What is contextual clue? Context clues are words or phrases in
sentences that can help you to find the meaning of an unfamiliar word.
More than likely, you can figure out the meaning of new or unfamiliar
vocabulary by looking at the surrounding language.
There are four types of context clues. They are:
1. Antonym or contrast context clue
In this type, there are phrases or words that indicate opposite. There could be some words such as but, in contrast, however, instead of, unlikely, yet to give signal about the meaning of the word.
2. Definition or example context clue
In this type, there are phrases or words that define or explain the unfamiliar vocabulary. There are some words or phrases that can indicate this signal such as is defined as, means, and the term.
3. General knowledge
General knowledge here tells that the meaning is derived from the experience and background knowledge of the reader. Besides, common sense and logic of the reader are the other things that influence in giving help for the reader to get the exact meaning of the unfamiliar word.
4. Restatement or synonym clue
You can see that there is another word or phrase with the same or quit similar meaning is used. Some words to indicate it are in other words, that is, also known as, sometimes called, and or.
The use of
context clues in reading IELTS will be very beneficial. Initially, you
need to understand the context in which a phrase is stated. You also
need to find an answer choice that has similar phrase to the statement
in question. For instance, in the passage, what is implied by the phrase
“Completing all the questions in a mathematic test is hard to imagine
or just a piece of cake matter for him?”
You can find an answer
choice that describes the phrase “a piece of cake” by using it as the
key phrase. “a piece of cake” means that something is very easy to do.
Therefore, the correct answer will probably include some words that
indicate the same meaning. It could be just a form of rewording or
paraphrase of it.
References: http://www.mc.cc.md.us/faculty/~steuben/public_html/vocabularycontext.htm, IELTS Secrets, copyright 2002 by MO Media
