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One of the most important skills tested in the FSCE 11+ exam is the ability to work out what a word means from the context — the words and sentences around it. You will not always know every word in a passage, but with the right strategies, you can work out meanings like a detective.
In the FSCE exam, you may encounter words you have never seen before. The examiners expect this — they are testing whether you can use the surrounding text to figure out the meaning. This is a real-life skill too: adults meet unfamiliar words all the time, and they use context to understand them.
Look at the words and phrases near the unknown word. They often give direct clues about its meaning.
Example: The arid landscape stretched for miles, with dry, cracked earth and not a drop of water in sight.
The words "dry," "cracked earth," and "not a drop of water" all point to "arid" meaning very dry.
Think about the overall meaning of the sentence. What would make sense in this position?
Example: Despite her trepidation, she stepped onto the stage and began her speech.
The word "despite" tells us she felt something negative but did it anyway. Stepping onto a stage to give a speech is nerve-wracking. So "trepidation" likely means fear or nervousness.
Identify whether the unknown word is a noun, verb, adjective, or adverb. This narrows down the possible meanings.
Example: The knight brandished his sword at the dragon.
The word sits where a verb should be (after "The knight" and before "his sword"). It describes what the knight did with his sword. "Brandished" is a verb meaning waved or displayed threateningly.
Break the word into its prefix, root, and suffix (using what you learned in Lesson 1).
Example: The magician performed an act of prestidigitation.
This is a very difficult word, but look: "digit" = finger. "Presti" suggests quickness. So "prestidigitation" involves quick fingers — it means sleight of hand or magic tricks using the hands.
Try replacing the unknown word with a word you know and see if the sentence still makes sense.
Example: The teacher commended the students for their excellent work.
Try replacing "commended": praised? That works! Thanked? Maybe. Punished? No, that does not make sense with "excellent work." So "commended" means praised.
Look for words that signal contrast (but, however, although, unlike, whereas). The unknown word often means the opposite of something else in the sentence.
Example: Unlike her gregarious sister, Maya was shy and preferred to be alone.
"Unlike" signals contrast. Maya is shy and prefers to be alone. Her sister is the opposite — "gregarious" means outgoing, sociable, enjoying company.
graph TD
A["Unknown Word<br/>in a Passage"] --> B["Step 1: Read the<br/>whole sentence"]
B --> C["Step 2: Look for<br/>surrounding clue words"]
C --> D{"Found clues?"}
D -- "Yes" --> E["Make a guess<br/>based on clues"]
D -- "No" --> F["Step 3: Identify<br/>the word class"]
F --> G["Step 4: Check for<br/>roots, prefixes, suffixes"]
G --> H["Step 5: Try<br/>substitution"]
H --> I["Step 6: Look for<br/>contrast words"]
I --> E
E --> J["Step 7: Re-read the<br/>sentence with your guess"]
J --> K{"Does it<br/>make sense?"}
K -- "Yes" --> L["You've found<br/>the meaning!"]
K -- "No" --> M["Try a different<br/>strategy"]
M --> C
Passage: The children devoured their lunch, eating every last crumb in minutes. They had not eaten since breakfast and were absolutely starving.
Step 1: Read the whole sentence — it is about children eating lunch. Step 2: Surrounding words: "eating every last crumb in minutes" and "absolutely starving." Step 3: Word class: "devoured" is a verb (what the children did to their lunch). Step 4: The clues tell us they ate quickly and completely because they were very hungry. Answer: "Devoured" means ate quickly and eagerly.
Passage: The first part of the journey was arduous, with steep hills and rough paths. However, the second half was easy, with flat roads and clear skies.
Step 1: Read the whole sentence — it contrasts two parts of a journey. Step 2: "However" signals a contrast. The second half was "easy, flat roads, clear skies." Step 3: If the second half was easy, the first half must have been the opposite. Step 4: Surrounding words confirm: "steep hills and rough paths." Answer: "Arduous" means difficult, requiring great effort.
Passage: The old manuscript was illegible — nobody could read the faded ink.
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