EOC TUTORIAL

The Reading Process Lesson 1 – Vocabulary

Twelve Tips

Lesson 1 - Vocabulary

If you are like most people, the words you see in your everyday reading fall into the following three categories:1. Words you know well and use often.2. Words you sort of know, but rarely

use.3. Words you have no clue about and

never use.

Lesson 1 - Vocabulary

You can’t be expected to know all the words in the English language, but you should have a plan to try to figure words out if you need to. That is when CONTEXT CLUES will help. The text that surrounds a word will usually give you a hint to the meaning of the unknown word. Here are some Twelve Tips to help with context clues…

Lesson 1 - VocabularyTIP 1: Look for words or phrases with meanings similar to that of the unknown word. Synonyms are words that have similar meanings.EXAMPLE: Lily suspected Mr. House of knavery, though at that point she had not yet seen any actual evidence of mischief.

What words in the sentence give clues to the meaning of knavery?

If you said mischief you would be correct. This hints that knavery might have something to do with getting in trouble or being secretive in some way.

Lesson 1 - VocabularySo with that in mind, answer the following question…

What is the meaning of the word knavery as it is used in the sentence?

A. honestyB. trickeryC. nobilityD. visibility

The correct answer is B – trickery!

Lesson 1 - VocabularyTIP 2: Look for hints about the opposite meaning of the unknown word. Antonyms are words that have the opposite meaning of the unknown word. EXAMPLE:Carlita finally understood Pavel’s sadness when they reached the pond of his parents’ old estate outside of Cape Fear. The limpid pool of his childhood was now clouded with mud and weeds.

What words describe how the pool looks now?

If you said clouded, mud, and weeds you are correct. What would be the opposite of those words?

Lesson 1 - VocabularySo with that in mind, answer the following question…

What is the meaning of the word limpid as it is used in the sentence?

A. shallowB. coldC. wavyD. clear

The correct answer is D – clear!

Lesson 1 - VocabularyTIP 3: Look for causes and effects related to the unknown word. Cause-and-effect relationships can sometimes give clues to the meaning of an unknown word.EXAMPLE:As the astringent liquid dried out my tongue and puckered my lips, I thought, “This isn’t lemonade—it’s pure lemon juice!”

What aspect of the liquid would make your tongue dry out and your lips pucker?

Lesson 1 - VocabularyWith that in mind, answer the following question…

What is the meaning of the word astringent as it is used in the sentence?

A. wetB. fruityC. sourD. yellow

The correct answer is C – sour. That would make your lips pucker!

Lesson 1 - VocabularyTIP 4: Look for hints that the unknown word fits into a category. Sometimes the unknown word might be paired or listed with other words that fit in a particular category. If you can figure out the category, you might be able to make an approximate guess at the meaning of the word.EXAMPLE:All along the shore, if you keep still and quiet, you can watch seagulls, phalaropes, cranes, and the odd lost duck.

What do seagulls, phalaropes, cranes, and ducks all have in common?

If you said they all fly, you would be correct!

Lesson 1 - VocabularyNow, answer the following question…

What is a phalarope?A. a type of birdB. a type of shellC. a type of fishD. a type of sand

The correct answer is A – a type of bird. They all fly!

Lesson 1 - VocabularyTIP 5: Look for descriptions that hint at the meaning of the unknown word.The author might include details and descriptions in the nearby text that will help you figure out the meaning of an unknown word.EXAMPLE:Bjourn, the Icelandic exchange student, was unaccustomed to the Missouri heat and spent the hottest part of the day recumbent in the living room, stretched out on the couch in the breeze of the old fan.

What details and descriptions may hint at the meaning of the word?

If you said “stretched out on the couch,” you would be correct!

Lesson 1 - VocabularyNow answer the following question…

What is the meaning of the word recumbent as it is used in the sentence?

A. walkingB. recliningC. watchingD. thinking

The correct answer is B – reclining. He was stretched out on the couch!

