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Using Context Clues to Define Vocabulary

Text Version

Excerpt: But little rain falls in Assyria, enough, however, to make the corn begin to sprout, after which the plant is nourished and the ears formed by means of irrigation from the river. For the river does not, as in Egypt, overflow … but is spread over them by the hand, or by the help of engines. The whole of Babylonia is, like Egypt, intersected with canals. The largest of them all, which runs towards the winter sun, and is impassable except in boats, is carried from the Euphrates into another stream, called the Tigris, the river … Of all the countries that we know there is none which is so fruitful in grain … Babylonia must seem incredible to those who have never visited the country.”

Narrator: Context clues are words or phrases in a text that give a hint about the meaning of an unknown word. To learn how to use context clues to define unknown terms, let’s look for words you may not know in “The History of the Persian Wars.”

(Visual description: the entire excerpt is displayed on the screen: “But little rain falls in Assyria, enough, however, to make the corn begin to sprout, after which the plant is nourished and the ears formed by means of irrigation from the river. For the river does not, as in Egypt, overflow … but is spread over them by the hand, or by the help of engines. The whole of Babylonia is, like Egypt, intersected with canals. The largest of them all, which runs towards the winter sun, and is impassable except in boats, is carried from the Euphrates into another stream, called the Tigris, the river… Of all the countries that we know there is none which is so fruitful in grain … Babylonia must seem incredible to those who have never visited the country.” Accompanying the excerpt is the image of an old map showing rivers with plantation and structures along them. The map is a French Map in the 17th Century showing the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. The words “Context Clues” appear briefly in the foreground of the faded excerpt. Then, the words “The History of the Persian Wars” appear across the screen to highlight the title of the video.)

Narrator: Find the term irrigation in the first sentence. 

(Visual description: the first sentence of the excerpt is displayed on the screen: “But little rain falls in Assyria, enough, however, to make the corn begin to sprout, after which the plant is nourished and the ears formed by means of irrigation from the river.”)

Narrator: This term is often found in sources that explain farming. 

(Visual description: the word “irrigation” is highlighted.)

Narrator: It is defined as: The manmade supplying of water to plants or crops in areas of low rainfall or drought. 

(Visual description: the word “irrigation” remains on the screen, while in the background an image of a water wheel pump for irrigation showing an ancient Syrian irrigation system appears. Then, this definition appears below the word “irrigation”: the manmade supplying of water to plants or crops in areas of low rainfall or drought.)

Narrator: See if you can identify how the meaning of irrigation is shown in the context of the passage.

(Visual description: the following passage is displayed on screen: “But little rain falls in Assyria, enough, however, to make the corn begin to sprout, after which the plant is nourished and the ears formed by means of irrigation from the river. For the river does not, as in Egypt, overflow … but is spread over them by the hand, or by the help of engines.”)

Narrator: If you do not understand the meaning of irrigation, you can use the sentence in which it is used, or the sentence before or after where the term appears, to look for context clues.

(Visual description: the second sentence of the passage fades from the screen to highlight the first sentence that contains the word “irrigation”. When the second sentence reappears, the first sentence fades to demonstrate the sentence before or after where the term appears.)

Narrator: We know from the start of the sentence that the topic is rain and the farming of corn.  We know from the end of the sentence that irrigation is “from the river.”   And finally, the end of the sentence explains that “the river” and its water is spread by hand …

(Visual description: the entire passage is displayed again on the screen. Then, the passage fades out while the following words remain on screen: “But little rain falls in Assyria,” followed by “to make the corn begin to sprout,” and “irrigation from the river.” Then, the words “irrigation” and “the river” remain on the screen, followed by the following words appearing: “is spread over them by the hand.”)

Narrator: Now let’s look at a different term and use context clues to define it. Find the word engines in the passage. 

(Visual description: the entire passage reappears on screen: “But little rain falls in Assyria, enough, however, to make the corn begin to sprout, after which the plant is nourished and the ears formed by means of irrigation from the river. For the river does not, as in Egypt, overflow … but is spread over them by the hand, or by the help of engines.” Then, the word “engines” is highlighted.)

Narrator: We know the topic of the passage is rain and the farming of corn. We know that irrigation is “from the river.” We know that “the river” and its water are spread by hand.  Therefore, engines must refer to a manmade attempt to spread water not by hand, but by some type of basic machine.

