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READING SKILLS / GUESSING DIFFICULT WORDS

PART 2
Guessing Meaning from Context
Building a powerful vocabulary means more than learning new words. Sometimes it is
necessary to try to figure out a word from context. Context is the sentence or sentences
around a word.
For example:
Mary lives in a small cottage in the country.

a.

b.

c.

You probably know the words live and small. Use those words to help you figure out
what cottage means. Which picture is it?

Directions: Read the excerpt from a textbook and complete the tasks that follow.
Why Is Reading in a Second Language Sometimes Difficult?
Cross-cultural research shows that cultures have varying attitudes about language
in general and that these differences are reflected in the printed word. As a result, the
way ideas are organized in essay writing varies across cultures. This suggestion has
inspired research in several different languages. Ostler, for example, found that the
patterns of essay writing in a language reflect the patterns valued in the native culture.
It is logical to conclude from this that when people read in a second language they
comprehend best the texts that are organized like texts in their native language. Because
the patterns in the text of the second language are different from those of the first
language, the reader is likely to have understanding them.
What is the main idea of this passage:

Underline the words that are new to you and choose three and write them below. Then
write the part of speech and a definition that fits the word as it is being used.
Word

Definition

research (noun)

serious study of a subject to learn new facts about it

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Now that you know what guessing from context is, lets do something a bit more
difficult.
You can develop strategies and use clues to help you figure out the meaning of the word
from the surrounding sentences.
We are going to learn about 1 type of clues:
comparison/contrast clues.
Comparison/Contrast Clues
Sometimes you can figure out the meaning of a word because the sentence contains
words such as also or like that indicate a comparison between two similar ideas.
Example: John was astounded when he won first prize, and I was also surprised.
The word also gives you the clue that astounded means the same as surprised.
Sometimes you can figure out the meaning of a word because the sentence contains
words such as but or however that indicate a contrast between two opposite ideas.
Example: My jeans are filthy, but my T-shirt is clean.
The word but gives you the clue that filthy means the opposite of clean.
Directions: Sort the following words into the comparison or contrast category
too

similar to

unlike

not

on the other hand

although

like

but

related

Comparison

and

in

Contrast

Directions: Use the comparison and contrast clues to write a definition of the
underlined word in each of the following sentences.
1. Like my fathers commands, my mothers orders seem reasonable.

2. The whole team was let down when we lost the game, and the coach was just as
disappointed.

3. Lisa is a diligent student, but her sister doesnt work hard in school.

4. My father plans to retire when he turns 65. On the other hand, my mother plans to
keep working.

5. Although my cat is usually lethargic on hot days, he has lots of energy today.

Mikulecky, Beatrice and Linda Jeffries. Advanced Reading Power. White Plains:

Pearson Education, 2007.

Blanchard, Karen and Christine Root. Ready to Read Now: A Skills-Based Reader.

White Plains: Pearson Education, 2005.

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