How to play Context Detective
- 1
Read the sentence. One word is highlighted.
- 2
Look for clues: causes, results, contrasts and examples.
- 3
Choose the meaning that fits the sentence. Ten rounds, one point each.
The skill behind fluent reading
Even advanced readers meet unknown words on almost every page. What separates fluent readers is that they guess meanings from context and keep going. A sentence like "The soup was so bland that I added salt" tells you that bland means the soup had little taste, because the reaction gives it away.
Clues to look for
Watch for words like because, so, but, although and for example. A contrast (but, although) often means the opposite; a result (so, that) explains the cause; an example narrows the meaning. Practising this habit makes real books far less intimidating.
Context Detective: questions and answers
Do I need to know the highlighted word?
No. Every sentence contains enough clues to work out the meaning, even if you have never seen the word.
Why is guessing from context important?
You will never know every word in a book. Guessing from context lets you keep reading, and the word is easier to remember because you understood it in a real situation.
What level is this game?
Sentences range from A2 to C2, ordered roughly from easier to harder.