TEN STEPS to
IMPROVING COLLEGE READING SKILLS
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SIXTH EDITION
TEN STEPS
to
IMPROVING
COLLEGE READING SKILLS
John Langan
© 2014 Townsend Press
1
Vocabulary in Context
CHAPTER 1 Vocabulary in Context
If you were asked to define the word adverse, you might
have some difficulty. On the other hand, if you saw this
word in a sentence, chances are you could come up with
a fairly accurate definition.
CHAPTER 1 Vocabulary in Context
Look at the sentence below and see if the context helps
you figure out the meaning of the word adverse.
The adverse effects of this drug, including dizziness,
nausea, and headaches, have caused it to be
withdrawn from the market.
Adverse means
A. artificial. B. harmful. C. energetic.
CHAPTER 1 Vocabulary in Context
The context helps you figure out that adverse means “harmful.”
The adverse effects of this drug, including dizziness,
nausea, and headaches, have caused it to be
withdrawn from the market.
Adverse means
A. artificial. B. harmful. C. energetic.
Dizziness, nausea, and headaches are harmful effects.
CHAPTER 1 Vocabulary in Context
Using context clues to understand the meaning of
unfamiliar words will help you in several ways.
1 It will save you time when reading. You will not have
to stop to look up words in the dictionary.
2 After you figure out the meaning of the same word
more than once through its context, it may become a
part of your working vocabulary. You will therefore
add to your vocabulary simply by reading thoughtfully.
3 It will give you a good sense of how a word is
actually used, including any shades of meaning it
might have.
CHAPTER 1 Vocabulary in Context
Types of Context Clues
There are four common types of context clues.
1 Examples
2 Synonyms
3 Antonyms
4 General Sense of
the Sentence or Passage
CHAPTER 1 Vocabulary in Context
Types of Context Clues
1 Examples
Examples may suggest the meaning of an unknown word.
CHAPTER 1 Vocabulary in Context
Types of Context Clues / 1 Examples
See if the example in this cartoon helps you figure out the
meaning of the word initiative.
The word initiative means
A. anger.
B. will power.
C. ability to take
charge.
CHAPTER 1 Vocabulary in Context
Types of Context Clues / 1 Examples
The example of the cats’ having initiative—chasing mice—
helps you understand that initiative means “ability to take
charge.”
The word initiative means
A. anger.
B. will power.
C. ability to take
charge.
Example
CHAPTER 1 Vocabulary in Context
Types of Context Clues / 1 Examples
Examples are often introduced with signal words and phrases
like for example, for instance, including, and such as.
r a se
a l ph
n
Sig
The adverse effects of this drug, including dizziness, Examples
nausea, and headaches, have caused it to be
withdrawn from the market.
CHAPTER 1 Vocabulary in Context
Types of Context Clues / 1 Examples
In the sentence below, the italicized word is followed by examples
that serve as context clues for that word. These examples, which are
boldfaced, will help you figure out the meaning of the word.
What is the meaning of the word mundane?
Mundane activities such as doing the laundry or dishes
or going food shopping or reading the newspaper all
help me relax.
Mundane means
A. exciting. B. painful. C. ordinary.
CHAPTER 1 Vocabulary in Context
Types of Context Clues / 1 Examples
The three activities referred to are examples of mundane
or ordinary activities.
Mundane activities such as doing the laundry or dishes
or going food shopping or reading the newspaper all
help me relax.
Mundane means
A. exciting. B. painful. C. ordinary.
CHAPTER 1 Vocabulary in Context
Types of Context Clues / 1 Examples
The three activities referred to are examples of mundane
or ordinary activities. Notice the signal phrase that
introduces the examples.
Mundane activities such as doing the laundry or dishes
or going food shopping or reading the newspaper all
help me relax.
C. ordinary.
CHAPTER 1 Vocabulary in Context
Types of Context Clues
2 Synonyms
Context clues are often available in the form of a synonym:
a word that means the same or almost the same as the
unknown word.
A synonym may appear anywhere in a passage to provide the
same meaning as the unknown word.
CHAPTER 1 Vocabulary in Context
Types of Context Clues / 2 Synonyms
In the cartoon below, what word does the man use that
tells you the meaning of the word terminate?
© Randy Glasbergen. www.glasbergen.com
CHAPTER 1 Vocabulary in Context
Types of Context Clues / 2 Synonyms
The synonym that
helps you understand
the meaning of
terminate is end.
© Randy Glasbergen. www.glasbergen.com
Synonym
CHAPTER 1 Vocabulary in Context
Types of Context Clues / 2 Synonyms
In the sentence below, what is the synonym of the
word flippant?
As soon as I made a flippant remark to my
boss, I regretted sounding so disrespectful.
CHAPTER 1 Vocabulary in Context
Types of Context Clues / 2 Synonyms
As soon as I made a flippant remark to my
boss, I regretted sounding so disrespectful.
The synonym of flippant is “disrespectful.” The word
disrespectful tells you the meaning of flippant.
CHAPTER 1 Vocabulary in Context
Types of Context Clues
3 Antonyms
An antonym—a word that means the opposite of another
word—is also a useful context clue.
Antonyms are sometimes signaled by words and phrases
such as however, but, yet, on the other hand, instead of, and
in contrast.
CHAPTER 1 Vocabulary in Context
Types of Context Clues / 3 Antonyms
I prefer the occasional disturbance of ear-splitting
thunder to the incessant dripping of our kitchen sink.
In the sentence above, the word occasional is an antonym
that helps us realize that the word incessant means
“nonstop.”
