IXL | Use context to identify the meaning of a word

Read the passage and then answer the question.

In the early 1900s, a schoolteacher named Wilhelm von Osten captivated audiences in Germany with the feats of his trained horse, Hans. Von Osten claimed that Hans could tell time, count objects, and even do basic arithmetic. When asked to find the sum of five and three, for instance, Hans would provide the correct answer by tapping his hoof on the ground eight times. Those who witnessed von Osten's demonstrations began to extol Hans's intelligence. They dubbed the horse Clever Hans and raved about his extraordinary mental reasoning abilities.

To determine whether Hans's performance was simply a ruse, the German board of education sent a team of scientists to observe von Osten and his horse. The team concluded that there were no tricks involved in the horse's shows. However, Oskar Pfungst, a psychologist associated with the team, eventually realized that Hans did not possess any mathematical acumen. Instead, he was just picking up on subtle changes in people's body language and using these cues to arrive at the correct number of taps. Pfungst showed that people tend to make faint movements, such as tilting their heads slightly upward, when they expect to hear a certain answer. This propensity to provide unconscious behavioral clues has become known as the Clever Hans effect. Scientists are now very careful to take this effect into consideration when designing experiments.

What is the meaning of ruse as used in the passage?

elaborate surprise

plan that is meant to deceive people

poorly executed performance

story that is not actually true

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Learn with an example

question

Read the passage and then answer the question.

The Nobel Prize is considered the highest accolade for many disciplines. However, many critics have argued that the rules used by Nobel Prize selection committees have caused deserving individuals to be overlooked. One of the most controversial rules prohibits a single prize from being shared by more than three people. Another contentious rule bans posthumous awards, or awards recognizing the work of individuals who are no longer living.

British chemist Rosalind Franklin is often cited as an example of why these rules should be changed. While working in London, Franklin captured some of the earliest photographs of DNA. Franklin's photography became key in helping uncover the structure of DNA, but she did not share in the 1962 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, which recognized individuals who contributed to the discovery. Franklin had died of ovarian cancer before the Nobel Prize nominations were made, making her ineligible for the award.

What is the meaning of contentious as used in the passage?

well known

ineffective

disputed

unwritten

key idea

As you're reading, you can often figure out the meaning of an unknown word by looking at the words and phrases that surround it. The familiar words and phrases that help you determine the meaning of an unfamiliar word are called context clues.

Here are some examples of how context clues can be used to determine the meaning of unknown words:

Marta attempted to placate the angry customer by offering him a free cup of coffee.

From the sentence, you can guess that Marta's kind gesture was meant to calm the angry customer. The context helps you understand that placate means "to make someone less angry."

Avoid deleterious actions such as eating junk food and smoking.

The sentence tells you that eating junk food and smoking are examples of deleterious actions. You know that eating junk food and smoking are both harmful behaviors, which helps you understand that deleterious means "causing harm or damage."

Eric was extroverted, unlike his shy sister.

The sentence tells you that Eric is unlike his shy sister, so you can guess that extroverted means the opposite of shy. The context helps you understand that extroverted means "outgoing."

solution

As used in the passage, contentious means disputed.

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Not feeling ready yet? These can help:

Y.1Determine the meaning of words using synonyms in context

Y.2Determine the meaning of words using antonyms in context

BB.4Use context to identify the meaning of a word

BB.6Use academic vocabulary in context: informational

BB.5Use academic vocabulary in context: literary

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