English 8

Quarter 1 – Week 1 and 2

Noting Context Clues
 What I Need to Know

This module is designed and written with you in mind to help you master the skills
that you can use in many different learning situations. The varied activities presented in this
lesson cater to your diverse vocabulary levels so that you will have a great time learning!

As you go through, you are expected to enhance your knowledge and improve your
vocabulary skills with the rich and varied traditions of the Afro-Asian countries by noting
context clues. It sounds interesting, isn’t it? I bet you are now very thrilled to launch yourself
into a fun-filled learning experience!

What I Know

In your journey as a learner, have you heard of the expression Context Clues? The
activity that follows will serve as a pre-test to determine your knowledge about it. Your whole
new adventure starts here!

Choose the meaning of the underlined words using context clues. Write the letter of
your answer on your paper.

1. All medical practitioners, including the army and police forces, are our frontliners in
this pandemic; thus, they lead in fighting against the COVID-19 disease.
A. followers B. leaders C. observers D. participants
2. The COVID-19, like Spanish influenza is a virus that strictly requires home
quarantine and physical distancing.
A. curse B. disaster C. disease D. plague
3. The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic can be seen worldwide.
A. circumstance B. widespread C. predicament D. situation
4. According to the president, until a vaccine is available, face to face conduct of classes
is not allowed.
A. cure B. immunization C. medicine D. vitamin
5. The conventional conduct of classes in schools is suspended due to COVID-19
pandemic; thus, for the meantime this will be substituted with other learning
modalities.
A. common B. conservative C. modern D. seasonal
6. Online and modular classes are some of the modalities that the Department of
Education will offer for this school year to avoid hampering the education of learners.
A. continuing B. delaying C. frustrating D. resuming
 7. We should keep ourselves healthy by always washing our hands, eating nutritious
foods, taking vitamins, exercising regularly, and drinking plenty of water.
A. clean B. fresh C. safe D. strong
8. Police officers are very conspicuous. We can see them in checkpoints.
A. distinct B. evident C. hidden D. visible
9. Teachers are known for being loquacious. They love to talk about ideas.
A. communicative B. restrained C. reserved D. silent
10. The Education Week Celebration was spearheaded by the English Language
Department.
A. introduced B. led C. originated D. participated
11. Serenity, a state of being calm, is one of the important traits that a person should
possess especially during difficult and stressful times.
A. anxiety B. confusion C. imagination D. tranquility
12. Friendship among teenagers is a complicated thing. Sometimes they get well along
with others and are happy about it, but there are also times when they have
misunderstandings and disagreements.
A. entangled B. hard C. interlaced D. interwoven
13. It was a frigid night despite being in the summer season.
A. very cold B. very cozy C. very hot D. very warm
14. Matthew is a rambunctious child who always injures himself and is warned for being
naughty.
A. humble B. refined C. shy D. unruly
15. Snakes, sharks, and crocodiles are common predators of smaller animals.
A. carnivores B. herbivores C. hunters D. victims

What’s In

In your lesson in the previous grade, you have learned about identifying or giving
meaning to unfamiliar words. This time around, we will recall your understanding on the said
topic.

Activity: Review It
Each given sentence contains a boldfaced word which is probably new to you. Guess
the meaning of these words. Choose the letter of the correct answer and write it on a separate
sheet of paper.

1. Governments in some parts of the world set their focus on the doldrums of
environmental degradation, instead of the threats of the present pandemic.
A. delight B. despair C. joy D. trust
2. Our family always have a fleeting idea of going to Phuket, Thailand but we know it
will take some time given the present health crisis.
A. constant B. endless C. long D. sudden
3. An oracle is said to have the ability to foresee the future.
A. diviner B. fortune-teller C. priest D. scientist
4. People who are despicable should not be avoided, instead they should be loved.
A. good B. kind C. mean D. nice
 5. I grew up learning to assert my rights and not to be cowed by other people’s
intimidation.
A. comforted B. helped C. pleased D. scared

What’s New

Have you experienced difficulty in getting the meaning of unfamiliar words from a
poem? How do you know the meaning of these words? Do you consult Google or the
dictionary immediately?

Wait up! There’s more! The poem that you are about to read will teach you how to get the
meaning of unfamiliar words through context without using any references. Get ready because
you are in for a ride!

Activity 1: Read Me Out Loud!

Read the poem carefully then answer the questions that follow.

CONTEXT CLUES
By: Maribel Azote Cabalan - Buco

Tick tock, tick tock, I am stuck!

How can I unlock? How can I unlock?
When unfamiliar words are the ones that block!
Strategize, strategize, vocabulary wise!
Familiarize, familiarize, the words that arise
Hints here, signals there, clues are everywhere
Categorize, conceptualize, and then contextualize
Context clues are the ones that guide.

Activity 2: How About It!

A. List down the words in the poem that are new to you.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

B. With your own list of unfamiliar words, write down the ways that will help you understand
their meanings.

• ____________________
• ____________________
• ____________________
 • ____________________
• ____________________

What is It
This time, you study the sentences below. Take note of the underlined words. Can
you give their meanings?

1. As a writer, Dr. Jose Rizal used several pseudonyms so as not to reveal his
real identity.
2. We should always be prudent in what we say so as not to hurt the feelings of others.

