HESI A2 Reading: How to Use Context Clues
Encountering an unfamiliar word does not necessarily mean you cannot understand a passage. Often, the surrounding words provide clues about what the unfamiliar term means. These clues are called context clues. Learning to recognize them can be useful when preparing for reading comprehension questions because you may not know every word in a passage.
What Are Context Clues?
Context clues are pieces of information surrounding an unfamiliar word that help you determine its meaning. Consider this sentence: The student was exhausted after studying for several hours and struggled to keep her eyes open. Even if you did not know the meaning of exhausted, the phrase “struggled to keep her eyes open” provides a clue that the student was extremely tired.
1. Look for Definitions
Sometimes an author directly explains an unfamiliar word. For example: The patient was ambulatory, meaning that he was able to walk without assistance. The phrase after the comma gives you the meaning of ambulatory.
2. Look for Examples
An author may provide examples that reveal what a word means. For example: Several forms of aerobic exercise, including running, cycling, and swimming, can increase physical activity. The examples help explain what types of activities are being discussed.
3. Look for Contrasts
Words such as however, although, unlike, and in contrast can signal a difference. For example: Unlike her outgoing sister, Maria was reserved and preferred to spend time alone. The contrast with “outgoing” suggests that reserved describes someone who is less socially expressive.
4. Look for Synonyms
Sometimes the author uses another word with a similar meaning nearby. For example: The assignment was difficult, or challenging, for many students. The word challenging helps explain difficult.
5. Consider the Entire Sentence
Do not focus only on the words immediately before an unfamiliar term. Read the entire sentence and, if necessary, the sentences surrounding it. The larger context may reveal whether the word refers to a person, action, condition, object, or idea.
Avoid Choosing a Meaning Too Quickly
A word can have multiple meanings depending on how it is used. For example, critical can mean extremely important, or it can describe someone who evaluates something negatively. Look at the sentence before choosing a definition.
Practice With Short Passages
Choose a short article or textbook passage and circle unfamiliar words. Before looking them up, write down what you think each word means based on context. Then check the actual definition. This allows you to see how accurately you can use context clues.
Final Thoughts
Context clues are useful because they allow you to make an informed interpretation even when you do not recognize every word. During HESI A2 preparation, practice looking for definitions, examples, contrasts, synonyms, and overall sentence meaning.