Lesson 1 - VocabularyTIP 6: Consider the tone and setting of the selection.The tone shows the author’s feelings toward a subject. The tone can usually be described as positive or negative. The setting is where and when the selection takes place.EXAMPLE: As Farley left the courtroom, free to hug his father and sisters for the first time in months, he stopped to thank Detective Chapel. The exculpatory evidence would not have been found without the detective’s hard work and belief in his innocence.

Where do the events in this selection take place?

If you said in a courtroom, you would be correct!

Lesson 1 - VocabularyWith that in mind, answer the following two questions…

Which of the following best describes the tone of the selection?

A. suspensefulB. joyfulC. worriedD. sad

The correct answer is B – joyful. Farley is free to hug his family and is thanking the detective, so the general tone is a happy one.

Lesson 1 - VocabularyAs Farley left the courtroom, free to hug his father and sisters for the first time in months, he stopped to thank Detective Chapel. The exculpatory evidence would not have been found without her hard work and belief in his innocence.

What is the meaning of the word exculpatory as it is used in the selection?

A. clearing someone of guilt or blameB. showing the location of a witnessC. indicating involvement with a groupD. proving that a crime occurred

The correct answer is A – clearing someone of guilt or blame.Since Farley is free for the first time in months, evidence must have proved his innocence!

Lesson 1 - VocabularyTIP 7: “Plug in” the answer choices.If you still can’t figure out the word’s meaning, try plugging in all the answer choices to see which one fits the best.EXAMPLE:In 1908, a meteorite entered the atmosphere over Siberia, broke up into pieces, and hit the ground near the Tunguska River. The crash flattened the forest for hundreds of miles and sent shock waves through the air all around the world. Subsequent studies have turned up bits of melted rock from the meteorite.

Now try the plug in technique on the following question…

Lesson 1 - VocabularyWhat is the meaning of the word subsequent as it is used in the selection?

A. falseB. oftenC. laterD. earlier

Plug in the answer choices:A. False studies have turned up bits of melted rock from

the meteorite.B. Often studies have turned up bits of melted rock from

the meteorite.C. Later studies have turned up bits of melted rock from

the meteorite.D. Earlier studies have turned up bits of melted rock from

the meteorite.

Lesson 1 - VocabularyYou probably noticed that some of these choices don’t make sense in this sentence. Eliminate those choices and take your best guess from what’s left.

The correct answer is C – later!

Lesson 1 - VocabularyTIP 8: Use context clues to understand figurative language and technical vocabulary.Figurative language goes beyond the dictionary meanings of words. It isn’t meant to be taken literally. Here are a few common types:- Simile – a comparison of two ideas using like or as. (quick

as a bunny)- Metaphor – a comparison in which one idea is said or

implied to be another. (the swollen sun)- Personification – giving human qualities to an inanimate

object (the laughing moon)- Pun – the humorous use of a word in which more than

one meaning is intended. (The orthodontist said, “brace yourself!”)

- Idiom – a phrase not meant to be taken literally. (straight from the horse’s mouth)

Lesson 1 - VocabularyRead the passage and answer the following questions…

Paul was a dark horse at the cross-country meet. It was his first race and his first year on the team, yet he finished in first place.

What clues point to the meaning of “dark horse”?

If you said first race, first year on the team, and finished first place, then you are correct!

What is the meaning of the phrase “dark horse” as it is used in the selection?

A. a fast and experienced championB. a loner rather than a team playerC. an unenthusiastic and slow athleteD. an unexpectedly successful participant

The correct answer is D – an unexpectedly successful participant. The clues telling us that this was his first time being involved in a meet helped us find the correct answer!

Lesson 1 - VocabularyYou can also use vocabulary strategies to help you figure out the meanings of technical vocabulary, or words that are used in a particular field of work. EXAMPLE:Step 2: Check for injury. After removing any footwear, look for damage to the metatarsal by gently pressing between the toes and ankle.

