The document provides guidance and practice exercises on using context clues to determine the meaning of unfamiliar words in reading comprehension tests. It discusses different types of context clues like synonyms, antonyms, cognates, and prefixes/suffixes that can help with word meaning. Sample sentences are presented with underlined words and multiple choice answers to identify the best meaning based on context. The exercises cover topics like jobs, fashion, health, and transportation.

1. Escuela de Educación Continua
Repaso para la Prueba de Evaluación
y Admisión Universitaria
(College Board)
INGLÉS
Reading Comprehension
Context Clues
Preparado por
Prof. Carmen Cembalest, Enero 1994
Revisado por
Prof. Thelvenitsie Hernández, Junio 2006

2. Este manual es propiedad del Campus Virtual de la Escuela de
Educación Continua de la Universidad Metropolitana. El mismo
no puede ser reproducido parcial ni totalmente sin la autorización
expresa del Decano Asociado del Campus Virtual de la Escuela
de Educación Continua de la Universidad Metropolitana.
Escuela de Educación Continua de UMET, enero 2012

3. Reading Comprehension:
The explanation and exercises that follow are geared to test your ability to read
and understand a passage. When you read a paragraph or an essay, you must
follow certain guidelines that will help you understand and analyze the ideas
brought up by the writer.
a. Context Clues – These are words (that you know the meaning of) around the
words you are reading, that help you determine the meaning of the new word.
b. Synonyms – Words with the same or nearly the same meaning.
c. Antonyms – Words with opposite
d. Cognates – Words that are spelled alike or almost alike, sound alike and have
the same meaning in English and Spanish. False cognate, then, are words that
sound alike, but do not have the same meaning.
e. Inference – You draw conclusions or deduct from the information given.
f. Transitional devices – Establish a bridge between two ideas. They also help the
reader to find out the kinds of developmental paragraphs in an essay.
g. Prefixes and suffixes –
 A prefix is a word part added to the beginning of a base word or word
root. Ex. discover (prefix)
 A suffix is a word part added to the end of a base word or word root. Ex.
speechless (suffix)
h. Analogies – expresses an agreement of likeness between things in some
circumstances. This relationship is between the meaning and or the usage of
English words, and is usually offered as a sentence written in an abbreviated
form.

4. Practice Exercise
Use context clues to determine the meaning of the underlined words. Choose
the correct answer.
1. The mellow tones of the violin filled the night air with sweet music.
a. thin and squeaky
b. melancholy
c. soft and rich
d. poor and quiet
2. Oranges are sweet, but lemons are sour.
a. very sweet
b. opposite of “sweet”
c. tasty
d. small
3. Every culture has certain rules for different social situations.
a. rights
b. kinds of conduct that are impolite
c. rude
d. “laws” or regulations of conduct
4. Joan refused our invitation to lunch because she had other plans.
a. accepted
b. didn’t accept
c. accepted again
d. didn’t like
5. My former employer was very kind.
a. farming
b. land
c. past
d. contemporary
6. Lots of people dress up in wild costumes on Halloween.
a. big
b. usual clothes
c. witch
d. very unusual and unconventional
7. There are people capable of knowing the future.
a. crazy
b. have the ability
c. tell lies
d. impossible

5. 8. He considered his choices before deciding what to do.
a. thought about
b. made a decision
c. complained about
d. talked about
9. I always tell my mother my problems. I trust her to help me.
a. talk
b. have confidence
c. tell the truth
d. like very much
10. He saw a penny on the ground and picked it up with his hand.
a. pushed it
b. dropped it
c. chose it
d. took it from the ground
11. Many actresses have very pretty faces and figures.
a. attractive
b. skinny
c. ugly
d. fat
12. He wants his body to be in good condition, so he works out at the gym every
morning.
a. eats a big breakfast
b. stays healthy
c. gets up early
d. exercises
13. The only obstacle between me and the safety of the cabin was a big black bear.
a. animal with fur
b. connection
c. mean
d. obstruction
14. The boys were lauded for saving the drowning man.
a. punished
b. ignored
c. criticized
d. praised
15. Give me your interpretation of what happened this afternoon.
a. division
b. explanation
c. formula
d. event

6. Practice Exercise
Circle the letter of the expression that has the same meaning as the underlined word.
1. Samuel’s wife is quite a bit younger than he is.
a. a little
b. a lot
c. not very much
d. enough
2. The employer interviewed several candidates for the position.
a. politicians
b. applicants
c. students
d. women
3. He worked for a manufacturing firm.
a. country
b. company
c. specialization
d. law firm
4. Samuel had a job, but it was not in his field.
a. district
b. company
c. specialization
d. law firm
5. The employer seemed to listen to him sympathetically.
a. politely
b. with understanding
c. usefully
d. cheerfully
6. The employer extended his hand to Samuel.
a. held out
b. shook
c. raised
d. hid
7. The party lasted until 3:00 a.m.
a. stopped
b. most recent
c. continued
d. ceased

7. 8. Vogue Magazine shows the current modes of fashion.
a. illustrations
b. styles
c. models
d. products
9. Jane’s office is so small that she has no place for anything; the desk is always
cluttered.
a. orderly
b. messy
c. organized
d. cleaned
10. She looks so casual. She isn’t dressed like an executive.
a. efficient person
b. secretary
c. person with administrative authority
d. lawyer
11. The desks created a barrier between them.
a. a path
b. a wall
c. a bridge
d. a hall
12. Gisela did not feel that she had made the wisest choice.
a. most interesting
b. smartest
c. nearest
d. closer
13. It is a violation to cross the street when the light is red.
a. breaking the law
b. permitted
c. difficult
d. wise move
14. He was asked for three references on the job application.
a. names of persons who know you
b. books
c. addresses
d. dates of prior jobs
15. This employee has chronic heart problems and needs to stop working.
a. artificial
b. temporary

8. c. recurring
d. painful
16. The injuries sustained by the police officer during the robbery were not serious.
a. wounds received
b. wounds given
c. arrests made
d. observed
17. That general received four decorations during the war in Vietnam.
a. ornaments
b. medals
c. letters
d. letters of praise
18. The job she had was boring and routinary.
a. dull and automatic
b. easy and satisfying
c. interesting and low-paying
d. excellent and permanent
19. She began skimming the want ads.
a. reading closely
b. reading quickly
c. cutting out
d. underlining
20. She wanted a job that would utilize her previous experience.
a. give
b. develop
c. use
d. improve
21. One or two ads looked promising.
a. hopeful
b. certain
c. useful
d. hopeless
22. She had to complete a battery of tests.
a. an electrical cell
b. a series
c. a page
d. very few

9. 23. Marisa looked at the manager in bewilderment.
a. fear
b. confusion
c. delight
d. sadness