New Hampshire Foundations of Reading Practice Test

When encountering unknown vocabulary in context, what strategy should students employ?

1. Memorization of definitions

2. Guessing based on prior knowledge

3. Using context clues

4. Ignoring the unknown words

The correct answer is: Using context clues

Using context clues is a highly effective strategy for students when they come across unknown vocabulary in a text. Context clues can include surrounding words, phrases, or sentences that provide hints about the meaning of unfamiliar words. This approach allows students to infer meanings without having to memorize definitions or rely solely on their prior knowledge. For instance, if students encounter a word they don't know, they can look at the other words in the sentence or nearby sentences to piece together an approximate meaning. This method not only helps them understand the specific unknown word but also reinforces their overall reading comprehension skills. By learning to utilize context clues, students become more adept learners, enabling them to tackle new vocabulary independently and confidently. Other strategies like memorization of definitions may not foster critical thinking or the ability to understand words in different contexts, while guessing based on prior knowledge can lead to misconceptions. Ignoring unknown words altogether fails to enhance vocabulary acquisition and understanding of the text. Overall, leveraging context clues promotes active engagement with the material and enhances vocabulary development.