Read Like a Master with Context Clues「猜」出生字的秘訣
Read Like a Master with Context Clues
You're reading a textbook and you come across 偶然預見、偶然發現a word you don't recognize.
Keep reading before you reach for a dictionary!
You can use context clues to figure out the word's meaning.
Context clues appear in the material around an unfamiliar word.
Look for these kinds of clues:
1. Words with similar meanings. 相近意思的字詞
Writers sometimes restate an idea using an easier word.
For example, "Blue whales 藍鯨are immense — they're bigger than all other animals."
Here, we can guess that "immense" means "very big." 非常巨大
2. Words with opposite meanings. 相反意思的字詞
These words can give context in the same way as the first type of clue.
So if a sentence reads, "Gareth is obese, but Nick is very thin," we can guess "obese" means "fat."
3. Words or clauses that explain the word.
Here, an explanation of the word follows the word itself.
For example, "At the zoo, we saw a tapir, a pig-like animal that is found in South America and Southeast Asia." 我們在動物園看到了一隻貘，這是一種長得像豬的動物，來自南美洲與東南亞。
4. Words or clauses that provide examples of the word.
In this kind of clue, the meaning of the word is made clear by examples.
Here's one: "To not fall asleep at school, Colin used stimulants such as coffee." 為了不讓自己在上課時睡著，柯林會使用像咖啡這類的刺激性物質。
We can easily guess what a stimulant is from this sentence!
clause（n.）子句
explanation （n.）解釋；說明
textbook教科書
autobiography自傳
book series系列書
encyclopedia百科全書[ɪn͵saɪkləˋpidɪə]
children's book 童書，
picture book繪本
pop-up book立體書
reference book 工具書、參考書
textbook 教科書、課本
magazine 雜誌
comic book 漫畫書
biography & memoir 傳記和回憶錄
travel book / travel guide 旅遊書
cookbook 食譜、烹飪書recipe
literature & fiction 文學作品、小說
historical fiction 歷史小說
romance 愛情小說
mystery, suspense 懸疑小說、推理小說
thriller 恐怖小說
science fiction 科幻小說
fantasy novel 奇幻小說
hardcover / hardback 精裝書
paperback 平裝書
trade paperback 是一般平裝版。
mass market paperback 大眾平裝版是口袋大小、細長形狀的平裝書，也是最便宜、最輕便的版本。
board book 硬頁書（方便三歲以下小孩翻閱的厚紙做成的書。）
audiobook 有聲書
electronic-book 電子書 也可以稱作 e-book 或是 digital book。
best seller 暢銷書
new release 新發行
book review 書評
clue : hint
What does the word mean？
unfamiliar
familiar 相似的、近似的
a clause 子句
tapir [ˋtepɚ]貘
Read Like a Master with Context Clues
OK, it's time to put your knowledge into practice. 那麼就來實際操作一下剛剛所學到的知識
Try this exercise and guess the meaning of the underlined word.
Disney movies provide many examples of classic villains, such as Jafar from Aladdin, and The Lion King's Scar. 迪士尼的電影裡有很多經典的反派角色的例子，像是《阿拉丁》裡的賈方還有《獅子王》的刀疤。
Their evil plans make things difficult for the heroes and make them seem greater as a result. 他們的邪惡計畫阻礙到主角們，但也使得他們的角色更讓人印象深刻。
Which of the following is closest in meaning to "villains"流氓；惡棍? Which of the following is closest in meaning to "villains"?
(A) Close friends.
(B) Partners.
(C) Bad guys.
(D) Leaders.
Of course, the correct answer is (C)!
Villains are the bad guys in stories that try to stop, hurt, or even kill the good guys.
They also pursue evil plans of their own. 「villains」就是故事裡的反派角色，他們會試著阻撓、傷害或甚至殺害好的角色。
This sentence used examples as context.
Also, we get more information by reading the next sentence.
It provides further clues.
There are other kinds of information we can look for. 還能去留意一些別的資訊
For example, you should be able to tell what part of speech the word belongs to. 像是判斷一下生字的詞性是什麼。
In this case, "villain" is a noun.
This will help you work out the meaning. 像是判斷一下生字的詞性是什麼。
You can also use this chart.
It helps you build up information about unfamiliar words. 這能幫助你建立生字的各種資訊，
It will also help you remember them in the future. 也能幫助你在未來記住這些字
So remember, don't quit when you see an unfamiliar word.
Take a moment to look for context clues, and you'll soon find the answer. 停下來找找看文意線索，你應該就能找出答案了！
underline（v.） 在…下劃線
knowledge不可數
