Reading: Vocabulary in Context: B1 Lesson 1: Inferring Meaning of Unfamiliar Vocabulary from Contextual Clues (synonyms, antonyms, examples)

Reading: Vocabulary in Context B1

Inferring Meaning of Unfamiliar Vocabulary from Contextual Clues

Listen to the reading passage and examples.

What you will learn: By the end of this lesson, you will be able to infer (guess) the meaning of unfamiliar words by finding three types of clues: synonyms, antonyms, and examples.

Before You Read 🧠

Key Concepts (Click 🔊)

Let's learn the tools for this lesson.

To Infer (Meaning)

| ទាយអត្ថន័យ

To guess the meaning of a word using information around it.

Context (Clue)

| បរិបទ (តម្រុយ)

The words, sentences, and ideas surrounding a word that help explain its meaning.

Three Common Clues to Look For

You don't need a dictionary for every word. The answers are often hidden in the sentence itself. Look for these three types of clues.

Clue 1: Synonyms (or Restatement)

The sentence explains the word using a similar word or phrase, often using commas (,) or the word "or".

"He was exhausted, or completely tired after the long trip."

(Clue: "completely tired" means the same as exhausted.)

Clue 2: Antonyms (or Contrast)

The sentence shows the *opposite* meaning, often using words like "but", "not", "unlike", or "however".

"She wasn't friendly; in fact, she was very aloof."

(Clue: aloof is the opposite of "friendly".)

Clue 3: Examples

The sentence gives a list of examples that help you understand the *category* of the word, often using "such as", "like", or "for example".

"He loved feline animals, such as lions, tigers, and house cats."

(Clue: feline must mean "related to cats".)

Reading Practice Story

Read the story below. Try to guess the meaning of the bold words using the clues in the text.

Visiting the local market in Siem Reap is an amazing experience. The entire place is vibrant—full of bright colors, loud noises, and hundreds of busy people.

The air is aromatic. The wonderful smell of spices, like lemongrass and galangal, mixes with the scent of fresh mangoes.

I love trying new things, but I was reluctant to eat the fried spiders. I wanted to be brave, but I just couldn't do it; I was too scared!

Practice What You Learned 🎯

Practice Quiz: Find the Clue & Meaning

Read the sentences and answer the questions. Click "Check Answers" when you're done.

"He was gregarious, not shy at all."

1. What type of clue is used here?

• A) Synonym
• B) Antonym (Contrast)
• C) Example

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"The market sold all kinds of produce, including fruits, vegetables, and herbs."

2. What does produce most likely mean?

• A) Books and pens
• B) Fresh food from a farm
• C) Clothes and shoes

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"I was reluctant to eat the fried spiders. I was too scared!" (from the story)

3. What does reluctant mean?

• A) Happy and excited
• B) Very hungry
• C) Unwilling or hesitant

Key Vocabulary Reference (Click 🔊)

• Vibrant (Adjective) | រស់រវើក, មាន​ពណ៌​ស្រស់
  Full of energy, life, and bright colors.
• Aromatic (Adjective) | មានក្លិនក្រអូប
  Having a pleasant and strong smell.
• Reluctant (Adjective) | ស្ទាក់ស្ទើរ
  Unwilling and hesitant; not wanting to do something.
• Gregarious (Adjective) | រួសរាយរាក់ទាក់
  Fond of company; sociable and friendly.
• Produce (Noun) | ផលិតផលកសិកម្ម
  Things that have been grown, especially farm food like fruits and vegetables.

Your Reading Mission ⭐

Become a Word Detective!

1. This week, find an English news article or short story online (e.g., VOA Learning English, BBC).
2. Read until you find one word you do not know.
3. Do not use a dictionary. Instead, read the sentences before and after the word.
4. Try to find a Synonym, Antonym, or Example clue. Write down your "guess" for the word's meaning.
5. *After* you guess, you can check your answer with a dictionary.