Finding Out Word Meanings
As we learned in Unit 2, we can often figure out the meaning of an unfamiliar word from clues provided by context. The context clues that might be helpful for us to recognize the meaning of a new word include:
1. Some sentences give the definition for a difficult word with the help of punctuation such as commas, dashes or parentheses.
2. Context sometimes gives examples to illustrate a difficult word rather than define it. We can use the examples to figure out the meaning of an unfamiliar word.
3. Synonyms (同义词) are words or phrases that are similar in meaning. A synonym is one type of context clue that helps you to determine the meanings of unfamiliar words.
4. Antonyms (反义词) are words or phrases that have opposite meanings to other words or phrases. Antonym clues can help you understand new words.
5. Sentences before or after a sentence that has a difficult word sometimes explain the meaning of the word.
6. Sometimes we can use our own experiences, or our knowledge about a certain topic, to find out the meaning of an unfamiliar word.
7. Word part clues. We can often figure out an unfamiliar word because we know the prefix or suffix attached to the root word, or the two words that make up a compound word.
As was introduced in Unit 2, we often can figure out the meaning of an unfamiliar word through the clues provided by context. The context clues that might be helpful for you to recognize the meaning of a new word include:
1. Some sentences give the definition for a difficult word with the help of punctuation such as commas, dashes or parentheses.
2. Context sometimes gives examples to illustrate a difficult word rather than define it. We can use the examples to figure out the meaning of an unfamiliar word.
3. Synonyms (同义词) are words or phrases that are similar in meaning. A synonym is one type of context clue that helps you to determine the meanings of unfamiliar words.
4. Antonyms (反义词) are words or phrases that have opposite meanings to other words or phrases. Antonym clues can help you understand new words.
5. Sentences before or after a sentence that has a difficult word sometimes explain the meaning of the word.
6. Sometimes we can use our own experiences, or our knowledge about a certain subject, to find out the meaning of an unfamiliar word.
7. Word part clues. We can often figure out an unfamiliar word because we know the prefix or suffix attached to the root word, or the two words that make up a compound word.
Here we pick out some examples from Reading Passage A to explain how this particular reading skill is used in practice.
Example 1
Context clue: Context sometimes gives examples to illustrate a difficult word rather than define it. We can use the examples to figure out the meaning of an unfamiliar word.
Example: So says Dr. Robert S. Eliot, author of a new book titled From Stress to Strength: How to Lighten Your Load and Save Your Life. (Para. 3)
Explanation: The word titled is used after the noun phrase “a new book”. Following it is a long string of words in italics with the initial letters in capitals. Clearly it is the name of a book. All this helps us to find out the meaning of the word titled, that is, “given a title of ... or named or called”.
Example 2
Context clue: Antonym (反义词) clues. Antonyms are words or phrases that have opposite meanings to other words or phrases. Antonym clues can help you understand new words.
Example: On the exterior, he was cool, calm and collected but on the interior, stress was killing him. (Para. 6)
Explanation: Clearly there is a contrast in the sentence. Through the antonym clue, accompanied by word part clues, we can understand what the two new words mean: on the exterior means “in outer appearance” and on the interior means “deep inside”.
Example 3
Context clue: We can often figure out an unfamiliar word because we know the prefix or suffix attached to the root word.
Example: The main predictors of destructive levels of stress are the FUD factors — fear, uncertainty and doubt — together with perceived lack of control, he says. (Para. 7)
Explanation: We can find out the meaning of the new word destructive, because we know that this adjective is formed by adding the suffix -tive to the noun destruction.
Example 4
Context clue: We can often figure out an unfamiliar word because we know the prefix or suffix attached to the root word.
Example: Good enough is never good enough. Perfectionists cannot delegate. (Para. 9)
Explanation: We can find out the meaning of the new word perfectionist, because we know that this noun is formed by adding the suffix -ist to the noun perfection. With the additional help of the previous sentence, perfectionist clearly means “somebody who believes in perfection”.
Example 5
Context clue: We can often figure out an unfamiliar word because we know the prefix or suffix attached to the root word.
Example: ... the other key to controlling stress is to “realize that there are other troublesome parts of your life ... (Para. 18)
Explanation: We can find the meaning of the word troublesome, because we know that this adjective is formed by adding the suffix -some to the noun trouble. The suffix has the meaning of giving or causing something. Clearly, troublesome means “giving or causing trouble”.