What term refers to words or phrases that help reader figure out meaning of word?

• A. Context Clues
• B. Prior Knowledge
• C. Improving Comprehension
• D. Assonance

Answer: (A)

Using context clues helps readers determine word meaning by looking at the surrounding words and sentences for hints. These clues can come in several forms: a direct definition or restatement in nearby words, an example that illustrates the word, a description that hints at its meaning, or contrasts that show what the word does not mean. For instance, in a sentence like “The avalanche covered the valley in a thick, white blanket,” the surrounding words suggest that blanket means something covering and extensive, helping you infer a sense of extensive covering, not a literal fabric. This approach is the best match here because it explains how meaning is derived directly from the text itself. Other options point to related ideas—what you already know or a broad goal of understanding—or to a separate literary feature (assonance, or repeated vowel sounds) that doesn’t explain how to deduce word meaning from context.