Reading: Finding Meaning

Meaning of Tricky Words

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There are a few ways of finding out the meaning of words if you cannot work it out first time!

 

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Dictionary

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A dictionary is useful for finding out the meaning of words, as it provides a definition.

However, it may provide two definitions, meaning you will have to work out which one it is based on from the other words in a sentence.

 

For example:

BUILD:

1) putting parts together (verb)

2) body type (noun)

 

The word ‘build‘ has two definitions, as shown above.

However, notice the difference between these two sentences:

1.  I want to build a house (verb)
2. He has a strong build (noun)

 

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Words in a sentence

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It can be useful to read the surrounding information in order to work out what a tricky word means.

 

For example:

“I can guarantee that your parcel will arrive on time”

 

Here, guarantee is a tricky word –

But because the sentence provides more detail, we can see it means that they ‘promise‘ to deliver the parcel on time.

 

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Word types 

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Word types such as verbs, nouns and adjectives will also give clues to the meaning.

 

For example:

“He is a very jealous person”

 

Here, we know that jealous is an adjective as:

• It is describing the ‘person’ (noun)
• Most words that end in ‘ous‘ are adjectives.

 

 

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Replacing words

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You could be asked to choose a word that replaces another.

Make sure to read the sentence carefully to see if the new word still makes sense!

 

For example:

“The alarm was going off frequently“

 

Examples of the answer options on a question may be:

1. Sometimes
2. Often
3. Never
4. Rarely

 

The answer would be:

2. Often

 

…as this is what frequently means!

 

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No dictionary

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Sometimes you may not be able to use a dictionary to find the meaning of a word.

 

These types of questions usually ask you to write a word that fits the meaning of a text. You will have to read the given text in order to find this word.

 

Using Layout

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The layout of certain texts will help you find the information you will be looking for.

 

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Subheadings

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Subheadings in a given text will give you a clue as to what the section will be about.

For example, if you were looking for things to do in your local area, you may look under a subheading that says:

 

Activities

 

Then, you have found what you are looking for!

 

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Bullet points

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Bullet points:

• Break information up
• Make texts easier to read
• Help you spot information easily

 

See how easy that was?

 

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Using bold or Capital Letters

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Using bold and capital letters make words stand out more when you are reading a text!

It is usually important information that uses these features.

For example:

“Do NOT walk on the grass”

 

Using Layout continued…

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More examples of using layout may be found on more visual texts!

 

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Tables

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Tables may provide rows of column headings where you can find the information you want.

 

For example:

How much does the yoghurt cost?

 

 

Starting at the ‘item‘ column, keep going down until you find the item the question is looking for – the yoghurt!

Then, go across to the ‘price‘ column and meet in the middle for the answer!

 

Did you find:

£1.30?

 

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Contents

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A contents page shows you a list of all the upcoming topics or sections in a text.

The contents may also include page numbers.

 

For example:

Introduction …………… 1

Chapter 1 …………… 6

Chapter 2 …………… 30

 

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Index

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An index is usually found at the end of a text to provide the main topics in alphabetical order.

It will also provide the page numbers for that specific topic.

 

For example:

A

Advertising techniques 20-26

Answering calls 49

 

Using Layout Online

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These next examples will help you find information using online websites.

 

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Menu

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A website menu provides links that will take you to where the information you wish to know will be.

 

Take a look at the below website page for online shopping.

 

 

Notice how the menu on the left-hand side has links that take you to different places depending on what you would like to know.

 

It usually highlights what page you are on as it it a different colour to the rest. In this case, it is providing information about how you can return items.

 

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Tabs

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Sometimes, a website may have tabs instead – but don’t let this fool you!

 

It is the exact same thing as a menu, but usually along the top of the webpage!

 

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Links

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Lastly, there are also links within a text on a page that may take you somewhere else.

 

These are usually in bold or underlined and in a different colour:

 

 

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