Using Context Clues to Improve Reading Skills and Vocabulary Practice

1. Raul is an indulgent father. For instance, he lets his daughter stay up as late as she likes and
he never insists that she does her homework.
a. lazy and caring b. stupid and kind c. strict and mean d. lenient and accepting _____

2. The child tried to placate the bully, doing everything he told her to do.
a. hate b. satisfy c. teach d. fight _____

3. Even though Jardy enjoyed the movie and said it was exciting, Danario thought it was tedious.
a. awesome b. eventful c. slow d. boring _____

4. The mime troupe, drama club and other local thespians will meet Saturday for a workshop.
a. organizations b. singers c. actors d. workers _____
5. At first, the surgery seemed to be successful. However, several hours later, the patient’s
condition began to deteriorate, and it continued to worsen over the next few days.
a. stabilize b. surprise everyone c. change d. decay or decline _____

6. Pewter is a combination of copper, tin and antimony. The alloy is quite soft and presents some
problems to a metalsmith.
a. bowl b. mixture of metals c. hardware d. chemical _____

7. Tom was oblivious to the noise, but the rest of us were unable to concentrate on our work.
a. annoyed b. frightened c. unaware d. bothered _____

8. The building obstructed our view as effectively as a blindfold.

a. helped b. warmed c. blocked d. magnified _____

9. He could make the journey by mule cart, train, or another conveyance.

a. adventure b. means of transporting c. vehicle d. boat _____

10. The students were belligerent. In other words, they did not listen to the teacher and often
talked back to her.
a. argumentative b. obedient c. cruel d. lazy _____

11. She sought redress for the wrong that had been done to her family.
a. correction b. promptness c. hope d. repetition _____

12. The policeman examined the vicinity, or area.

a. office b. body c. evidence d. region _____
A combination of fog and industrial smoke, called smog, has vitiated the air in and around
13.
many big cities.
a. concentrated b. filled up c. replaced d. contaminated _____

14. The vociferous crowd reminded me of the fans in the stands last year when we won the
county championship who made it impossible to hear the trophy presentation.
a. respectful b. quiet c. enthusiastic d. loud _____

15. Sedentary individuals, people who are not very active, often have diminished health.
a. immobile b. sleepy c. busy d. boring _____
 Earlier, Caesar’s men had tried and failed to invade Britain. No doubt this contributed to the
16.
xenophobia of the Romans. They were cautious about strangers who entered their country.
a. honesty b. fear of foreigners c. kindliness d. stubbornness _____
There is no doubt that the idea of living in such a benign climate was appealing. The
17.
islanders seemed to keep their vitality and live longer than Europeans.
a. tropical b. . favorable c. harsh d. warm _____

18. Ivan is a wonderful piano player, but Jerri is more versatile: she sings, acts, paints and
writes poetry, and also plays the piano.
a. confident b. skilled c. talented d. varied in abilities _____

19. Joan loves to buy exotic foods: vegetables and herbs from China, spices from India, olives
from Greece, and cheeses from France.
a. expensive & tasty b. highly seasoned c. amazing d. foreign & unusual _____

20. The decision Veronica made to study instead of going out for pizza with her friends was
prudent. She got an A on the exam, while her friends all got D’s.
a. anti-social b. careful and wise c. selfish and mean d. calculating _____

21. There is a large demand all over the United States for plants indigenous to the desert.
Many people in Arizona have made a good business of growing and selling cacti and
other local plants.
a. native b. necessary c. foreign d. alien _____

22. Emotionally disturbed people may be troubled by morbid thoughts. For instance, they may
often think about suicide or murder.
a. fun and exciting b. ill and unhappy c. scary d. gloomy and hopeless _____

23. The purpose of the psychiatrist is to mitigate the suffering of the patient.
a. make milder b. beautify c. increase d. banish _____

24. In Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge is visited by three spirits who
changed him into a generous man.
a. single and elderly b. unhappy c. stingy d. wealthy _____

25. My father died when I was a baby, but Mom told me so many stories about him that I feel I
knew him. For instance, one anecdote was about how he cried with joy when I was born.
a. joke b. biographical account c. example d. banish _____

26. Unlike his quiet and low key family, Brad is garrulous.
a. friendly b. sad c. talkative d. seaweed _____

27. The Asian gibbon, like other apes, is specially adapted for life in trees.
a. animal b. monkey c. tree d. gorilla _____

28. Maya’s quotation came from an obscure book that even the teacher had never heard of.
a. lengthy b. humorous c. not well known d. dusty _____

29. Brittany felt complacent about her schoolwork because she had done well on every test.
a. unhappy b. alarmed c. rushed d. satisfied _____