What clues point to the meaning of the word metatarsal?

If you said remove footwear and pressing between toes and ankle, then you are correct!!

Lesson 1 - VocabularyNow answer the following question…

What is the metatarsal?A. part of the legB. part of the footC. part of the fingersD. part of a shoe

The correct answer is B – part of the foot!

Lesson 1 - VocabularyTIP 9: Consider both the denotation and the connotation of the word. Denotation is the dictionary definition of a word. Connotation is the emotional impact of a word beyond its basic definition. Pay close attention to the tone of the sentence in which the word appears.EXAMPLE:A smile slowly spread across Joey’s face. He knew from the scent drifting up to his room from the kitchen that his mom was baking pumpkin pie.

Is the tone of the sentence positive or negative?

If you said positive, you are correct! Joey smiled when he smelled the pie.

Lesson 1 - VocabularyNow answer the following question…

What is the meaning of the word scent as it is used in the sentence?

A. bitter smellB. foul smellC. burnt smellD. sweet smell

The correct answer is D – sweet smell. Joey smiled when he smelled something good!!

Lesson 1 - VocabularyTIP 10: Look out for multiple-meaning words.Some words can have several meanings that are completely different from one another. EXAMPLE:Mama and I continued to talk, though she hardly looked up at me as she dredged each piece of chicken with flour before dropping it into the skillet.

How many different meanings can you think of for the word dredged?

Lesson 1 - VocabularyNow answer the following question…

Which of the following meanings of dredged describes the word as it is used in the sentence?

A. made visibleB. sprinkled or coatedC. dug or pulled outD. made slightly deeper

The correct answer is B – sprinkled or coated!

Lesson 1 - VocabularyTIP 11: Look out for words that sound alike but have different meanings.Two words can sound alike but be spelled differently and have very different meanings.EXAMPLE:• Margaret was often complimented for her

beautiful yellow sweater.• Margaret usually complemented her sweater

with a brown silk scarf.

• The word complimented (with an i) means “praised, congratulated, or approved of.

• The word complemented (with an e) means completed, made whole, or added to.

Lesson 1 - VocabularyLook-alikes and Sound-alikes:

Homograph (same writing) – two or more words that are spelled alike but have different meanings or pronunciations (desert – a dry, barren region/desert – to leave, go away from, abandon)

Homophone (same sound) – two or more words that are pronounced alike but have different meanings and spellings (their – possessive pronoun)/there – indicating location/they’re – contraction of they are) OR (desert to leave, go away from, abandon/dessert – a sweet treat after a meal)

Lesson 1 - VocabularyNow you try one…

Which sentence uses the word fare correctly?A. The weather calls for clear skies and fare

winds.B. Kari feels that her parents are not being fare.C. Mr. Robinson plans to attend the state fare.D. To ride the city bus, you must have the exact

fare.

The correct answer is D. Fare, used in this sentence, means the amount of money you have to pay to ride city transit.

Lesson 1 - VocabularyTIP 12: Learn common roots, prefixes, and suffixes.Words have families, based on their parts. Learning some common word parts will give you insight into other words of the same family.

Begin at the Beginning – A prefix is a word part that is added to the beginning of a root word in order to make a new word.

Get to the Root – A root word is the base word.

At the End of it All – A suffix is added to the end of a root word in order to change its meaning.

Refer to your charts to learn common prefixes, suffixes, and root words. Try to memorize as many as you can!

Lesson 1 - VocabularyNow read the following passage:

“The Space Race: From Competition to Cooperation”

Try these strategies while reading the passage:• Highlight all words in bold• Circle context clues that help you decide what the word

means• Make notes in the margin about what you think the word

meansTry these strategies while answering the questions:• Read each question carefully• Cross out wrong choices• Remember the Twelve Tips when choosing your answer

GOOD LUCK!!