Practice Context Clues Answers

Read The answers to the multiple choice are coded red, the context is in  green, and the type of context clue is in purple text.

1.  Joan loves to buy exotic foods: vegetables and herbs from China, spices from India, olives from Greece, and cheeses from France.   EXAMPLE

      from  other places

2.  Emotionally disturbed people may be troubled by morbid thoughts. For instance, they may often think about suicide or murder. EXAMPLE

  dealing with death

3.  At first, the surgery seemed to be successful. But several hours later, the patient’s condition began to deteriorate, and it continued to worsen over the next few days.  RESTATEMENT

decay or decline

4.  In Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge is visited by three spirits who changed him into a generous man. CONTRAST

cheapskate

5.  Raul is an indulgent father. For instance, he lets his daughter stay up as late as she likes and he never insists that she does her homeworkEXAMPLE

lenient and tolerant

6.  Languages evolve over time, as you can see if you open a page of The Canterbury Tales, written about six hundred years ago by the English poet Chaucer. It is barely recognizable as English today.  GENERAL KNOWLEDGE

develop

7.  The decision Veronica made to study instead of going out for pizza with her friends was prudent. She got an A on the exam, while her friends all got D’s.  GENERAL KNOWLEDGE

careful and wise

8.  Whenever something bad happens to Jane, she ways it’s the fault of destiny. But I prefer to take charge of my own life rather than simply blaming fate*.  GENERAL KNOWLEDGE/RESTATEMENT*

event that happens regardless

9.  My father died when I was a baby, but Mom told me so many stories about him that I feel I knew him well. For example, one anecdote was about how he cried with joy when I was born*.  RESTATEMENT/EXAMPLE*

biographical account

10.  Ivan is a wonderful piano player. But Jerri is more versatile; she sings, acts, paints and writes poetry, and also plays the piano.  EXAMPLE

many abilities

11. This third grade was full of precocious children. One child had learned to read at two and another could do algebra at age 6EXAMPLE

  active    

12. I expected truthfulness from a doctor; I was shocked by his mendacity. CONTRAST

duplicity      

13. When my grandfather meets someone with that much knowledge in a field, he finds that their erudition frightens him and he is inclined to withdraw. RESTATEMENT

  scholarliness    

14. When going to an office party you should show your best decorum, for example, dress your best, drink and eat moderately, and be sure to thank the host before you leave. EXAMPLE

civility      

15. We thought that the mother would be very distraught at hearing of her husband's accident; however, she took the news quite calmly. CONTRAST

      anxious

16. It is refreshing to see students so excited, so zealous in doing their homework. RESTATEMENT

  dedicated