30. Unlike Chris who had played for many years, Angi was a novice on the court.
a. beginner b. champ c. friend d. teacher _____
31. A reading teacher must be prepared to deal with dyslexia and other decoding problems.
a. reading impairment b. hearing disorder c. memory failure d. pronunciation _____

32. Mike is rather withdrawn and subdued today and is rather lacking in his usual display of
energy and enthusiasm.
a. tired & stationary b. quiet & restrained c. active & loud friendly & outgoing _____

33. The boys were so ravenous that they gulped down all of the food and wanted more
a. extremely hungry b. rude c. happy d. appreciative _____

34. By studying her genealogy, Minnie discovered that she is a descendant of Stonewall
Jackson.
a. genetics b. biography c. family history d. political documents _____

35. The pears I picked looked succulent although many still on the tree looked hard and unripe.
a. green b. juicy c. firm d. large _____

36. After he had managed to elude his sister for several hours, Justin suddenly wondered why
she wanted to find him.
a. talk to b. run with c. avoid d. expect _____

37. Ms. Schepens is exemplary teacher just like my second grade teacher who made learning
fun even when the material was hard.
a. caring b. outstanding c. tough d. female _____

38. Whenever something bad happens to Jane, she ways it’s the fault of destiny. However, I
prefer to take charge of my own life rather than simply blaming fate.
a. bad luck b. poor planning c. evil actions d. uncontrollable events _____

39. A great many new edifices have spring up in the Westside business district, but the
impressive structures are , for the most part, quite a lot of the same
a. houses b. buildings c. areas d. neighborhoods _____

40. The books of William Shakespeare and Agatha Christie, two prolific writers, fill shelves in
most libraries.
a. poor b. very lucky c. well known d. abundantly productive _____
41. The body was interred at Midvale Cemetery.
a. buried b. visited c. delivered d. prepared _____

42. The king issued unreasonable decrees. Nevertheless, everyone had to obey his
commands
a. suggestions b. wishes c. arguments d. pronouncements _____

43. The frigid temperature of the water were enough to deter anyone from going swimming.
a. encourage b. discourage c. evacuate d. want _____

44. Intentionally hitting a batter with a baseball is an atrocious action.

a. thoughtless b. cruel c. acceptable d. unpleasant _____

45. The ambiguity of Joe’s directions made it almost impossible to find his house.
a. length b. thoroughness c. uncertainty d. certainty _____
46. The optometrist, unlike the ophthalmologist, cannot prescribe drugs or perform eye surgery.
a. pharmacist b. medical eye doctor c. technician d. prescriber of glasses _____
47. The great flood in The Bible was caused by incessant rain that fell for 40 days and nights.
a. nonstop b. infrequent c. heavy d. eventful _____

48. Since Doug is often rude, I wasn’t surprised that he was so insolent to the principal
a. disrespectful b. respectful c. secretive d. casual _____

49. The students who arrived late told an implausible story about stopping to watch a UFO
a. creative b. unlikely c. funny d. amazing _____

50. My father is on the brink of success like a musician who has just released his first single.
a. end b. beginning c. middle d. threshold _____
51. Even though the senator endorses Helen Mullins for governor, she does not approve of the
candidate’s tax plan.
a. opposes b. supports c. gives donations to d. ran against _____

52. Because the young boy wanted to learn about everything, he was very inquisitive.
a. quick b. smart c. curious d. noisy _____
53. When my older brother got home after his college class, he said, “I just escaped from a very
loquacious history professor. All he seemed to want was an audience.”
a. worried b. talkative c. grouchy d. boring _____
54. The music became louder and l louder at the finale of the piece, and then the audience
broke their silence.
a. meaning b. best art c. forgotten part d. finish _____

55. While it is true that the method and quality of cooking are excellent all over the South, Greg
Cleghorn thinks that the better cuisine is found the farther south ones goes.
a. food preparation style b. Southern cooking c. traditional cooking d. fried chicken _____
56. Although it was the only blemish on her otherwise perfect report card, Justine did not want
to her mother to see that she had gotten a D in social studies.
a. comment b. ink stain c. grade d. flaw _____

57. The constant noise of the blue jays was enough to incite the dog to bark at them.
a. frighten b. cause c. teach d. stop _____
58. The job candidate’s background was impeccable – he had good references and many years
of experience -- but the company did not give her the job.
a. troubled b. varied c. perfect d. imperfect _____
59. Like a cat sitting motionless and following every movement of a spider crawling up a wall,
Tonya was so mesmerized by the stage setting that she missed the action of the play.
a. amused b. bored c. fascinated d. put off _____

