Words with similar meanings are called synonyms. Antonyms are words with opposite meanings. Identify each word pair below as being either synonyms or antonyms.
Context clues are words, phrases, and ideas in the surrounding text that help you figure out the meaning of an unfamiliar word or one that could have several different meanings. Look for comparisons, contrasts, and descriptive details around a word to understand it better.
"Mister Toussaint tried the microwave. Even the cleverest squeezy-pouch couldn't survive a good nuking. But the microwave wouldn't switch on. 'I'm no drink and I'm no meal,' LOONY GOONY sang. 'I'm a ferrous lump of steel!'"
Walkthrough:Ferrous appears right before lump, which is a noun, telling us it's an adjective. Clues like "microwaving metal is dangerous" and "steel contains iron" help us determine that ferrous means "made of iron."
Test Your Knowledge: Context Clues
1. In Paragraph 21, what does the word "container" mean based on context clues?
Clues found in text: "forklifted it out of the giant warehouse"; "eight cubic meters"
The phrases "forklifted" and "eight cubic meters" suggest something massive, not small.
2. In Paragraph 21, what does the word "stupid" mean based on context clues?
Clues found in text: "old"; "the smart stuff was just so much easier"
In the context of technology and "smart stuff", a "stupid" device refers to a "dumb" terminal or something not connected to the internet.
3. BONUS: Read the sentence below. What does arid mean?
"The arid landscape was completely devoid of water, making it nearly impossible for crops to survive without irrigation."
The phrases "devoid of water" and "impossible for crops to survive without irrigation" point directly to a dry environment.
