Question

ghost vocabulary: context clue
determine which context clues help the reader understand the meaning of the underlined words.
chapters 1 - 5

1. after injuring her ankle, the basketball player staggered to the bench.

which context clues help the reader understand the meaning of the underlined word?
a) injuring her ankle b) basketball player c) to the bench

1. he loped along the trail through the forest and trotted into the park around the castle.

which context clues help the reader understand the meaning of the underlined word?
a) along the trail b) trotted c) to the park

1. the altercation began when the boy made a rude joke about his classmate.

which context clues help the reader understand the meaning of the underlined word?
a) the boy b) his classmate c) rude joke

1. kelsey was irritated by her mothers nonstop blathering about following the rules.

which context clues help the reader understand the meaning of the underlined word?
a) nonstop b) irritated c) following the rules

1. instead of leaving immediately after school, the students chose to loiter in the parking lot for a half hour.

which context clues help the reader understand the meaning of the underlined word?
a) instead of leaving b) after school c) parking lot

Explanation:

1. For the first question:

• The phrase “injuring her ankle” gives a reason for why the basketball player would move in a particular way (staggered). A basketball player with an injured ankle would likely move unsteadily, which helps define “staggered”.

1. For the second question:

• “Trotted” is a similar - motion verb. Since “loped” and “trotted” are in a parallel structure (both describe movement along a path), “trotted” can be used as a context clue to understand that “loped” is also a way of moving (a kind of running or moving with long strides).

1. For the third question:

• A “rude joke” is an action that can start an “altercation” (a heated argument or fight). The cause - effect relationship helps define “altercation”.

1. For the fourth question:

• “Nonstop” describes the nature of the “blathering”. If something is “nonstop”, it is continuous. So, “nonstop” helps define “blathering” (which is talking continuously in a somewhat annoying way).

1. For the fifth question:

• “Instead of leaving” sets up a contrast. If the students did not leave immediately, but stayed in the parking lot for half an hour, “Instead of leaving” helps define “loiter” (which means to stay in a place without a clear purpose, often when one is expected to move on).

Answer:

1. A. injuring her ankle
2. B. trotted
3. C. rude joke
4. A. nonstop
5. A. Instead of leaving