KU 120
Unit 3 Seminar
Professor Derkacy
Reading - Using Context
• The use of contextual clues can be one of the
best ways to improve reading skills.
• Unfortunately, students often insist on
understanding each word when reading.
• Realizing that a text can be understood in a
general sense by using contextual clues can go a
long way towards helping students cope with
increasingly difficult texts.
• At the same time, the use of contextual clues can
also provide a means by which students can
rapidly increase their existing vocabulary base.
Reading - Using Deduction
• As you read, you need to look for clues as to
what the word means using deduction.
• Using deduction, you might ask questions
such as - What does the sentence concern?
Which words does the unknown word seem to
relate to?
Reading - Using Part of Speech
• Another great clue as to the meaning of the
word is to determine what part of speech the
unknown word is.
• Part of Speech - Which part of speech is the
unknown word? Is it a verb, noun,
preposition, adjective, time expression or
something else?
Context Clues
• Context clues are words that come before or
after the new word and that there are several
different kinds of context clues.
– definition
– synonym
– antonym
– example
– explanation
Context Clues
• The joey, which is a baby kangaroo, peeked
out of his mother's pocket
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
definition
synonym
antonym
example
explanation
Context Clues
• The joey, which is a baby kangaroo, peeked
out of his mother's pocket
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
definition
synonym
antonym
example
explanation
Context Clues
• The beach was covered with debris like paper
and cans, and the children picked up all the
trash.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
definition
synonym
antonym
example
explanation
Context Clues
• The beach was covered with debris like paper
and cans, and the children picked up all the
trash.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
definition
synonym
antonym
example
explanation
Context Clues
• The ancient dress looked like new after she
washed it.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
definition
synonym
antonym
example
explanation
Context Clues
• The ancient dress looked like new after she
washed it.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
definition
synonym
antonym
example
explanation
Context Clues
• Every day he brought a delectable, delicious,
wonderful, yummy lunch to school.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
definition
synonym
antonym
example
explanation
Context Clues
• Every day he brought a delectable, delicious,
wonderful, yummy lunch to school.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
definition
synonym
antonym
example
explanation
Context Clues
• My mother used to pull across the bay to
catch flounder. Pull is a word that is
sometimes used to mean row.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
definition
synonym
antonym
example
explanation
Context Clues
• My mother used to pull across the bay to
catch flounder. Pull is a word that is
sometimes used to mean row.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
definition
synonym
antonym
example
explanation
Word Meaning
• Your cousin claimed to be late because the doors
of his house were frozen shut. Even though I have
my doubts, his explanation is plausible. It got
really cold last night. I'll just have to take his word
for it.
• If a statement is plausible, __________.
• a. you must always believe it
b. you should never believe it
c. it's hard to understand because it makes no
sense
d. it's believable enough to possibly be true
Word Meaning
• Your cousin claimed to be late because the
doors of his house were frozen shut. Even
though I have my doubts, his explanation
is plausible. It got really cold last night. I'll just
have to take his word for it.
• If a statement is plausible, __________.
• a. you must always believe it
b. you should never believe it
c. it's hard to understand because it makes no
sense
d. it's believable enough to possibly be true
Word Meaning
• If you don't curtail your spending, you'll be
broke in no time at all!
• Which word is a synonym of "curtail"?
• a. reduce
b. follow
c. behind
d. buy
Word Meaning
• If you don't curtail your spending, you'll be
broke in no time at all!
• Which word is a synonym of "curtail"?
• a. reduce
b. follow
c. behind
d. buy
• What context clues made you choose your
answer?
Word Meaning
• No word must ever leak out about this military
action! It has to be a clandestine operation in
order to succeed.
• Which word is a synonym of "clandestine"?
• a. family
b. useful
c. dangerous
d. secret
Word Meaning
• No word must ever leak out about this military
action! It has to be a clandestine operation in
order to succeed.
• Which word is a synonym of "clandestine"?
• a. family
b. useful
c. dangerous
d. secret
• What context clues made you choose your
answer?
Word Meaning
• Put this medicine on your arm and rub it into
your skin until it's invisible. It will inhibit the
infection's attempt to spread.
• What does “inhibit” mean?
• a. live in a certain place
b. block or slow down
c. itch or burn
d. help to do something important
Word Meaning
• Put this medicine on your arm and rub it into
your skin until it's invisible. It will inhibit the
infection's attempt to spread.
• What does “inhibit” mean?
• a. live in a certain place
b. block or slow down
c. itch or burn
d. help to do something important
• What context clues made you choose your
answer?