60. On paper the plan seemed certain of success; but when put into operation, it was a total fiasco.
a. delight b. disaster c. triumph d. disappointment _____

61. For Anna’s birthday, her mother threw her a lavish party with a live band and ice skating.
a. amazing b. fun c. very generous d. economical _____
62. Unlike his strong, healthy older brother, the baby was frail.
a. fat b. sad c. weak d. muscular _____
63. Nothing improved our moods that day. Everyone was surly, complaining and grumbling
about everything.
a. quiet b. desperate c. bad-tempered d. argumentative _____
64. If you are rude and inconsiderate to people, they will shun you.
a. avoid b. respect c. argue with d. praise _____
65. Thomas was a vindictive man; he seldom passed up an opportunity for revenge.
a. boastful b. truthful c. spiteful d. cruel _____
66. Several lustrous objects added to the brightness of the room, especially the glimmering
chrome sculpture, the glistening chandelier and the sparkling silver serving dishes.
a. expensive b. handmade c. shiny d. decorative _____
67. The sign beside the beautiful fountain in Rome read, “aqua non potable ;” those who failed
to pay attention to this admonition became ill.
a. message b. information c. invitation d. warning _____
68. We were cautious and only took travelers’ checks when we went to Europe because we
had heard about unwary tourists having their cash stolen by pickpockets.
a. careful b. adventurous c. unguarded d. typical _____
69. Marta Transit Authority curtailed its services to Eagle Point because there were few
passengers on the afternoon routes.
a. expanded b. reduced c. improved d. added _____
70. Some nations unwisely exploited their colonies, using up as much of the colonies’ wealth
and resources as possible.
a. enslaved b. took advantage of c. freed d. destroyed _____
71. Initially Adam confessed that he had stolen the car, but he later recanted his confession.
a. restated b. agreed to c. reinforced d. took back _____
72. Knowing that Mr. Finch was as treacherous as Benedict Arnold, Dr. Jeter refused to tell
him anything about the petition.
a. trustworthy b. traitorous c. dishonest d. patriotic _____
73. Since bills totaled $56 and we had $22 in our account, our treasurer reported a deficit of $34.
a. amount b. surplus c. loss d. shortage _____
74. The story was too somber; I prefer something with a more cheerful plot.
a. lengthy b. dull c. sad d. positive _____
75. By throwing gifts of food and flowers into the mouth of the rumbling volcano, the islanders
hoped to propitiate the angry god whose spirit they believed lived in the volcano.
a. feed b. satisfy c. stir up d. annoy _____
76. I was simply petrified with fright; I couldn’t move a muscle.
a. consumed b. terrified c. paralyzed d. excited _____
77. Jenny’s conscientious attention to detail, from forming every letter perfectly to spacing her
words out evenly, makes her handwriting a pleasure to read.
a. thorough b. casual c. occasional d. sloppy _____
78. Jacob made an indelible mark on the counter that had to be scrubbed off with alcohol.
a. long-lasting b. sticky c. unforgivable d. nasty _____
79. My mother became irate when I spilled paint on our new rug.
a. annoyed b. amused c. angry d. frustrated _____
80. In attacking the judge, the author of the article relied on innuendo. She did not accuse the
judge outright of taking bribes; instead, she merely suggested that he was somehow able to
live beyond his means.
a. facts b. hints c. humor d. comments _____
81. Although the land is bleak in many parts of Alaska , some small flowers carpet the ground
in early spring.
a. mountainous b. freezing c. barren d. pretty _____
82. Some loud, nasty people heckled the speaker.
a. complimented b. tricked c. befriended d. bothered _____
83. The opulence of the room impressed Taryn enormously. The tall, stately windows were
draped in velvet and costly Oriental carpets covered the beautiful hardwood floors.
a. richness b. sight c. shabbiness d. decoration _____
84. The young child wept as if he held the sorrow of the world in his heart; the dolorous sound
echoed through the halls in mournful waves of grief.
a. miserable b. sweet c. uncomfortable d. loud _____
85. My brother is such an avid reader that he would probably read the phone book if there
were nothing else available to read.
a. excellent b. skillful c. enthusiastic d. foolish _____
86. The prisoners liberated from the Nazi death camp were so emaciated that they looked like
skeletons.
a. undernourished b. thin c. hearty d. happy _____
87. Many unscrupulous people have tried to pass off worthless pieces of glass as genuine
precious and semi-precious stones.
a. skillful b. proper c. dishonest d. illegal _____
88. When buying a stone, people are wise to go to a reputable store, one that has been in
business for a long time and has a well-respected name.
a. department b. discount c. friendly d. trustworthy _____
89. Surprisingly, Jane – who is usually diffident – sang a solo at the concert.
a. confident b. shy c. tone-deaf d. irritable _____
90. Celestial bodies, including the sun, moon, and stars, have fascinated people through the
centuries.
a. earthly b. cosmic c. divine d. hard _____
91. No transient guests are given rooms on the first floor since these rooms are reserved for
the residents.
a. paying b. regular c. temporary d. difficult _____
92. The ancient city of Pompeii was buried by the catastrophic eruption of Mt. Vesuvius.
a. disastrous b. slight c. exciting d. eventful _____
93. After studying for hours, Jim’s eyes were tired; hence, he decided to take a short break and
stretch. After this respite, he was ready to study again.
a. time b. investigation c. nap d. interval _____
94. Marilyn has such an aversion to snakes that she cannot even look at a picture of one
without shuttering.
a. fascination b. fear c. strong dislike d. strong interest _____
95. My uncle is a stern sea captain. He seldom smiles and rarely has been known to laugh.
a. cruel b. jolly c. harsh d. easy going _____
96. Candidate Carl Burke has never held political office; still, he is more qualified than the
incumbent.
a. government employee b. office holder c. politician d. applicant _____
97. HTL solution should be kept out of the reach of children; its fuses are noxious.
a. smelly b. harmful c. fragrant d. strong _____
98. For Chandler, who had a bad case of opening-night jitters, the five minutes before the
curtain would go up seemed interminable; she was certain she would be standing there for
an eternity.
a. limited b. frightening c. endless d. regretful _____
99. The council said that the fire truck was more antiquated than a horse-drawn pump.
a. out-of-date b. useless c. ugly d. fashionable _____
100. Mr. Dill certainly believes in preparing for every contingency. For a 300-mile trip, he has
stored in his car a can of gas, two spare tires, a lantern and enough food for three days.
a. occasion b. possibility c. opportunity d. idea _____

