To determine a word's meaning from context, you should first

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Multiple Choice

To determine a word's meaning from context, you should first

When you hit an unfamiliar word, the best first move is to use the surrounding sentences to infer its meaning, then check a dictionary to confirm and refine that sense. Context clues—definitions, examples, contrasts, or explanations nearby—help you see how the word functions in the sentence and what nuance it carries. Verifying with a definition afterwards locks in the precise meaning and prevents drift from one synonym’s shade of meaning to another. Relying on a synonym from a thesaurus can mislead if the word in the text has a specific nuance that a close synonym doesn’t capture. Guessing from spelling isn’t reliable either, since many words look similar but have different meanings. Ignoring context altogether guarantees a guess that’s disconnected from how the author uses the word. By inferring from context and then verifying with definitions, you combine inferential skill with factual accuracy.

When you hit an unfamiliar word, the best first move is to use the surrounding sentences to infer its meaning, then check a dictionary to confirm and refine that sense. Context clues—definitions, examples, contrasts, or explanations nearby—help you see how the word functions in the sentence and what nuance it carries. Verifying with a definition afterwards locks in the precise meaning and prevents drift from one synonym’s shade of meaning to another.

Relying on a synonym from a thesaurus can mislead if the word in the text has a specific nuance that a close synonym doesn’t capture. Guessing from spelling isn’t reliable either, since many words look similar but have different meanings. Ignoring context altogether guarantees a guess that’s disconnected from how the author uses the word. By inferring from context and then verifying with definitions, you combine inferential skill with factual accuracy.

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