Vocabulary and Language Use Flashcards

When reading an unfamiliar word, using the surrounding text to determine its meaning is called:

Answer: Context clues

Context clues are hints found within the surrounding text that help readers determine the meaning of unknown words.

A word that means the opposite of another word is called:

Answer: An antonym

Antonyms are words that have opposite meanings, such as 'hot' and 'cold.'

In the sentence 'The stern captain refused to smile,' the word 'stern' most likely means:

Answer: Strict and severe

Context clues from 'refused to smile' indicate that 'stern' here means strict or severe, not the nautical meaning.

The prefix 'mis-' in words like 'misunderstand' and 'mislead' means:

Answer: Wrongly or incorrectly

The prefix 'mis-' means wrongly or incorrectly, as in misunderstand (to understand incorrectly).

The denotation of a word refers to its:

Answer: Literal dictionary definition

Denotation is the literal, objective meaning of a word as found in a dictionary.

Which sentence correctly uses the word 'effect' as a noun?

Answer: The new law had a positive effect on crime rates.

'Effect' used as a noun means a result or outcome; 'affect' is typically the verb form meaning to influence.

The suffix '-ology' in words like 'biology' and 'psychology' means:

Answer: The study of

The suffix '-ology' comes from Greek and means 'the study of,' so biology means the study of life.