What is a context clue?

What is a context clue?

• A. A synonym for the word.
• B. A dictionary entry.
• C. Information near a word that suggests its meaning.
• D. A sentence that presents a contrasting idea.

Answer: (C)

Context clues are hints in the surrounding words that help you figure out what a new or unfamiliar word means. The description that fits best is information near the word that suggests its meaning, because readers rely on those nearby words to infer meaning without looking it up. For example, in a sentence like “The arid desert offered little shelter, with a harsh, dry climate,” the nearby words “harsh” and “dry” hint that arid means very dry. A dictionary entry isn’t part of the text you’re reading, and while a synonym can appear as a clue, context clues come from the surrounding language, not a separate resource. A sentence that presents a contrasting idea is about showing differences, not necessarily giving the word’s meaning.

Context clues are hints in the surrounding words that help you figure out what a new or unfamiliar word means. The description that fits best is information near the word that suggests its meaning, because readers rely on those nearby words to infer meaning without looking it up.

For example, in a sentence like “The arid desert offered little shelter, with a harsh, dry climate,” the nearby words “harsh” and “dry” hint that arid means very dry. A dictionary entry isn’t part of the text you’re reading, and while a synonym can appear as a clue, context clues come from the surrounding language, not a separate resource. A sentence that presents a contrasting idea is about showing differences, not necessarily giving the word’s meaning.