Vocabulary and Word Meaning
What this domain tests
Vocabulary questions check whether a third grader can figure out what a word means using context, word parts, and relationships among words. Candidates should understand context clues: definitions stated in the sentence, examples, synonyms, antonyms, and general sense of the passage. They should also know common prefixes and suffixes ("un-," "re-," "pre-," "-ful," "-less," "-ly") and how they change meaning. Other concepts include multiple-meaning words ("bank," "bat"), shades of meaning among similar words ("walk," "stroll," "march"), and categories such as synonyms, antonyms, and homophones.
Traps in questions
A frequent trap is choosing a familiar meaning of a multiple-meaning word that does not fit the sentence, such as reading "river bank" as a money bank. Another trap is a word that sounds like the right answer but does not match the passage. Questions may also test whether a student can pick the best word for a sentence when two choices are close in meaning, requiring attention to strength or tone.
Rule of thumb
Use the "plug-in" test: put the answer choice back into the sentence and reread it. If the sentence still makes sense and matches the passage, the choice is likely correct.
Worked example
Sentence: "The trail was rugged, full of rocks and steep hills." Asked what "rugged" means: choices are "smooth," "rough," "short," "crowded." The clue words "rocks and steep hills" signal rough. Plugging in "rough" keeps the meaning. Answer: "rough."