Vocabulary : Contextual Meaning of Words

PART-A

VOCABULARY

CHAPTER - 1

CONTEXTUAL MEANING OF WORDS

We listen to many words while speaking with others. We hear many familiar words and unfamiliar words. We guess the meaning of unfamiliar words from the context.

When we read, we come across many words. We feel comfortable with familiar words. If we come across unfamiliar words while reading, we can guess the meaning of those words from the context.

• Hence it is called "Contextual Meaning of Words".

• No word is independent when we use them in a sentence.

• To know a word really, we must be able to use it in context.

Other words throw a light on the meaning of a new word to some extent. It is our duty to check whether our guess is right or not from the dictionary.

Examples

Guess the meaning of the underlined word from the context:

1. The querulous child I babysit just won't stop bothering me until I let him play video games.'

a) Complaining

b) Joyful

c) Crying

d) Calm

Querulous - complaining

Clue:  let him play

 

2. Her transient thoughts of quitting her job are fleeting, lasting only as long as the weekly meeting she abhors.'

b) Abhors

c) Thoughts

a) Fleeting

d) Quitting

Ans: transient- fleeting.

Clue: fleeting

 

3. The snake slithered through the grass.

a) stopped moving

b) slept in the grass

c) ate something

d) moved or travelled

Ans: slithered - moved or travelled,

Clue: through

 

4. You can trust the salesman at that store because they always conduct business in an aboveboard manner.

a) sneaky

b) stealthily

c) honestly

d) strangely

Ans: honestly.

Clue: trust

 

5. Banu is gregarious since she has many friends:

a) introvert

b) extrovert

c) shy

d) hesitant

Ans: extrovert,

Clue: many friends

 

6. The lovely egret is in danger of extinction because clothing manufacturers use their long, beautiful tail feathers to make ladies' hats.

a) a small child

b) a type of fish

c) sound of a tiger

d) a type of a bird

Ans: a type of a bird.

Clue: feathers

 

7. The hill was too arduous for us to climb. We had to walk our bicycles up the hill.

a) tall

b) fun

c) easy

d) difficult

Ans : difficult

Clue: walk our bicycles up.

 

8. Rote learning is in practice among most of the students and this should be stopped.

a) mugging up

b) understanding

c) mis understanding

d) ambiguity

Ans: mugging up.

Clue: this should be stopped.

 

9. With bated breath, I gaze at the windows at night because of anxiety.

a) joyfully

b) nervously

c) eagerly

d) interestingly

Ans: nervously

Clue: anxiety

 

10. Russian's Vladimir Putin known otherwise for flaunting his machismo, showcased his softer side.

a) pride

b) humility

c) politeness

d) show off

Ans: show off

Clue: otherwise