words point to the idea of showy or flashy. By picking up these surrounding cues, you deduce the meaning without needing a dictionary, improving your ability to read and understand new vocabulary.