Vocabulary in Context

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Vocabulary in Context
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Can you define these?

• Torrid
• Ascertain
• Euphoria

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How about now?

• To avoid the burning sun in torrid climates such
  as deserts, many animals come out only at night.
• Torrid means
• Familiar
• Extremely hot and dry
• Humid

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• The officer tried to ascertain the truth about
  the accident by questioning each witness
  separately.
• Ascertain means
• Create
• Avoid
• Find out

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• In their euphoria, the fans of the winning team
  danced in the stadium aisles and chanted victory
  songs, until their intense joy was dampened by a
  sudden downpour.
• Euphoria means
• Intense joy
• Hurry
• Disappointment

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• It is often CONTEXT the words surrounding an
  unfamiliar word that can provide clues to a
  words meaning.

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Four Common Context Clues

1. Examples
2. Synonyms
3. Antonyms
4. General Sense of the Sentence or Passage

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1. Examples

• Examples may suggest the meaning of an unknown
  word.
• For instance
• The adverse effects of this drug, including
  dizziness, nausea, and headaches, have caused it
  to be withdrawn from the market.
• What are the examples?
• What do you think adverse means?

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1. Example

• For instance
• Common euphemisms include final resting place
  (for grave), intoxicated (for drunk), and
  comfort station (for toilet).
• What are the examples?
• What do you think euphemism means?

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2. Synonyms

• A synonym may also appear somewhere in a passage
  and help provide context for understanding.
• For instance
• Although the salesperson tried to assuage the
  angry customer, there was no way to soothe her.
• What word is the synonym?

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3. Antonyms

• An antonym is a word that means the opposite of
  another word.
• Antonyms are often signaled by words and phrases
  such as however, but, yet, on the other hand, and
  in contrast.
• For instance
• Trying to control everything your teens do can
  impede their growth. To advance their
  development, allow them to make some decisions on
  their own.
• a. Block b. Speed up c. Improve

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3. Antonyms

• For instance
• Many people have pointed out the harmful effects
  that a working mother may have on the family, yet
  there are many salutary effects as well.
• Which effects are being compared?
• What do you think salutary means?

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4. General Sense

• Textbooks tend to use examples, synonyms, and
  antonyms to provide context because the purpose
  is to help you learn (there are also often
  glossaries in the back!).
• Most of the time it takes more detective work to
  puzzle the meaning out of an unfamiliar word.
• Look for clues and ask questions.

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4. General Sense

• For instance
• Despite complaints from parents, educators, and
  government officials, violence and sex on
  television seem to go on unabated.
• What words or phrases can we use as clues
  to discover the meaning of unabated?

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When in doubt

• See if you recognize parts of the word
• Assimilate sounds a little like similar
  because they have the same root. When that
  happens, chances are the words are related.
• Ask someone
• Look it up