Republic of the Philippines

Department of Education
Regional Office IX, Zamboanga Peninsula

4 Zest for Progress

Z Peal of artnership

English
Quarter 2 – Module 1 :
Context Clues - Definition and
Exemplification

Name of Learner: ___________________________

Grade & Section: ___________________________
Name of School: ___________________________
 What I Need to Know
This module was designed for the leaners like you. This will help you
explain and familiarize on how to use context clues to find meaning of unfamiliar
words through definition and exemplification.
At the end of your journey, you are expected to use context clues to find the
meaning of unfamiliar words through definition and exemplification.

What’s In
Directions: Complete the following analogy by writing the letter of the correct
answer on your paper.
1. Crocodile is to reptile as cow is to _____.
A. fish
B. paws
C. mammal

2. Brush is to teeth as comb is to _____.

A. hair
B. face
C. body

3. Bark is to dog as meow is to _____.

A. cat
B. mouse
C. crocodile

4. Fish is to sea as bird is to _____.

A. air
B. land
C. water

5. Pillow is to soft as rock is to _____.

A. hard
B. small
C. sleep

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 What’s New
Mouse at the Seashore
By: Arnold Lobel (slightly simplified)

A mouse told his mother and father that he was going on a trip to the
seashore.
“We are very alarmed,” they cried. “The world is full of terrors. You must not
go!”
“I have already decided,” said the Mouse firmly. “I have never seen the ocean,
and it is high time that I did. Nothing can make me change my mind.”
“Then we cannot stop you,” said Mother and Father Mouse, “but do be
careful.”
Early the next day, the Mouse began his journey. Even before the morning
had ended, the Mouse came to know trouble and fear.
A cat jumped out from behind a tree. “I will eat you for lunch,” he said. It was a
narrow escape for the Mouse. He ran for his life but he left part of his tail in the
mouth of the cat.
By afternoon, the Mouse had been attacked by birds and dogs. He had lost
his way several times. He was bruised and bloodied. He was tired and frightened.
At evening, the Mouse slowly climbed the last hill and saw the seashore
spreading out before him. He watched the waves rolling onto the ocean, one after
another. All the colors of the sunset filled the sky.
“How beautiful,” cried the Mouse. “I wish that Mother and Father were here to
see this with me.”
The moon and the stars began to appear over the ocean. The Mouse sat
silently on top of the hill. He felt very happy and peaceful .

Source: Rabelas, G.U., Victoria D. Mangaser, Lilibeth A. Magtang, Rose Ann B.

Pamintuan, et. Al, English – Grade 4 Learner’s Material, Pasig City, Vibal
Group, Inc.2015, 66-68.

Comprehension Questions

Directions: Read and understand the questions carefully. Choose the letter of the
correct answer. Write the answer on your paper.

1. Who was going on a trip to the shore?

a. Cat
b. Mouse
c. Carabao

2. What did his parents say?

a. “We are very happy.”
b. “We are very excited.”
c. “We are very alarmed.”

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3. When did he reach the ocean?
a. at evening
b. by afternoon
c. before the morning

4. What kind of mouse he is?

a. brave
b. coward
c. boastful

5. What lesson can we get from the story “The Mouse at The Seashore”?
a. be kind to others
b. do not talk to strangers
c. to overcome fear and face bravely

What is it
Word Search

Words used in the story are hidden in the word search below. Find and encircle
the word in the word puzzle that corresponds to the definition below.

M O U S E J L P
N D Q D T J B T
S E A S H O R E
O C W F D U U Z
I I E G U R I C
U D R H O N S X
Y E T J E E E C
T D G K W Y D V

1. Land adjacent to the sea

2. An act or instance of traveling from one place to another
3. Come to a resolution in the mind as a result of consideration
4. Damaged or wounded by or as if by being struck
5. Any of numerous small rodents with pointed snout, rather small ears,
elongated body, and slender tail

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 Context Clues are words or pictures that give hints to help explain the
meaning of an unfamiliar or difficult word.

The clue may appear within the same sentence as the word to which it refers,
or it may follow in a preceding sentence.

There are many ways how context clues can help you figure out unfamiliar
words. One is through a definition where the meaning of the unfamiliar word is
directly defined or explained in the sentence.

Let’s take a look at this example.

Example 1: Entomology is the study of insects.

Sentence in Example 1 use “is” as a clue to definition of Entomology.

Example 2: The dabakan – a large goblet shaped drum – is used by the Maranao
during wedding celebrations.

The dashes setting off “a large goblet shaped drum” point out the
definition of “dabakan” in Example 2.

