Vocabulary and Word Study: Figuring Out What Words Mean
What you must understand
Vocabulary questions test whether you can work out word meaning from context and from word parts. Context clues are hints in nearby words and sentences. Common types are definition clues (the word is explained right after it), example clues (examples show what it means), contrast clues (words like but, unlike, however show the opposite meaning), and inference clues (you must combine several details). Word parts: a prefix goes at the front (un-, re-, dis-, pre-, mis-), a suffix goes at the end (-ful, -less, -able, -tion), and a root carries the core meaning. Knowing that un- means not or that -less means without lets you unlock unfamiliar words.
Traps to watch for
- Familiar-looking words: a word that looks like a common word may mean something different in this sentence.
- Ignoring the sentence: choosing a meaning that fits the word in general but not in this passage.
- Wrong part of speech: the answer must fit how the word is used, such as a noun or a verb.
- Positive versus negative tone: many questions ask about a word's feeling, so check whether the sentence is approving or disapproving.
- Literal versus figurative: phrases like "a sea of faces" or "her heart sank" are not literal and must be read as comparisons or feelings.
Worked example
Sentence: "The trail was treacherous, unlike the smooth path we had taken yesterday." The contrast clue unlike plus smooth tells you treacherous means the opposite of smooth and easy, so it means dangerous or difficult. Choosing a meaning such as "long" ignores the clue.
Rule of thumb
Cover the word, read the whole sentence, and predict a meaning before looking at the choices. Then use word parts to confirm your prediction.