Context Clues Quiz

Grade 5 · English · Quiz

Use surrounding text to determine the meaning of unfamiliar words in these 10 questions.

Questions

1. Read: 'The dog was so lethargic that it barely lifted its head all day.' What does 'lethargic' mean?

   1. Playful and energetic
   2. Sluggish and lacking energy
   3. Loud and barking
   4. Hungry and restless
   Show answer

   Answer: Sluggish and lacking energy

   Barely lifting its head all day is an inference clue pointing to extreme sluggishness.

2. Read: 'Carnivores — animals that eat only meat — include lions, wolves, and sharks.' What does 'carnivore' mean?

   1. A plant-eating animal
   2. An animal that eats only meat
   3. A water-dwelling animal
   4. An endangered species
   Show answer

   Answer: An animal that eats only meat

   The dash sets off a direct definition clue — the text immediately defines carnivore.

3. What type of context clue is: 'She was serene, unlike her frantic sister who paced the room nervously'?

   1. Definition clue
   2. Example clue
   3. Antonym clue
   4. Synonym clue
   Show answer

   Answer: Antonym clue

   'Unlike her frantic sister' gives the opposite of serene — so serene means calm and peaceful.

4. Read: 'The scientist used a microscope to observe minuscule, or tiny, organisms in the water.' What does 'minuscule' mean?

   1. Invisible
   2. Extremely tiny
   3. Brightly colored
   4. Dangerous
   Show answer

   Answer: Extremely tiny

   'Or tiny' is a synonym clue placed directly after the unfamiliar word.

5. Using nearby examples like 'such as lemons and limes' to understand the word 'citrus' is an _______ context clue.

   Show answer

   Example clues give specific instances of something to help readers infer the broader meaning.

6. Read: 'The hiker trudged slowly up the steep, muddy trail.' What does 'trudged' most likely mean?

   1. Walked quickly
   2. Walked slowly and with effort
   3. Ran downhill
   4. Jumped over obstacles
   Show answer

   Answer: Walked slowly and with effort

   'Slowly' and 'steep, muddy' are inference clues that point to walking laboriously.

7. Read: 'Her audacity — bold fearlessness in the face of danger — surprised everyone.' What does 'audacity' mean?

   1. Fear and hesitation
   2. Bold fearlessness
   3. Quiet shyness
   4. Careful planning
   Show answer

   Answer: Bold fearlessness

   The text directly defines audacity using a dash — this is a definition context clue.

8. Which sentence contains a synonym context clue?

   1. The child was famished after playing outside for hours.
   2. The arid, or extremely dry, desert gets almost no rain.
   3. Unlike the cheerful boy, the girl was melancholy.
   4. Mammals such as dogs, cats, and whales are warm-blooded.
   Show answer

   Answer: The arid, or extremely dry, desert gets almost no rain.

   'Or extremely dry' gives a synonym for 'arid' right within the sentence.

9. Read: 'The toddler was obstinate; no matter what his mother said, he refused to put on his shoes.' What does 'obstinate' mean?

   1. Agreeable and easy-going
   2. Stubborn and refusing to change
   3. Playful and silly
   4. Tired and cranky
   Show answer

   Answer: Stubborn and refusing to change

   Refusing to put on shoes despite what his mother said is an inference clue for stubbornness.

10. What is the main purpose of using context clues?

    1. To find rhyming words in a poem
    2. To determine the meaning of unfamiliar words without a dictionary
    3. To count the syllables in a word
    4. To identify the author's purpose
    Show answer

    Answer: To determine the meaning of unfamiliar words without a dictionary

    Context clues allow readers to decode unknown words using information already in the text.

Get a personalized course on Context Clues built around your child.