You can often work out an unfamiliar word from the text around it. Look for four kinds of clue, make a guess, then test it by putting it back into the sentence.
This lesson is part of SPM English reading short texts. The next skill is recognising paraphrase instead of identical words.
What are the four clues?
Check them in order and stop when you have enough clues.
- Part of speech. Does the word name a thing, an action or a quality? Its position in the sentence tells you.
- Contrast. Words like but, however and unlike signal an opposite meaning.
- Example or restatement. A comma, dash or “such as” after the word may explain it.
- Consequence. What happens because of the word? The result often shows its meaning.
Worked example from an original text
Read this short notice. The word to work out is dwindling.
The village library has been busy for decades. However, visitor numbers have been dwindling since the new shopping centre opened, and the librarian now sees only a handful of readers each afternoon. If the trend continues, the council may reduce its opening hours.
| Clue | What the text gives | Inference |
|---|---|---|
| Part of speech | “have been dwindling”, so it is an action | A verb meaning something happens to numbers |
| Contrast | “However” after “busy for decades” | The numbers now go the opposite way |
| Example | “only a handful of readers” | The numbers are small |
| Consequence | “may reduce its opening hours” | Fewer visitors, so less need for opening hours |
The guess is “becoming smaller”. Substitute it: “visitor numbers have been becoming smaller since the new shopping centre opened”. The sentence makes sense and fits the rest of the notice, so the guess holds.
The mistake that costs marks
The slip is to guess from a word that looks similar, such as reading “dwindling” as “dwelling” and guessing “staying”. That guess clashes with “However” and “only a handful of readers”.
The repair is to use the clues first and word shape second. A guess that fights with the text has to go, however familiar the word looks.
Check yourself
Work out reluctant from this sentence: “Farid was reluctant to speak in assembly, so he asked his friend to read the announcement instead.”
Answer
Reluctant means unwilling or hesitant. The consequence clue is “so he asked his friend to read it instead”, which shows that Farid did not want to speak himself.
Substitution check: “Farid was unwilling to speak in assembly, so he asked his friend to read the announcement instead.” The sentence works, so the guess is sound.
What to study next
Next, learn how answer options reword the text. Continue with recognising paraphrase instead of identical words, then try the reading short texts practice.
If you would like a teacher to go through your reading method with you, see online one-to-one English tuition.