What are context clues in vocabulary questions?

What are context clues in vocabulary questions?

• A. Words around a term that help infer its meaning
• B. The title of the passage
• C. A dictionary entry
• D. The author’s name

Answer: (A)

Context clues are the words and phrases surrounding an unfamiliar term that hint at its meaning. By watching how the sentence uses the word—whether through restatement, examples, contrasts, or nearby definitions—you can infer what the term means without looking it up. That’s why the option describing surrounding language as a hint to meaning is the best fit. The title of the passage doesn’t tell you the word’s meaning, a dictionary entry gives a direct definition rather than relying on context, and the author’s name has no bearing on the word’s meaning in the text.

Context clues are the words and phrases surrounding an unfamiliar term that hint at its meaning. By watching how the sentence uses the word—whether through restatement, examples, contrasts, or nearby definitions—you can infer what the term means without looking it up. That’s why the option describing surrounding language as a hint to meaning is the best fit. The title of the passage doesn’t tell you the word’s meaning, a dictionary entry gives a direct definition rather than relying on context, and the author’s name has no bearing on the word’s meaning in the text.