How would you determine the meaning of a difficult word using context clues and word parts?

• A. Use surrounding words to guess the meaning, then analyze roots, prefixes, and suffixes to check.
• B. Look up the word in a dictionary with no context.
• C. Ignore prefixes and suffixes.
• D. Prefix changes meaning but suffix doesn't.

Answer: (A)

When you meet a difficult word, use clues from the sentence or surrounding text to guess what it means, then check that idea by looking at the word’s parts. Context clues come from nearby words that hint at meaning—like descriptions, comparisons, or examples—so you can infer what the new word is saying. Then break the word down: find the base word to see the core idea, and look at prefixes and suffixes to see how they add or change meaning and sometimes indicate the word’s part of speech. If the parts fit with what the surrounding words suggest, your understanding is solid; if they don’t fit, you can refine your guess. Relying only on a dictionary skips the practice of using context, and ignoring word parts can miss useful signals, while assuming prefixes always change meaning and that suffixes don’t is not accurate. So combining context clues with analysis of roots, prefixes, and suffixes gives the best way to determine meaning.