Context Clues Quiz

Grade 2 · English · Quiz

Practice using context clues to figure out the meaning of unknown words.

Questions

1. In 'The puppy was timid — it hid behind the couch and whimpered,' what does timid mean?

   1. playful
   2. shy or scared
   3. hungry
   4. sleepy
   Show answer

   Answer: shy or scared

   Hiding and whimpering are behaviors of a scared or shy animal — 'timid' means easily frightened or shy.

2. Context clues are found in the words and sentences surrounding an unknown word.

   Show answer

   Answer: True

   Context clues are always found in the text surrounding the unknown word — in the same sentence or nearby.

3. When a sentence gives you the opposite meaning to help you, that is called an ___ clue.

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   Answer: antonym

   When the opposite meaning is provided as a clue (unlike X, the word means the opposite), that is an antonym clue.

4. In 'She was elated, or extremely happy, when she won the prize,' what type of clue is used?

   1. example clue
   2. antonym clue
   3. synonym clue
   4. no clue
   Show answer

   Answer: synonym clue

   'Or extremely happy' restates the word 'elated' in simpler words — that is a synonym clue.

5. In 'He was parched, so he drank four glasses of water,' parched most likely means very thirsty.

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   Answer: True

   Drinking four glasses of water shows extreme thirst. 'Parched' means very thirsty.

6. Context clues are hints in the ___ text that help with unknown words.

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   Answer: surrounding

   Context clues come from the surrounding text — the words and sentences nearby.

7. In 'Tropical places, such as Hawaii and the Amazon, are warm and humid,' what kind of clue is this?

   1. definition clue
   2. antonym clue
   3. synonym clue
   4. example clue
   Show answer

   Answer: example clue

   Listing examples like 'Hawaii and the Amazon' helps explain what 'tropical places' means — that is an example clue.

8. You can only use context clues in nonfiction texts.

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   Answer: False

   Context clues work in any kind of text — fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and more.

9. In 'The ancient tree, which was over 500 years old, stood at the center of the forest,' what does ancient most likely mean?

   1. very young
   2. very tall
   3. very old
   4. very small
   Show answer

   Answer: very old

   'Over 500 years old' is a direct clue that 'ancient' means very old.

10. When you use context clues, you make a smart ___ about what a word means.

    Show answer

    Answer: guess

    Context clues help you make an educated guess — a smart prediction based on evidence in the text.

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