Worked example
The path was narrow; only one person could walk along it at a time.
What does narrow mean in this text?
Answer & why
Answer: not wide
Only one person fits across the path, a clue that it is not wide.
Grade 3 · Reading & language
Use the nearby words as clues
Use a definition, contrast or example in a short text to infer a word’s meaning.
8 authored questions + worked example
Add to plan
All questions
All 8 authored questions for this skill.
Question 1
A brief shower ended after a minute, and the game continued.
What does brief mean in this text?
- very loud
- short in time
- heavy in weight
- far away
A hint
Read the whole text again. Which nearby words help explain the word you are finding?
Answer & why
Answer: short in time
Ending after a minute suggests a short time.
Question 2
The twins cooperated: one held the paper while the other taped its edges.
What does cooperated mean in this text?
- worked separately
- worked together
- argued loudly
- left early
A hint
Read the whole text again. Which nearby words help explain the word you are finding?
Answer & why
Answer: worked together
Their two actions help complete the same task together.
Question 3
The path was narrow; only one person could walk along it at a time.
What does narrow mean in this text?
- very slippery
- extremely long
- full of flowers
- not wide
A hint
Read the whole text again. Which nearby words help explain the word you are finding?
Answer & why
Answer: not wide
Only one person fits across the path, a clue that it is not wide.
Question 4
The room was dim, so Ava switched on a lamp to see the page.
What does dim mean in this text?
- unusually cold
- completely empty
- not bright
- very noisy
A hint
Read the whole text again. Which nearby words help explain the word you are finding?
Answer & why
Answer: not bright
Needing a lamp to see gives a clue about low light.
Question 5
Omar was cautious at the edge. He stopped, checked the ground and stepped slowly.
What does cautious mean in this text?
- angry
- careful
- forgetful
- careless
A hint
Read the whole text again. Which nearby words help explain the word you are finding?
Answer & why
Answer: careful
Checking and stepping slowly are careful actions.
Question 6
The basket was sturdy. It held all the heavy books without bending.
What does sturdy mean in this text?
- colorful
- strong
- tiny
- soft
A hint
Read the whole text again. Which nearby words help explain the word you are finding?
Answer & why
Answer: strong
Holding heavy books without bending suggests strength.
Question 7
The pond was shallow. The water came only to the duck’s feet.
What does shallow mean in this text?
- completely dry
- full of fish
- very warm
- not deep
A hint
Read the whole text again. Which nearby words help explain the word you are finding?
Answer & why
Answer: not deep
Water only reaching the feet is a clue about depth.
Question 8
Unlike the crowded bus, the next bus was nearly vacant, with only two riders.
What does vacant mean in this text?
- moving quickly
- very old
- empty or almost empty
- full of people
A hint
Read the whole text again. Which nearby words help explain the word you are finding?
Answer & why
Answer: empty or almost empty
The contrast with crowded and the two riders point to nearly empty.