Word Meaning
• Fortunately, the dizzy spell was transient. He
was able to continue playing within seconds
and had no trouble winning the match.
• When you describe an event as “transient,”
you are saying that __________.
• a. it sounds like a train
b. it is quite harmful
c. it helps you win
d. it doesn't last long
Word Meaning
• Fortunately, the dizzy spell was transient. He was
able to continue playing within seconds and had
no trouble winning the match.
• When you describe an event as “transient,” you
are saying that __________.
• a. it sounds like a train
b. it is quite harmful
c. it helps you win
d. it doesn't last long
• What context clues made you choose your
answer?
Word Meaning
• Brea and Elizabeth are having a dispute over
which radio station to play at work. It would
be so much simpler if they both liked the
same kind of music.
• A dispute is a __________.
• a. musical instrument
b. choice of music
c. discovery
d. disagreement
Word Meaning
• Brea and Elizabeth are having a dispute over
which radio station to play at work. It would be so
much simpler if they both liked the same kind of
music.
• A dispute is a __________.
• a. musical instrument
b. choice of music
c. discovery
d. disagreement
• What context clues made you choose your
answer?
Word Meaning
• When they heard the good news about the
court’s decision, the angry crowd cheered and
then began to disperse. “It looks like everyone
is going home,” one reporter stated.
• Which would be the opposite of “disperse”?
• a. come together
b. smile
c. fly like a bird
d. sing
Word Meaning
• When they heard the good news about the
court’s decision, the angry crowd cheered and
then began to disperse. “It looks like everyone is
going home,” one reporter stated.
• Which would be the opposite of “disperse”?
• a. come together
b. smile
c. fly like a bird
d. sing
• What context clues made you choose your
answer?
Word Meaning
• It’s a wonder to me how anyone can still be
undecided about this election. These two
candidates are certainly distinct. Each would
lead our nation in opposite directions.
• What does “distinct” mean?
• a. needing a bath
b. dishonest
c. clearly different
d. about the same age
Word Meaning
• It’s a wonder to me how anyone can still be
undecided about this election. These two
candidates are certainly distinct. Each would lead
our nation in opposite directions.
• What does “distinct” mean?
• a. needing a bath
b. dishonest
c. clearly different
d. about the same age
• What context clues made you choose your
answer?
Word Meaning
• Mr. Huge was very proud of his auto
superstore. “We have such an extensive
selection of cars,” he said, “so everyone
should find a vehicle that he or she will love!”
• The word “extensive” means __________.
• a. costing a lot of money
b. large amount
c. having no color
d. not enough
Word Meaning
• Mr. Huge was very proud of his auto superstore.
“We have such an extensive selection of cars,” he
said, “so everyone should find a vehicle that he or
she will love!”
• The word “extensive” means __________.
• a. costing a lot of money
b. large amount
c. having no color
d. not enough
• What context clues made you choose your
answer?
Word Meaning
• Friendship is a priceless thing. If Chris put a
price, or conditions, on her friendship, it’s no
longer priceless. In fact, it’s not real friendship
at all!
• If something is priceless, __________.
• a. it has a missing tag
b. it has no value
c. it has great value
d. it is made out of rice
Word Meaning
• Friendship is a priceless thing. If Chris put a price,
or conditions, on her friendship, it’s no longer
priceless. In fact, it’s not real friendship at all!
• If something is priceless, __________.
• a. it has a missing tag
b. it has no value
c. it has great value
d. it is made out of rice
• What context clues made you choose your
answer?
Word Meaning
• The news story was based on a letter that was
a fabrication. Now the reporter who wrote
the story is in big trouble. Will anyone believe
him again?
• A fabrication is __________.
a. made of cloth
b. full of long words
c. funny
d. fake
Word Meaning
• The news story was based on a letter that was a
fabrication. Now the reporter who wrote the
story is in big trouble. Will anyone believe him
again?
• A fabrication is __________.
a. made of cloth
b. full of long words
c. funny
d. fake
• What context clues made you choose your
answer?
Word Meaning
• The reporter insisted that the letter he used
was authentic. He said that he had shown it to
many experts before he used it in his story.
• When something is authentic, it’s
__________.
• a. genuine, or real
b. carefully written
c. full of tasty worms
d. very old
Word Meaning
• The reporter insisted that the letter he used was
authentic. He said that he had shown it to many
experts before he used it in his story.
• When something is authentic, it’s __________.
• a. genuine, or real
b. carefully written
c. full of tasty worms
d. very old
• What context clues made you choose your
answer?