Example 3: Corona, the outermost part of the sun’s atmosphere, releases huge
amount of electromagnetic energy in outer space.

The commas before and after “the outermost part of the sun’s atmosphere” point
out the definition of “Corona” in Example 3.

Clues to definition include “is,” commas, dashes, and parentheses. Sometimes

the writer uses signal words or phrases in defining the word. They are:
▪ means ▪ is/are called
▪ is defined as ▪ is/was, are/were
▪ refers to ▪ that is
▪ or ▪ in other words

Aside from definition, we can also use context clues to find meaning of
unfamiliar words through exemplification.
Another way of determining the meaning or definition of the unfamiliar or
difficult word is through exemplification or giving of examples.
Through the help of pictures and words as examples, you easily figure out the
words even though you did not know what the words were.
Sometimes the writer introduced the examples by using signal words
such as:
▪ for example ▪ such as
▪ for instance ▪ like
▪ including ▪ to illustrate

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Let us have this example.

Example 1: Celestial bodies, including the sun, moon, and stars, have fascinated
man through the centuries.

The definition or the meaning of the word celestial is relating to the sky or
visible heavens.

The sun, moon, and stars were the examples given that help us determine
the meaning of the word celestial.

Including was used as signal word in introducing the examples: sun, moon,
and stars.

Example 2: Geology is the study of many topics, such as rock formations and
biological changes in the earth.

The sentence in Example 2 give an illustration or example of what an

unknown word means by using signal word “such as”.

Example 3: A typical meal would consist of rice, fish, vegetable and fruits.

The sentence in Example 3 uses signal word “consist of” to help explain the
meaning of “meal”.

Sometimes when a reader finds a new word, an example might be found

nearby that helps to explain its meaning. Words like including, such as, and for
example, point out example clues.

What’s More
Directions: Identify the meaning of each highlighted word through context clues.
Encircle the letter of your answer.

1. Eating too much junk food may be hazardous to your health.

a. dangerous
b. great
c. delightful

2. The house was once again tranquil after the kids moved outside to play.
a. upset
b. peaceful
c. stormy

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3. After the storm, the rainbow lit up the sky with vibrant colors.
a. dark
b. funny
c. bright

4. The wealthy woman that wears sparkling jewelry on her body gave lots of money
to the poor old man.
a. rich
b. purple
c. hungry

5. The spacious parking lot contains hundreds of cars.

a. wide
b. small
c. long

What I Have Learned

Directions: Read the sentences. Choose in the box the word that will complete the
sentence. Write your answer on your paper.

Context Clues Refer to

Definition Such as
Exemplification Synonyms

1. ________________ are words or pictures that give hints to help explain the
meaning of an unfamiliar or difficult word.

2. Some signal words in using examples in context clues were; including,

consist of, like and _______________.

3. Some signal words in using definition in context clues were; means,

is defined as, and _______________.

4. ____________ is one way of finding the meaning of the unfamiliar word which is
directly defined or explained in the sentence.

5. ____________ is another way of determining the meaning or definition of the

unfamiliar through the help of words as examples.

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 What I Can Do
Directions: Read the sentences. Box the words that explain the meaning of the
underlined words.

1. The members of the football team huddled around the injured player. They
gathered around him to see what happened to him.

2. There was silence in the huddled group. You can hear clearly the whimper, or
low, soft cry of the injured player.

3. From afar, one can hear the siren or the shrill sound of the fire truck.

4. The firemen rushed to the burning building with their water hoses. The hurrying
firemen ran to prevent the fire from spreading.

5. I did not eat the stale bread because it was not fresh.

Assessment
A. Directions: Choose the meaning of the underline word in each sentence in
the box. Write the letter of your answer on the space before the number.

____1. Please pick up that barbeque

stick. a. flowers picked and fastened
together in a bunch
____2. Don’t ever drop a tear on your
food. b. soft fine feathers

____3. Never put heavy makeup on your c. a long slender piece of wood
face.
d. a drop of salty fluid from the
____4. His pillow is made up of the eye
down of birds.
e. the front of the head
____5. Marilyn bought a bouquet of red
and white roses for her
mother’s birthday.

B. Directions: Read the sentences. Use context clues to find the meaning of the
bolded words. Write the letter of the correct answer on your paper.

