Vocabulary in context

The idea

When you meet a word you do not know, the sentences around it usually hide clues to its meaning. The writer might describe what happens because of it, compare it with something, or show someone's reaction to it.

Read the whole sentence — and the one after it — before you guess. Then try swapping your guessed meaning into the sentence. If the sentence still makes sense, your guess is probably right.

Be careful: some words have more than one meaning, so choose the meaning that fits this context, not just the first meaning you happen to know. Context clues are the dictionary you carry into every reading test, so practise hunting for them whenever you read anything. They can rescue you even when nobody is allowed to help you.

Worked example

Read this sentence: 'Jae was reluctant to step onto the icy path; he hesitated at the edge, gripping the fence, while his friends called him across.' What does 'reluctant' mean here?

1. Look at what Jae does: he hesitates at the edge and grips the fence instead of stepping forward.
2. His actions show he does not really want to step onto the path.
3. Swap the guess into the sentence: 'Jae was unwilling to step onto the icy path' — it still makes sense.

Answer: 'Reluctant' means unwilling or hesitant — Jae did not want to step onto the icy path.

Watch out

• Guessing from the word alone without reading the rest of the sentence for clues.
• Giving a meaning that does not fit when you swap it back into the sentence.