Word Meaning
• In 1975, Governor James promised to do
something about the high taxes in our state. She
didn’t present a tax cut bill to lawmakers until
1985. It took her a decade to keep her promise,
but better late than never.
• How long is a decade?
• a. 75 years
b. 85 years
c. a century
d. 10 years
Word Meaning
• In 1975, Governor James promised to do
something about the high taxes in our state. She
didn’t present a tax cut bill to lawmakers until
1985. It took her a decade to keep her promise,
but better late than never.
• How long is a decade?
• a. 75 years
b. 85 years
c. a century
d. 10 years
• What context clues made you choose your
answer?
Glossary
• A glossary is usually found at the end of a
book. The glossary lists special words from the
book. It tells what the words mean. It also tells
how to pronounce each word.
Glossary
• aviary (a •ve •er •e) - a large cage where birds
live.
• birds (burdz) - a group of warm-blooded
animals with two wings, two legs, and
feathers.
• hummingbird (hum•ing •burd ) - the world’s
smallest bird.
• nest (nest) - a place where a bird lays its eggs.
Glossary
• aviary (a •ve •er •e) - a large cage where birds
live.
• birds (burdz) - a group of warm-blooded
animals with two wings, two legs, and
feathers.
• hummingbird (hum•ing •burd ) - the world’s
smallest bird.
• nest (nest) - a place where a bird lays its eggs.
• Where does a bird lay its eggs?
Glossary
• aviary (a •ve •er •e) - a large cage where birds
live.
• birds (burdz) - a group of warm-blooded
animals with two wings, two legs, and
feathers.
• hummingbird (hum•ing •burd ) - the world’s
smallest bird.
• nest (nest) - a place where a bird lays its eggs.
• Where does a bird lay its eggs?
Glossary
• aviary (a •ve •er •e) - a large cage where birds
live.
• birds (burdz) - a group of warm-blooded
animals with two wings, two legs, and
feathers.
• hummingbird (hum•ing •burd ) - the world’s
smallest bird.
• nest (nest) - a place where a bird lays its eggs.
• What is an aviary?
Glossary
• aviary (a •ve •er •e) - a large cage where birds
live.
• birds (burdz) - a group of warm-blooded
animals with two wings, two legs, and
feathers.
• hummingbird (hum•ing •burd ) - the world’s
smallest bird.
• nest (nest) - a place where a bird lays its eggs.
• What is an aviary?
Glossary
• aviary (a •ve •er •e) - a large cage where birds
live.
• birds (burdz) - a group of warm-blooded animals
with two wings, two legs, and feathers.
• hummingbird (hum•ing •burd ) - the world’s
smallest bird.
• nest (nest) - a place where a bird lays its eggs.
• How many syllables are in the word
“hummingbird”?
Glossary
• aviary (a •ve •er •e) - a large cage where birds
live.
• birds (burdz) - a group of warm-blooded animals
with two wings, two legs, and feathers.
• hummingbird (hum•ing •burd ) - the world’s
smallest bird.
• nest (nest) - a place where a bird lays its eggs.
• How many syllables are in the word
“hummingbird”? 3
Glossary
• aviary (a •ve •er •e) - a large cage where birds
live.
• birds (burdz) - a group of warm-blooded
animals with two wings, two legs, and
feathers.
• hummingbird (hum•ing •burd ) - the world’s
smallest bird.
• nest (nest) - a place where a bird lays its eggs.
• List three things birds have.
Glossary
• aviary (a •ve •er •e) - a large cage where birds
live.
• birds (burdz) - a group of warm-blooded
animals with two wings, two legs, and
feathers.
• hummingbird (hum•ing •burd ) - the world’s
smallest bird.
• nest (nest) - a place where a bird lays its eggs.
• List three things birds have.
PREFIXES ~ SUFFIXES
ROOT WORDS
• PREFIX—a word part that can be added to the
beginning of a word to make a new word.
• SUFFIX—a word part that can be added to the
end of a word to make a new word.
• ROOT WORD—the word that’s left over when
prefixes and suffixes have been removed.
PREFIXES ~ SUFFIXES
ROOT WORDS
• PREFIX
dis-
ROOT WORD
infect
SUFFIX
-ant
Prefixes We
Know
Examples
im- not
improper
in- not
incomplete
bi- two
bicycle
non- not
nonstop
dis- not or
opposite of
disagree
Suffixes We
Know
Examples
-er one who
farmer
-or one who
actor
-less without
useless
-able, -ible can
be
buildable
reversible
Unit 3 Assignments
• 1. Reading
– Course Home Page
– Text
• 2. My Reading Lab
– Review material
– Test
• 3. Discussion Board