1. Sunlight can't shine through opaque objects like brick walls and wooden doors.
Using the example clue, what does the word opaque in this sentence means?
a. thin b.thick c.clear d.transparent

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2. Larceny, such as stealing a car, can cause you to spend a lot of time in jail.
Using the example clue, what does the word larceny in this sentence means?
a. Theft b. murder c. conflict d. bravery

3. Equestrian items would include saddles, horseshoes, and reins. Using the
example clue, what does the word equestrian in this sentence means?
a. having to do with hair c. having to do with horses
b. having to do with royalty d. having to do with the equator
4. In the fall, the bright foliage is a delight to see. Red, orange, and yellow leaves
and vegetation paint the world for our enjoyment.
Using the example clue, what does the word foliage in this sentence means?
a. dirt b. leaves c. rocks d. houses

5. The emergency room doctors see patients with trauma, such as a broken bone,
every night. Using the example clue, what does the word trauma in this sentence
means?
a. Plans b. goals c. injury d. headaches

References
A. Textbooks
Rabelas, G.U., Victoria D. Mangaser, Lilibeth A. Magtang, Rose Ann B. Pamintuan, et. al, English –
Grade 4 Learner’s Material, Pasig City, Vibal Group, Inc., 2015, 66-68.

B. Online Resources
Reading - CONTEXT CLUES rev August 2005, Miami Dade College, accessed August 19, 2020,
https://www.mdc.edu/kendall/collegeprep/documents2/context%20cluesrev8192.pdf
Context Clues Worksheet – phoenixhomework, StudyLib, accessed August 19, 2020,
https://studylib.net/doc/6715269/context-clues-worksheet---phoenixhomework
Use Context Clues to Determine the Meaning of Unfamiliar Words SPI 0801. 1 .16, PB Works,
accessed August 18, 2020, http://wbms8b.pbworks.com/f/vocabulary_context_clues.pdf

Development Team

Writer: Sitti Amina Isnani

Bangkerohan Elementary School

Editors/QA: Cheryl B. Velasco

Mardie A. Acotanza
Reviewer:
Evelyn F. Importante
OIC-CID Chief EPS
Illustrator:
Layout Artist:
Management Team:
Raymond M. Salvador
OIC-Assistant SDS

Jerry C. Bokingkito
OIC-Assistant SDS

Jeanelyn A. Aleman, CESE

OIC-Schools Division Superintendent

8
 I Am a Filipino
by Carlos P. Romulo

I am a Filipino–inheritor of a glorious past, hostage to the uncertain future. As such

I must prove equal to a two-fold task–the task of meeting my responsibility to the
past, and the task of performing my obligation to the future.

I sprung from a hardy race, child many generations removed of ancient Malayan
pioneers. Across the centuries the memory comes rushing back to me: of brown-
skinned men putting out to sea in ships that were as frail as their hearts were stout.
Over the sea I see them come, borne upon the billowing wave and the whistling
wind, carried upon the mighty swell of hope– hope in the free abundance of new land
that was to be their home and their children’s forever.

I am a Filipino. In my blood runs the immortal seed of heroes–seed that flowered

down the centuries in deeds of courage and defiance. In my veins yet pulses the
same hot blood that sent Lapulapu to battle against the first invader of this land, that
nerved Lakandula in the combat against the alien foe, that drove Diego Silang and
Dagohoy into rebellion against the foreign oppressor.

The seed I bear within me is an immortal seed. It is the mark of my manhood, the
symbol of dignity as a human being. Like the seeds that were once buried in the
tomb of Tutankhamen many thousand years ago, it shall grow and flower and bear
fruit again. It is the insignia of my race, and my generation is but a stage in the
unending search of my people for freedom and happiness.

I am a Filipino, child of the marriage of the East and the West. The East, with its
languor and mysticism, its passivity and endurance, was my mother, and my sire
was the West that came thundering across the seas with the Cross and Sword and
the Machine. I am of the East, an eager participant in its spirit, and in its struggles
for liberation from the imperialist yoke. But I also know that the East must awake
from its centuried sleep, shake off the lethargy that has bound his limbs, and start
moving where destiny awaits.

I am a Filipino, and this is my inheritance. What pledge shall I give that I may prove
worthy of my inheritance? I shall give the pledge that has come ringing down the
corridors of the centuries, and it shall be compounded of the joyous cries of my
Malayan forebears when first they saw the contours of this land loom before their
eyes, of the battle cries that have resounded in every field of combat from Mactan to
Tirad Pass, of the voices of my people when they sing:

“I am a Filipino born to freedom, and I shall not rest until freedom shall have been
added unto my inheritance—for myself and my children and my children’s
children—forever.”

(Reprinted from The Philippines Herald, August 16, 1941)