ISEE Middle Level: Reading Comprehension
ISEE Middle Level
Advanced Topics
Understanding Vocabulary in Context
Unlocking Word Meanings
Sometimes, you’ll see words you don’t know. The ISEE often asks what a word means in the context of a passage, so it’s important to use clues around the word.
Tips for Context Clues
- Look at the sentence before and after the word.
- Notice if the author gives a definition, synonym, or example.
- Replace the unknown word with a word that fits the sentence.
Why It’s Important
Understanding vocabulary in context helps you make sense of the passage, even if you don’t recognize every word!
Practice
Try reading a passage and circling unfamiliar words. Use the clues around them to guess their meanings before looking them up.
Examples
If a passage says, 'The arid desert was dry and hot,' you can tell 'arid' means dry.
If a story says, 'She was elated, or extremely happy,' the definition is given right in the sentence.
In a Nutshell
Use context clues to figure out the meaning of challenging words.