(Visual description: the passage fades out while the following words remain on the screen: “But little rain falls in Assyria,” “to make the corn begin to sprout,” and “engines.” The word “engines” remain on screen while all other words fade from the screen. Then, the following words appear: “irrigation from the river,” followed by “the river,” and “is spread over them by hand.” Then, the entire passage is replaced by an image of a canal. The word “engines” overlays the image, and the following definition appears below: refers to a manmade attempt to spread water by some type of basic machine.)

Narrator: On tests, multiple choice questions often ask you to identify the meaning of a term as it is used in a passage. This is another way of asking you to identify the term in its context. Before asking the question, define the term the best you can using context clues.

(Visual description: The following passage from the excerpt is displayed on the screen: “The whole of Babylonia is, like Egypt, intersected with canals. The largest of them all, which runs towards the winter sun, and is impassable except in boats, is carried from the Euphrates into another stream, called the Tigris, the river… Of all the countries that we know there is none which is so fruitful in grain … Babylonia must seem incredible to those who have never visited the country.” The following multiple choice question is displayed below the passage: “Which of the following terms is closest to the meaning of canals as it is used in the passage? A. Roadblock; B. Waterway; C. Highway; and D. Cornfield.”)

Narrator: First, examine the text and try to define the meaning of the term canals as it is used in the passage.

(Visual description: the multiple choice question disappears, leaving the passage on the screen. Then the remaining passage fades from the screen while the word “canals” is highlighted.)

Narrator: Using context clues, we know that the topic of the passage is rain, and the supply of water to plants or crops using irrigation. Therefore, canals must have to do with supplying water.

(Visual description: the entire excerpt, including the passage on irrigation appears on the screen: “But little rain falls in Assyria, enough, however, to make the corn begin to sprout, after which the plant is nourished and the ears formed by means of irrigation from the river. For the river does not, as in Egypt, overflow … but is spread over them by the hand, or by the help of engines. The whole of Babylonia is, like Egypt, intersected with canals. The largest of them all, which runs towards the winter sun, and is impassable except in boats, is carried from the Euphrates into another stream, called the Tigris, the river… Of all the countries that we know there is none which is so fruitful in grain … Babylonia must seem incredible to those who have never visited the country.” Then, the following words are highlighted while the rest of the passage fades from the screen: “rain,” “irrigation,” and “canals.”)

Narrator: The largest canals are described as requiring boats to pass, and they are supplied with water by two rivers: the Tigris and the Euphrates.

(Visual description: the image of two men paddling a canoe along a canal is displayed on screen. The canal shown is Iraq’s Glory Canal, and the image is meant to portray that modern-day Iraq is where ancient Mesopotamia was located. Overlaying the image is the word “canals” and the following definition that appears below: “The largest canals are described as requiring boats to pass. They are supplied with water by two rivers: the Tigris and the Euphrates.”)

Narrator: It is important to focus on the meaning of the passage and its vocabulary. This helps prevent readers from being confused or distracted by the multiple choice options that follow the passage.

(Visual description: the passage on canals reappears on the screen: “The whole of Babylonia is, like Egypt, intersected with canals. The largest of them all, which runs towards the winter sun, and is impassable except in boats, is carried from the Euphrates into another stream, called the Tigris, the river… Of all the countries that we know there is none which is so fruitful in grain … Babylonia must seem incredible to those who have never visited the country.”)

Narrator: Now examine the multiple choice question that is paired with the passage.

(Visual description: the multiple choice question replaces the passage on the screen: “Which of the following terms is closest to the meaning of canals as it is used in the passage? A. Roadblock; B. Waterway; C. Highway; and D. Cornfield.”)

Narrator: The best answer is “B. Waterway.” Canals do not block travel, so A is incorrect; C is the second best answer but not the best answer. Although canals were used as highways to transport people and goods, highways are generally used by cars and trucks; D is incorrect because canals aided cornfields by bringing them water – cornfields were the destination of the canals.

(Visual description: the answer B. Waterway is circled, while the answers A. Roadblock; C. Highway; and D. Cornfield are crossed out.”)

Narrator: Using context clues can help you identify the meaning of important vocabulary, and answer the multiple choice question.

(Visual description: the entire excerpt appears on the screen, accompanied by the image of an old map showing rivers with plantation and structures along them. The map is a French Map in the 17th Century showing the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.)