CHAPTER 1 Vocabulary in Context
Types of Context Clues / 3 Antonyms
I prefer the occasional disturbance of ear-splitting
thunder to the incessant dripping of our kitchen sink.
incessant = nonstop
In the sentence above, the word occasional is an antonym
that helps us realize that the word incessant means
“nonstop.”
CHAPTER 1 Vocabulary in Context
Types of Context Clues / 3 Antonyms
In the cartoon below, what antonym helps you figure out
what the word amplifies means?
CHAPTER 1 Vocabulary in Context
Types of Context Clues / 3 Antonyms
The antonym lowers
helps you figure out
that amplifies must
mean “increases.”
increases
CHAPTER 1 Vocabulary in Context
Types of Context Clues / 3 Antonyms
In the sentence below, use the antonym to help you
figure out the meaning of the word salutary.
Many people have pointed out the harmful effects that a working mother
may have on the family, yet there are many salutary effects as well.
Salutary means
A. well-known. B. beneficial. C. hurtful.
CHAPTER 1 Vocabulary in Context
Types of Context Clues / 3 Antonyms
Salutary is the opposite of harmful, so the answer is beneficial.
Many people have pointed out the harmful effects that a working mother
may have on the family, yet there are many salutary effects as well.
Salutary means
A. well-known. B. beneficial. C. hurtful.
CHAPTER 1 Vocabulary in Context
Types of Context Clues / 3 Antonyms
Salutary is the opposite of harmful, so the answer is beneficial.
Note the word that signals the antonym.
Many people have pointed out the harmful effects that a working mother
may have on the family, yet there are many salutary effects as well.
B. beneficial.
CHAPTER 1 Vocabulary in Context
Types of Context Clues
4 General Sense of the Sentence or Passage
Sometimes it takes a bit more detective work to puzzle out
the meaning of an unfamiliar word.
In such cases, you must draw conclusions based on the
information given with the word.
Asking yourself questions about the passage may help
you make a fairly accurate guess about the meaning of
the unfamiliar word.
CHAPTER 1 Vocabulary in Context
Types of Context Clues / 4 General Sense of the Sentence or Passage
Can you figure out the meaning of the word alleviate in this cartoon?
CHAPTER 1 Vocabulary in Context
Types of Context Clues / 4 General Sense of the Sentence or Passage
To figure out the meaning of alleviate, try asking this question:
What would the patient want the prescription to do to his aches
and pains?
CHAPTER 1 Vocabulary in Context
Types of Context Clues / 4 General Sense of the Sentence or Passage
To figure out the meaning of alleviate, try asking this question:
What would the patient want the prescription to do to his aches
and pains? The patient’s words to his doctor strongly suggest
that alleviate means “lessen.”
CHAPTER 1 Vocabulary in Context
Types of Context Clues / 4 General Sense of the Sentence or Passage
Use the question below the sentence to help you figure
out the meaning of the word fiasco.
The car wash we organized to raise funds was a fiasco—
it rained all day.
(How successful would a carwash be on a rainy day?)
Fiasco means
A. great financial B. welcome C. complete
success. surprise. disaster.
CHAPTER 1 Vocabulary in Context
Types of Context Clues / 4 General Sense of the Sentence or Passage
The sentence provides enough evidence for you to guess
that fiasco means “complete disaster.” A carwash on a
rainy day would be a complete disaster.
The car wash we organized to raise funds was a fiasco—
it rained all day.
Fiasco means
A. great financial B. welcome C. complete
success. surprise. disaster.
CHAPTER 1 Vocabulary in Context
Types of Context Clues / 4 General Sense of the Sentence or Passage
The sentence provides enough evidence for you to guess
that fiasco means “complete disaster.” A carwash on a
rainy day would be a complete disaster.
The car wash we organized to raise funds was a fiasco—
it rained all day.
Fiasco means
A. great financial B. welcome C. complete
success. surprise. disaster.
CHAPTER 1 Vocabulary in Context
Types of Context Clues
An Important Note about Textbook Definitions
Very often, textbook authors define important terms. Also,
after giving a definition, authors usually follow it with one or
more examples to ensure that you understand the new term.
CHAPTER 1 Vocabulary in Context
Types of Context Clues / An Important Note about Textbook Definitions
In the passage below, the author has defined the term
displacement.
Definition People do not always satisfy their needs directly; sometimes
they use a substitute object. Use of a substitute is known as
Term displacement. This is the process that takes place, for instance,
when you control your impulse to yell at your boss and then go
home and yell at the first member of your family who is unlucky
enough to cross your path.
CHAPTER 1 Vocabulary in Context
Types of Context Clues / An Important Note about Textbook Definitions
In the passage below, the author has defined the term
The author then gives an example of the term.
displacement.
Definition People do not always satisfy their needs directly; sometimes
they use a substitute object. Use of a substitute is known as
Term displacement. This is the process that takes place, for instance, Example
when you control your impulse to yell at your boss and then go
home and yell at the first member of your family who is unlucky
enough to cross your path.
CHAPTER 1 Vocabulary in Context
Types of Context Clues / An Important Note about Textbook Definitions
Textbook authors, then, often do more than provide context
clues: they define a word, set it off in italic or boldface type,
and provide examples as well.
Definition People do not always satisfy their needs directly; sometimes
they use a substitute object. Use of a substitute is known as
Term displacement. This is the process that takes place, for instance,
when you control your impulse to yell at your boss and then go
Example home and yell at the first member of your family who is unlucky
enough to cross your path.
CHAPTER 1 Vocabulary in Context
