Use Context to Find the Meaning of a Word or Phrase: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.3.4.A - Common Core: 3rd Grade English Language Arts

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Question

Use the sentences below to define "elegant".

The princess looked very elegant at the ball. She wore a beautiful black dress that fit her perfectly.

Answer

The two sentences are describing the princess. In the second sentence we are told that she wore a beautiful black dress that fit her well. We can assume that this means she looked good; thus, the best answer choice is "To look very put together and stylish".

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Question

Whenever Ben needs help making a decision, he goes to his dad for advice. After talking with his dad, Ben always knows what to do. Based on the text, what does the word “advice” mean?

Answer

Advice is an opinion offered to help make a decision. The context clues in the sentence “help making a decision”, “talking”, and “knows what to do” point readers to the meaning of the word.

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Question

Travis is in a very bad mood. He’s had a bad attitude all day.

Based on the text, what does the word “attitude” mean?

Answer

Attitude means a way of feeling about something or someone. This sentence describes the attitude that Travis has, bad. The sentence gives clues that attitude relates to mood.

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Question

Gabe is very clever. Whenever the teacher asks him a question, he is quick to respond with the correct answer.

Based on the text, what does the word “clever” mean?

Answer

To be clever means to have a bright, sharp, and quick mind. Clever can mean to be smart. The context clues in the sentence “quick to respond with a correct answer” allude to the meaning of clever.

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Question

I was so tired on the way to school. I accidentally dozed off in the bus but woke up right when we arrived at school.

Based on the text, what does the word “dozed” mean?

Answer

Dozed means to fall asleep for a short time. The context clues in this sentence that point to the meaning of dozed are “tired” and “woke up” meaning it has something to do with sleep. When thinking of the context of the sentence a bus ride isn’t long so as a reader we can infer this happens over a short time.

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Question

Justine was holding my hand tightly as we ran together, but as we started going uphill she lost her grasp.

Based on the text, what does the word “grasp” mean?

Answer

Grasp means to hold on to something by hand. The context clue in this sentence that guides readers to the meaning of grasp is “holding hand tightly”.

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Question

Ben didn’t turn in a homework assignment and his parents decided he was grounded for 1 month and wasn’t able to watch TV or play video games at all during that time. Ben thought the punishment was way too harsh, so he tried to convince his parents that he should only be grounded for 1 week.

Based on the text, what does the word “harsh” mean?

Answer

Harsh means to be strict or not pleasing. The clues in this sentence that let readers know the word harsh is strict or not pleasing are “grounded for a month” but he thought he should “be grounded for a week”.

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Question

Adley’s grandma loves to spoil her. Adley’s grandma always brings a new toy for Adley every time she visits.

Based on the text, what does the word “spoil” mean?

Answer

To spoil means to be given too much of something. The context of this sentence tells us that Adley’s grandmother “brings a new toy every time she visits” which means she is receiving a gift at every visit which could be interpreted as too much.

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Question

It rained overnight, so when Kate went outside the next morning there was moisture on the grass.

Based on the text, what does the word “moisture” mean?

Answer

Moisture is liquid on a surface. The clue “rained” in this sentence lets readers know that there was water/wetness the previous night which matches the correct answer choice including “liquid”.

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Question

Ben has never won a wrestling match when Brian has been his opponent. Ben hopes that he can beat Brian today, but he is nervous.

Based on the text, what does the word “opponent” mean?

Answer

An opponent is someone who fights or plays against someone else. As readers, we understand from the context that this is a sporting match and they are facing each other.

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Question

Sara struggled to finish her homework assignment on her own, so she asked her mom for help.

Based on the text, what does the word “struggled” mean?

Answer

To struggle is to have a hard time with something. Sara needed help with the homework assignment so this lets readers know she is not able to do this on her own.

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