Grade 6 ELA Practice Test: Context Clues and Multiple-Meaning Words
- Context Clues and Multiple-Meaning Words
- 10 questions
- 12 minutes
These 10 questions ask you to work out word meanings from the sentence around them. Tip: look for signal words such as unlike, such as, which means and although; they often point straight to the clue.
Tap an option to mark your answer. You can change your mind, or tap the same option again to leave the question blank. The correct answers and explanations appear when you finish the test.Tap an option to answer; tap it again to leave the question blank.
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Question 1
The trail was so arduous that even the experienced hikers stopped to rest every few minutes.
What does arduous most likely mean?
Correct answer: B
Even experienced hikers needed frequent rests, so the trail must have been hard and exhausting. A beautiful or short trail would not explain all the stopping.
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Question 2
Unlike his gregarious sister, who loved parties, Marcus preferred to spend weekends alone with a book.
What does gregarious most likely mean?
Correct answer: C
The word unlike sets up a contrast: Marcus likes being alone, while his sister loves parties, so she enjoys being with people. "Shy and quiet" describes Marcus, not his sister.
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Question 3
The coach told us not to bank on the rain stopping before the game.
Which meaning of bank is used in this sentence?
Correct answer: A
The coach is warning the team not to count on the rain stopping. The other meanings of bank are real, but they do not fit this sentence.
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Question 4
The scientist studied arachnids, such as spiders, scorpions and ticks.
What kind of context clue helps explain arachnids?
Correct answer: D
The phrase such as introduces examples of arachnids. No opposite (contrast) or cause and effect is given.
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Question 5
The old bridge was precarious; it swayed in the wind and looked ready to collapse.
What does precarious most likely mean?
Correct answer: B
A bridge that sways and looks ready to collapse is unsafe. "Carefully built" is the opposite of what the clues describe.
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Question 6
The pitcher on the kitchen table was full of lemonade.
In which sentence does pitcher have the same meaning?
Correct answer: A
In the boxed sentence a pitcher is a container for drinks, just like the glass pitcher Grandma pours from. The other three sentences use the baseball meaning.
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Question 7
Although the first draft was verbose, the final essay was short and to the point.
What does verbose most likely mean?
Correct answer: C
Although signals a contrast with "short and to the point," so the first draft was wordy. Spelling and handwriting are not part of the contrast.
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Question 8
Maya was elated when she heard the news; she jumped up, laughed and hugged everyone in the room.
What does elated most likely mean?
Correct answer: D
Jumping, laughing and hugging everyone show great happiness. A nervous or confused person would not act this way.
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Question 9
Because water was scarce in the camp, each person was allowed only one cup a day.
What does scarce most likely mean?
Correct answer: B
Water was limited to one cup a day because there was not enough of it. "Easy to find" is the opposite meaning.
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Question 10
Pack a light jacket; the evening will be cool but not cold.
Which meaning of light is used in this sentence?
Correct answer: A
A cool but not cold evening calls for a thin jacket. The sentence says nothing about color or brightness.
Questions you leave blank are not counted as wrong.
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