Working out Word Meanings
One of the most important skills needed for comprehension is understanding what words mean. Our knowledge of words begins long before we can even speak, let alone read, but when it comes to word meanings there are two challenges we face - words can have more than one meaning and there are so many words, so how do we remember them all and how do we know the meaning of words we have never heard of before? The solution is to work it out by looking at:
1. the words in the same sentence
2. the words in the sentences before and after it.
3. substituting multiple choice answers for the word or words in question (if answering a multiple choice question).
The other words in the same or surrounding sentences may have clues such as:
· definitions eg. The thorax contains important organs for a mammal. Between the neck and abdomen, it contains organs needed for circulation and respiration. (The thorax is a body part of mammals between the neck and abdomen.)
· synonyms eg. The little boy was anxious, never having felt so worried and nervous before. (Anxious means feeling worried and nervous.)
· antonyms eg. My family wants to knock down our house and build a duplex. I like our house and don’t want to have it knocked down, especially because I would prefer to live in a house with only one home and no central wall. (Duplexes have more than one home and a central wall. As only one central wall is referred to you can work out that duplexes must be houses with two homes.)
· words showing similarity or difference eg. We heard there were many sceptics, but also a number of believers. (The word but indicates contrasting information, so sceptics probably means people who don’t believe, who doubt something.)
Comprehension Tests
Comprehension tests may ask questions about the meaning of words. In tests you need to:
1. Read the question carefully and make sure you know which word meaning you are being asked about.
2. Underline the word or words in the text. Read the sentence that contains the word or words.
3. If you can't work out the meaning from the sentence, read the sentence before and after it.
4. If you still can't work out the meaning, read the whole paragraph.
5. If it is a multiple choice question, read the sentence the word or words are in and replace the word or words with the meanings you have been given in the answers. Think about each of the meanings in the sentence and see which one sounds right and makes the most sense.
1. the words in the same sentence
2. the words in the sentences before and after it.
3. substituting multiple choice answers for the word or words in question (if answering a multiple choice question).
The other words in the same or surrounding sentences may have clues such as:
· definitions eg. The thorax contains important organs for a mammal. Between the neck and abdomen, it contains organs needed for circulation and respiration. (The thorax is a body part of mammals between the neck and abdomen.)
· synonyms eg. The little boy was anxious, never having felt so worried and nervous before. (Anxious means feeling worried and nervous.)
· antonyms eg. My family wants to knock down our house and build a duplex. I like our house and don’t want to have it knocked down, especially because I would prefer to live in a house with only one home and no central wall. (Duplexes have more than one home and a central wall. As only one central wall is referred to you can work out that duplexes must be houses with two homes.)
· words showing similarity or difference eg. We heard there were many sceptics, but also a number of believers. (The word but indicates contrasting information, so sceptics probably means people who don’t believe, who doubt something.)
Comprehension Tests
Comprehension tests may ask questions about the meaning of words. In tests you need to:
1. Read the question carefully and make sure you know which word meaning you are being asked about.
2. Underline the word or words in the text. Read the sentence that contains the word or words.
3. If you can't work out the meaning from the sentence, read the sentence before and after it.
4. If you still can't work out the meaning, read the whole paragraph.
5. If it is a multiple choice question, read the sentence the word or words are in and replace the word or words with the meanings you have been given in the answers. Think about each of the meanings in the sentence and see which one sounds right and makes the most sense.