101. Even a brave man would be somewhat fearful of testifying against a man who had
threatened his life; thus, it was understandable that the timid witness showed some
trepidation on the witness stand.
a. regret b. shyness c. delight d. dread _____
102. Sonya is dexterous at basketball, although she is clumsy and heavy-footed when dancing.
a. eager b. adept c. careless d. careful _____
103. Languages evolve over time, as you would see if you opened a book written in English 600
years ago and found you couldn’t understand it.
a. develop gradually b. increase in difficulty c. deteriorate d. improve _____
104. The tranquilized grizzly bear was lethargic enough for the scientists to safely examine his
teeth and tattoo his ears.
a. energetic b. tamed c. sluggish d. active _____
105. The walls of the dank cave were covered with a slimy green substance, and a foul odor
rose from the puddles of water in the crevices.
a. dark & dreary b. dangerous c. damp & sticky d. mysterious _____
106. Judge Banks was well know for his judicious decisions; in fact, he was often compared to
King Solomon because he exhibited a similar kind of wisdom.
a. unfair b. balanced c. favorable d. sensible _____
107. Unlike his older brother, who could meet anyone from the president of a club to the
President of the United States with grace and ease, Bill was quite inept in social situations.
a. appropriate b. incompetent c. clever d. skilled _____
108. Mr. Junkins had an invariable answer for every request: he would not sell his property.
a. negative b. serious c. consistent d. confusing _____
109. The old farmer was a taciturn man, who saved his words as carefully as a stingy person
guards his money. He only spoke when questioned and then responded briefly.
a. mean b. rich c. quiet d. serious _____
110. Mrs. Millers loves the tranquility, the peace and quiet, after her children have left for school.
a. chaos b. atmosphere c. freedom d. serenity _____
111. Pete Littlefield, the basketball team center, is six feet, five inches tall and weighs 210
pounds. His teammates call him "Shorty," an obvious misnomer.
a. insult b. practical joke c. inconsideration d. unsuitable name _____
112. Robert was certain that his car could make the trip; his father, however, was dubious since
it had been in the shop twice during the past six months for transmission problems.
a. unsure b. shocked c. opposed d. negative _____
113. While driving his father's new car, Mike was in a serious accident. People who saw the
accident corroborated his statement that he had been driving carefully.
a. laughed at b. excused c. verified d. challenged _____
114. Ms. Mitchell commented that I needed to be more specific in the body of my essay because
my ideas were too vague.
a. detailed b. creative c. indistinct d. descriptive _____
115. Bob's reaction to his new stepmother was ambivalent because he wanted to have faith in
his father’s judgment but he felt some distrust.
a. critical b. hesitant c. obvious d. negative _____