Vocabulary and Context Clues Quiz

Grade 6 · English · Quiz

Test your skills at using context clues and word parts to decode unfamiliar words.

Questions

1. What does the prefix 'un-' mean?

   1. again
   2. before
   3. not
   4. under
   Show answer

   Answer: not

   'Un-' means 'not' — unhappy means not happy, unclear means not clear.

2. Example clues often use signal words like 'such as,' 'for example,' and 'including.'

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   Answer: True

   Example clues point to the word's category by giving specific instances of it.

3. The root 'vis' or 'vid' means ___.

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   Answer: see

   The root 'vis/vid' means see — visible, video, vision, and evidence all contain this root.

4. In 'Unlike her gregarious sister, Maya was shy and avoided crowds,' the word gregarious most likely means:

   1. quiet and reserved
   2. outgoing and sociable
   3. tall and athletic
   4. serious and studious
   Show answer

   Answer: outgoing and sociable

   The contrast clue 'unlike her gregarious sister, Maya was shy' shows gregarious is the opposite of shy — meaning outgoing and sociable.

5. Denotation is the emotional association a word carries; connotation is the dictionary definition.

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   Answer: False

   It's the opposite: denotation is the literal dictionary definition; connotation is the emotional feeling a word carries.

6. A word part added to the end of a root, like '-tion' or '-ful,' is called a ___.

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   Answer: suffix

   Suffixes like '-tion,' '-ful,' '-less,' and '-ment' are added to the end of root words and often change their part of speech.

7. The word 'predict' uses the root 'dict.' Based on the root's meaning, 'predict' most likely means to:

   1. write something down
   2. say what will happen before it does
   3. carry something across
   4. build a new structure
   Show answer

   Answer: say what will happen before it does

   The root 'dict' means say or tell, and 'pre-' means before — so predict means to say (what will happen) before it does.

8. Which is an example of an inference context clue?

   1. The scientist studied fungi, which are organisms like mushrooms and mold.
   2. The athlete was exhausted; she had run 26 miles without stopping.
   3. 'Aquatic,' meaning related to water, animals thrive in rivers and lakes.
   4. Unlike the noisy city, the hamlet was peaceful and quiet.
   Show answer

   Answer: The athlete was exhausted; she had run 26 miles without stopping.

   This is an inference clue — the reader must use background knowledge to connect 'ran 26 miles' to exhaustion, not a direct definition or example.

9. Knowing one Latin or Greek root can help you understand multiple related words.

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   Answer: True

   This is the power of root study — learning 'port' (carry) unlocks transport, portable, import, export, porter, and more.

10. The root 'struct' means ___.

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    Answer: build

    The root 'struct' means build — construct, structure, instruct (to build understanding), and destroy (to un-build) all use it.

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