🔍 Detailed Explanation of Determining the Meaning of Words Using Synonyms in Context
When you are reading a book or a passage in Year 6 English, sometimes you come across words that you don’t know. One really helpful way to work out the meaning of these unfamiliar words is by looking for synonyms in the sentence or the paragraph. A synonym is a word that means the same or almost the same as another word.
đź“š What Are Synonyms?
Synonyms are words that have similar meanings. For example, “happy” and “joyful” are synonyms because they both describe someone feeling good or pleased. Knowing about synonyms helps you understand the meaning of difficult words because if the sentence gives you one word you know, it can help you guess what the unknown word means.
đź“ť How Context Helps Determine Meaning
Context means the other words or sentences around the word you don’t understand. When you read carefully, often the sentence will include a synonym next to the tricky word or explain it in some way. This is sometimes called a “word clue” or “context clue”.
For example, look at this sentence:
“The ancient tree was colossal, or extremely large and tall.”
Here, the word “colossal” might be new to you, but the words “extremely large and tall” tell you what it means. These words act like a synonym, helping you understand “colossal.”
🛠️ Step-by-Step Guide to Using Synonyms to Understand Words
- Find the unknown word — Spot the word that you don’t know.
- Look at the nearby words — Check the sentence, and also the one before or after it.
- Search for synonyms or explanation — Find words or phrases that mean the same or explain the unknown word.
- Think about the meaning — Use the known word to guess the meaning of the unfamiliar one.
- Check if it makes sense in the sentence — Make sure your guess fits with what the sentence is trying to say.
🔎 Another Example
“The puppy was ecstatic, meaning it was very happy and excited.”
You might not know “ecstatic,” but the phrase “very happy and excited” helps you understand that “ecstatic” also means feeling very happy.
đź“– Link to the National Curriculum for English
The UK National Curriculum for Year 6 encourages students to expand their vocabulary and understand words in context. It expects students to use dictionaries and other reference materials, but also to develop skills in guessing word meanings by using clues from reading. Learning to determine the meaning of words using synonyms is part of developing reading comprehension and vocabulary, which is important for writing and speaking clearly.
By practising this skill, you can become more confident in reading tricky texts and enjoy discovering new words without always needing help. This fits exactly with the Year 6 goal of becoming a more independent reader and writer.
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Remember, using synonyms in context is like being a detective for words. Keep practising this skill whenever you read! 🔍
✏️ 20 Examination-Style Questions with Answers on Determining the Meaning of Words Using Synonyms in Context
Below are 20 questions designed for Year 6 students to help practise determining the meaning of words using synonyms in context. Each question contains a sentence or short passage with a word in bold. Use the surrounding words (context clues) or synonyms to figure out the meaning of the bold word. Answers explain how the meaning was worked out.
Question 1
The gigantic elephant moved slowly through the forest. It was enormous compared to the other animals.
What does gigantic mean?
Answer: Gigantic means very large or enormous. We can tell because it is compared to being enormous.
Question 2
She felt joyful when she won the race, happy and excited all day.
What does joyful mean?
Answer: Joyful means happy or excited. The sentence uses “happy and excited” as clues.
Question 3
The tree was ancient, hundreds of years old and very old-fashioned.
What does ancient mean?
Answer: Ancient means very old. We know this because the tree is said to be hundreds of years old.
Question 4
He was exhausted after running the marathon, feeling very tired and worn out.
What does exhausted mean?
Answer: Exhausted means very tired. The phrase “feeling very tired and worn out” helps explain it.
Question 5
The teacher was angry, upset and annoyed because the class was noisy.
What does angry mean?
Answer: Angry means upset or annoyed. The context gives those words.
Question 6
I saw a tiny mouse, very small and miniature compared to the cat.
What does tiny mean?
Answer: Tiny means very small. The words “very small and miniature” explain it.
Question 7
The weather was frigid, cold and freezing, so we stayed indoors.
What does frigid mean?
Answer: Frigid means very cold. The sentence uses “cold and freezing” as synonyms.
Question 8
Sarah’s voice was soft, quiet and gentle in the room.
What does soft mean?
Answer: Soft means quiet or gentle. The words “quiet and gentle” help us understand it.
Question 9
The story was exciting, thrilling and full of action.
What does exciting mean?
Answer: Exciting means thrilling or full of action. The synonyms are given in the sentence.
Question 10
He gave a brief explanation, short and to the point.
What does brief mean?
Answer: Brief means short. The phrase “short and to the point” makes it clear.
Question 11
The mountain was steep, with a sharp and nearly vertical slope.
What does steep mean?
Answer: Steep means sharp or nearly vertical. The description “sharp and nearly vertical slope” helps.
Question 12
The garden was lush, full of green and healthy plants.
What does lush mean?
Answer: Lush means full of healthy plants. “Full of green and healthy plants” gives the meaning.
Question 13
The kitten was playful, lively and full of fun.
What does playful mean?
Answer: Playful means lively or full of fun. The sentence says “lively and full of fun.”
Question 14
He was brave, showing courage and not afraid.
What does brave mean?
Answer: Brave means showing courage or not afraid. The context explains it directly.
Question 15
The cake was delicious, tasty and very nice to eat.
What does delicious mean?
Answer: Delicious means tasty. “Tasty and very nice to eat” tells us this.
Question 16
The night was peaceful, quiet and calm with no noise.
What does peaceful mean?
Answer: Peaceful means quiet and calm. The description “quiet and calm” helps.
Question 17
The new puppy was curious, eager to explore and discover things.
What does curious mean?
Answer: Curious means eager to explore or discover. The sentence says “eager to explore.”
Question 18
Her answer was correct, right and accurate according to the teacher.
What does correct mean?
Answer: Correct means right or accurate. The words “right and accurate” explain it.
Question 19
The meal was spicy, hot with strong flavours that made us cough.
What does spicy mean?
Answer: Spicy means hot and strong-flavoured. The phrase “hot with strong flavours” helps.
Question 20
The book was interesting, fun and exciting to read.
What does interesting mean?
Answer: Interesting means fun or exciting. The sentence contains these words as clues.
Use these practice questions to improve your skill in using synonyms and context clues to figure out unknown words. Remember to look carefully at the words around unfamiliar words for hints! 🔍📖
