If a reader can deduce the meaning of an unfamiliar word from surrounding text, what skill are they using?

If a reader can deduce the meaning of an unfamiliar word from surrounding text, what skill are they using?

• A. Contextual inference
• B. Word etymology analysis
• C. Direct dictionary lookup
• D. Phonetic decoding

Answer: (A)

Using context clues to infer the meaning of an unfamiliar word is the skill being tested. Readers look at the surrounding sentences for hints—definitions, comparisons, examples, or the topic under discussion—to figure out what the word means without stopping to look it up. This approach keeps meaning tied to what the text already provides and enhances overall understanding. Word etymology analysis would involve the word’s origins, which isn’t determined by the nearby text. Direct dictionary lookup requires checking an external reference. Phonetic decoding focuses on sound and pronunciation, not meaning.

Using context clues to infer the meaning of an unfamiliar word is the skill being tested. Readers look at the surrounding sentences for hints—definitions, comparisons, examples, or the topic under discussion—to figure out what the word means without stopping to look it up. This approach keeps meaning tied to what the text already provides and enhances overall understanding.

Word etymology analysis would involve the word’s origins, which isn’t determined by the nearby text. Direct dictionary lookup requires checking an external reference. Phonetic decoding focuses on sound and pronunciation, not meaning.