Signal Words for Context Clues Quiz: Test Your 7th Grade Skills

📚 Quick Study Guide

🔍 Definition: Context clues are hints found within a sentence, paragraph, or passage that a reader can use to understand the meanings of new or unfamiliar words. 💡 Signal Words: These are words that signal the type of context clue being used. Common types include:
• Definition Clues: Signal words like "is," "means," "is defined as," "refers to."
• Example Clues: Signal words like "for example," "such as," "including," "like."
• Synonym Clues: Signal words like "or," "also known as," "in other words."
• Antonym Clues: Signal words like "but," "however," "although," "unlike," "in contrast."
• Inference Clues: Requires you to "read between the lines" using general knowledge and the surrounding sentences. No specific signal words, but pay attention to the overall meaning.
📝 How to Use Them:
1. Identify the unfamiliar word.
2. Look for signal words.
3. Read the surrounding sentences carefully.
4. Make an educated guess about the word's meaning.
5. Substitute your guess into the original sentence to see if it makes sense.

🧪 Practice Quiz

1. Which of the following signal words indicates a definition clue?
   1. However
   2. For example
   3. Means
   4. Unlike
2. The politician's speech was verbose, in other words, it was ________.
   1. Concise
   2. Brief
   3. Lengthy
   4. Eloquent
3. Unlike her shy sister, Sarah was quite ________. What word best completes the sentence?
   1. Timid
   2. Outgoing
   3. Reserved
   4. Introverted
4. The old house was dilapidated, but the family worked hard to fix it. What does "dilapidated" mean?
   1. New
   2. Run-down
   3. Modern
   4. Expensive
5. The scientist used a microscope to observe the minuscule organisms, such as bacteria and protozoa. What does "minuscule" mean?
   1. Large
   2. Invisible
   3. Tiny
   4. Complex
6. My friend likes many genres of music including pop, rock, and country. What does "genres" mean?
   1. Artists
   2. Instruments
   3. Types
   4. Songs
7. The athlete was known for his agility; he could move quickly and gracefully. What does "agility" mean?
   1. Strength
   2. Speed
   3. Clumsiness
   4. Nimbleness