📚 Detailed Explanation of Use Guide Words
Guide words are the words you see at the top of a dictionary page. They help you find words more quickly by showing the first and last words listed on that page. For example, if the guide words at the top of a page are “apple” and “apron,” you know every word on that page will come between those two in alphabetical order.
Guide words are important because a dictionary has thousands of words. Without them, it would take a long time to find the word you need. By checking the guide words, you can skip pages that don’t have your word, saving time and making searching easier.
To use guide words effectively, first think about the word you want to find. Then look at the guide words at the top of each page and decide if your word should be on that page. For example, if you want to find the word “cat,” and a page’s guide words are “car” and “city,” then “cat” should be on that page because it comes between “car” and “city” alphabetically.
Practice this by trying to find words using guide words in a dictionary in your classroom or at home. This skill matches the Year 6 English curriculum in the UK, which encourages using dictionaries and reference materials to improve spelling, vocabulary, and reading skills.
Remember, guide words help you become quicker and more confident in using a dictionary, an important skill for your learning! ✨
📝 20 Examination-Style Questions with Answers on Use Guide Words for Year 6
What Are Guide Words? 🤔
Guide words appear at the top of dictionary pages to help you find words quickly. Each page shows two guide words: the first word on that page (the lower guide word) and the last word on that page (the upper guide word). This helps you know if the word you want is on that page.
Questions on Use Guide Words
Look at these guide words: apple – banana
Which word would NOT appear on this dictionary page?
a) apricot
b) ant
c) ball
d) bat
Answer: c) ball
Explanation: “Ball” comes after “banana” alphabetically, so it is not on the page with guide words apple – banana.
If the guide words are cat – dog, the word “car” would be found on this page.
Answer: True
Explanation: “Car” comes after “cat” and before “dog,” so it would be on this page.
If the lower guide word is fish and the upper guide word is frog, will the word flower be found on this page? _______
Answer: No
Explanation: “Flower” comes before “fish” alphabetically, so it would be on a different page.
The guide words on a dictionary page are lion and lizard. Would the word “leopard” be found on this page? Explain.
Answer: Yes, because “leopard” comes between “lion” and “lizard” alphabetically.
Guide words: moon – mountain
Which word belongs on this page?
a) mouse
b) mound
c) mop
d) mount
Answer: d) mount
Explanation: “Mount” comes alphabetically between “moon” and “mountain”.
The word “zebra” will be found on the page with guide words yak – zebra.
Answer: True
Explanation: Since “zebra” is the upper guide word, it will appear on that page.
The guide words are book – boot. Is the word “bottle” on this page? _______
Answer: No
Explanation: “Bottle” comes after “boot” alphabetically.
Explain what guide words help you to do when using a dictionary.
Answer: Guide words help you find where a word is located quickly by showing the first and last words on that page.
If a dictionary page has guide words drink – dry, which word will NOT be found on this page?
a) drum
b) drive
c) drop
d) duck
Answer: d) duck
Explanation: “Duck” comes before “drink”.
If the guide words are around – avoid, the word “awkward” will be on this page.
Answer: True
Explanation: “Awkward” comes between “around” and “avoid.”
Guide words: garden – gaze
Would the word “gate” be on this page? _______
Answer: Yes
Explanation: “Gate” is between “garden” and “gaze”.
If you are looking for the word “umbrella” and the page shows guide words umbrella – unwell, is this the right page to find the word? Why?
Answer: Yes, because the word “umbrella” is the lower guide word and will be on this page.
Guide words: hope – host
Which of these words is found on this page?
a) hot
b) house
c) hop
d) hospital
Answer: c) hop
Explanation: “Hop” is between “hope” and “host.”
If a page’s guide words are joke – join, the word “jog” will not be on this page.
Answer: False
Explanation: “Jog” comes between “joke” and “join”.
The guide words are laugh – lawn. Would “laser” be found here? _______
Answer: No
Explanation: “Laser” comes after “lawn”.
Why is it useful to check guide words before looking up a word?
Answer: It saves time by showing if the word is on that page or if you need to look somewhere else.
On a page with guide words quick – quiet, which of these words appears?
a) quiz
b) quit
c) quilt
d) quote
Answer: b) quit
Explanation: “Quit” is between “quick” and “quiet”.
Guide words always help you find the exact meaning of a word.
Answer: False
Explanation: Guide words only help to find the word’s page; you still need to read the definitions.
If the guide words are zinc – zoo, will the word “zone” be on this page? _______
Answer: Yes
Explanation: “Zone” is between “zinc” and “zoo.”
How can guide words help you when you are doing a spelling test?
Answer: Guide words can help you find the correct spelling by quickly directing you to the right page in the dictionary.
Use these questions to practise how to use guide words in a dictionary. Remember, guide words help you find words quickly and effectively! 🎉
