What information helps readers figure out the meaning of an unfamiliar word?

• A. Information from the clues that hint at a word's meaning
• B. A type of punctuation mark
• C. The main theme of the story
• D. The author's name

Answer: (A)

Figuring out an unfamiliar word comes from using context clues—the hints tucked into nearby words and sentences that point to what the word means. The best information is the clues in the text that hint at meaning, such as a restatement, example, synonym, or brief definition around the word. For example, if a sentence says, “The cavern was opaque, blocking all light,” the surrounding description makes clear that opaque means not letting light through. Punctuation marks don’t typically provide meaning on their own, the main theme of the story describes the overall message rather than a single word’s meaning, and the author’s name doesn’t reveal the meaning of a particular word.