Finding Out Word Meanings
Most experienced readers try to guess or make out the meaning of unfamiliar words through context clues(上下文提示). In order to make meanings clear, good writers often provide or give such clues for readers. It is always a good idea to learn the different kinds of clues you might come across in your reading.
Here are some of the context clues that people can often find in their reading.
1. Some sentences set off the definition(释义)for a difficult word by using punctuation(标点符号).
2. Sometimes helping words, along with punctuation, provide important clues.
3. Some sentences tell the opposite of what a new words means. From its opposite, you can figure out the meaning of the word.
4. Sometimes you can use your own experiences to figure out the definition a word.
5. Sentences before or after a sentence that has a difficult word sometimes explain the meaning of the word.
6. Some sentences are written just to give the definitions of the difficult words - words that readers will need to know in order to understand what they are reading.
7. Because some sentences give examples for a new word, you can build a definition.
8. Some sentences use a word you do know to help explain a word you do not know.
9. Word part clues - stems（词干） and affixes（词缀） also help to find out word meaning.
There are probably other ways to help you find out word meanings in context. We will try and use these skills in our reading series.
In the part of Reading Skills we would introduce all the important reading shills one by one. Students should take care to read the explanation of a specific skill, which has been written in clear, easy-to-understand language. And we would use Reading Passages B and C to let the students see how that skill is applied to a particular passage.
The particular reading skill introduced for this unit is finding out word meanings through many different ways. In the text we list as many as 9 different ways of finding out a word meaning that you are not familiar with. Here we would just pick out some examples from Passage A to explain how this particular reading skill is used in practice.
| Hint | Example | Explanation |
| Sentences before or after a sentence that has a difficult word sometimes explain the meaning of the word. | I had a kind and patient teacher who often praised all of the students. Because of this positive method, I eagerly answered all the questions I could, never worrying much about making mistakes. (Para.2,Passage A) | The sentence before the word “positive” gives a very clear hint as to the meaning of the word "positive". |
| Sentences before or after a sentence that has a difficult word sometimes explain the meaning of the word. | When I went to senior middle school, I was eager to continue studying English; however, my experience in senior school was very different from before. While my former teacher had been patient with all the students, my new teacher quickly punished those who gave incorrect answers. (Para.3, Passage A) | The whole sentence before the word "former" explains that "former" refers to the previous one. |
| Some sentences are written just to give the definitions of the difficult words. | I practiced all the time. I carried a little dictionary with me everywhere I went, as well as a notebook in which I listed any new words I heard. (Para.7, Passage A) | The definition of the word "notebook" is made clear in the adjective clause that immediately follows it. |
| The part of the sentence written before or after a a difficult word sometimes explains the meaning of the word. | Not only did learning another language teach me the value of hard work, but it also gave me insights into another culture, and my mind was opened to new ways of seeing things. (Para. 8 Passage A) | The part of the sentence after the word "insights" gives us some idea about what "insight" means. |
| Some sentences are written just to give the definition of the difficult words. | The most wonderful result of having learned a foreign language was that I could communicate with many more people than before. Talking with people is one of my favorite activities, so being able to speak a new language lets me meet new people, participate in conversations, and form new, unforgettable friendships. (Para. 8, Passage A) | Again the sentence after the word "communicate"—"talking with people"—tells us the meaning of the word "communicate". |
Now you are welcome to try to do Exercise XII, using some of the ways listed to find out word meaning.