Reading Comprehension • Topic 3 of 4

Vocabulary in Context

These ask the meaning of a word AS USED in the passage, which may differ from its common meaning. Read the full sentence and replace the word with each option to see which keeps the sense.

Context overrides the dictionary

A word can mean different things; the passage decides which. Read the sentence (and the one before), then substitute each option into the sentence — the one that keeps the meaning is correct.

WordOne senseAnother sense
novela booknew / original
finegooda penalty
addressa locationto deal with
currentpresent timea flow
Don't grab the most common meaning. "He paid a fine" uses fine = penalty, not "good". Always test the option inside the actual sentence.

✅ Solved examples

1. How do you find a word's meaning in context?
Read the sentence and substitute each option to keep the sense.
2. "Novel" can mean a book or ___ depending on context.
New / original.
3. Should you use the most common meaning automatically?
No — the passage's use decides the meaning.
4. What helps disambiguate a word's sense?
The surrounding sentence(s).

✏️ Practice — try these, take hints as needed

1. In "a fine for parking", "fine" means a ___.
Money penalty.
—
—
penalty
2. "He will address the issue" — "address" means to ___.
Deal with.
—
—
deal with / tackle
3. Context for word meaning comes from the ___.
Nearby text.
—
—
sentence / passage
4. "A current of air" — "current" means a ___.
Flow.
—
—
flow / stream
5. Replace the word with each option to test the ___.
Sense.
—
—
meaning / fit

📝 Topic test — 8 questions

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