Answer:
The five tools for decoding unfamiliar words using context clues are:
- Definition
- Synonym
- Antonym
- Example
- Inference
Explanation:
Context clues are hints used by authors to help understand an unusual or difficult word. Often times, context clues appear in the same sentence as de unfamiliar word; in some instances, they might show in the sorrounding sentences.
The five context clues are understood as follows:
Definition - The unusual word is defined or restated with simpler vocabulary.
- Diane was lethargic; she didn't have the energy to get out of bed.
Synonym - A word with the same or very similar vocabulary is given close to the difficult one.
- His animosity, or hatred, of his sister divided the family.
Antonym - The word is clarified by presenting a word with an opposite meaning.
- She was virtuous, unlike her evil and conniving brother.
Example - A specific example is used to clarify the meaning of the unfamiliar term.
- The team was elated because they just found out they placed in the semifinals.
Inference - The denotation of the word is given by the context in which it is being used. The reader must look at the sorrounding sentences to grasp meaning for the unusual vocabulary.
- The haberdashery was Lou’s favorite place. He loved shopping for nice suits. The people who worked there were so kind and helpful.
All of the presented tools are useful to a certain extent, but they cannot always be applied to all kinds of texts. For instance, synonyms and antonyms are more commonly (but not exclusively) found in narrative texts, while inference and examples might be more frequent in descriptive and expository documents, such as scientific or technical writing. In any case, the reader must try all of them when dealing with a difficult or unfamiliar word in a text.