Aside from using the dictionary, another way of learning the meaning of an unfamiliar word is
through noting context clues. Are you familiar of it? So, what are context clues?

Context clues are words that appear in sentences to help understand the meanings of
difficult words.

Context clues are of different types:

1. By Definition
 the unfamiliar word is defined in a sentence
Example:
A treasure hunter is a person who searches for treasures from sunken ships and
ancient tombs to obtain valuable relics and artifacts.
(Definition: a person who searches for treasures)
2. By Synonym
 a similar word is placed in the same sentence to know the meaning of the
unfamiliar word
Example:
It is common for Filipinos to feel compassion or pity for the suffering of their
fellowmen. (Synonym: pity)
3. By Antonym
 an opposite word is placed in the same sentence
Example:
Among the siblings of thin body structure, Isabel is the only one who is portly.
(Antonym: thin)

4. By Comparison
 a similar word with the same meaning of the unfamiliar word is placed with an
object to be compared
Example:
 The stench of the garbage was like the smell of a rotten fish.
(Comparison: rotten fish)
5. By Example
 Samples are provided in the sentence to understand the meaning of the unfamiliar
word
Example:
In ancient times, some of our forefathers believed in amulets, such as pearl of the
crocodile, pearl of the ax, bullet necklace, and bag of herbs to protect them from
harm.
(Example: pearl of the crocodile, pearl of the ax, bullet necklace, bag of herbs)
6. By Explanation
 a description is given to understand the meaning of the unfamiliar word
Example:
Matthew had few infractions of the house rules that he should have done as part
of his responsibilities.
(Explanation: house rules that he should have done)
7. By Cause-Effect
 the meaning of the difficult word depends on the cause-effect relationship of other
words as expressed in the sentence
Example:
Since only a few followed the wearing of face mask, it was made mandatory by
the government.
(Cause: only a few followed the wearing of face mask)

8. By List or Series of clues

 to understand the meaning of the unknown word, it is included in a series of words
given in a sentence
Example:
After the program, the rubbish left were souvenir programs, flyers, leaflets plastic
bottles, and food wrappings.
(List: souvenir programs, flyers, leaflets, plastic bottles, food wrappings)
9. By Inference
 to understand the meaning of the unknown word, one has to make a guess based
on the description given in the sentence
Example:
When one shows belligerence, harsh words, disruptive actions, and offensive
behaviors can be observed.
(Description: harsh words, disruptive action, offensive behavior)

What’s More
Activity 1: Look Out!
Search for the given words in the puzzle below. The words may be formed in an
(upward), (downward), (sideward), (backward), or in a (diagonal) position.

g
1. mallet 6. rekindled 11. iron
2. shiver 7. wedlock 12. leap
3. writhing 8. gold 13. moan
4. cunning 9. brass 14. sob
5. foundry 10. silver 15. weep
Activity 2: Web It!
Give five types of context clues and use them in sentences.

Type: _______
Example: ______

Type: _______ Type: _______

Example: ______ Example: ______

CONTEXT
CLUES

Type: _______ Type: _______

Example: ______ Example: ______

Activity 3: Read On!

Read the selections below and take note of the culture being presented.
A.
It is truly heart-warming to see that many Filipinos, despite their limited movement
and resources, have found ways to help other Filipinos in battling the pandemic.
Individuals and groups have expressed empathy and gratitude to various affected sectors,
especially among healthcare workers who are the most exposed to the virus. According to
the DOH, more than 1,000 healthcare workers have been infected with the pathogen. This
prompted the locals to donate personal protective equipment (PPE) to protect them as they
fight every day to save lives.
- Excerpt from The Philippines Battles with the COVID 19 Pandemic/Ethnic
Groups of the Philippines
 • What is the passage about?
• Who are more exposed to the virus?

B.
Asian people are known all over the world for their strong cultural values and
intelligent minds. This continent has given birth to many famous scientists, celebrities and
politicians. Although this continent does not boast of many developed countries, many
developing countries within this continent are on the threshold of becoming developed.
Asia as a continent was initially under the colonial rule for a very long time except Japan.
Many nations like India, China, Pakistan and Afghanistan have suffered the brunt of
oppressive colonial rule by Europeans and Americans for a very long period of time.
- Excerpt from Asian People, Their Traditions and Cultures

• Who are known for their strong cultural values and intelligent minds?
• What Asian countries suffered from colonial rule?

What I Can Do

Read carefully the excerpt from the story, “The Soul of the Great Bell.” Then, do the
activities that follow.

“At last came the awful day when the third and last effort to cast the great bell was to
be made; and Ko-Ngai, together with her waiting-woman, accompanied her father to the
foundry, and they took their places upon a platform overlooking the toiling of the molders
and the lava of liquefied metal…

But ere ever he lifted his finger, a cry caused him to turn his head and all heard the
voice of Ko-Ngai sounding sharply sweet as a bird’s song above the great thunder of the
fires—“For thy sake, O my father!” And even as she cried, she leaped into the white flood
of metal…
Then the father of Ko-Ngai, wild with his grief, would have leaped in after her, but
that strong men held him back and kept firm grasp upon him until he had fainted away,
and they could bear him like one dead to his home…

But in spite of all these things, the command of the Celestial August had to be obeyed,
and the work of the molders to be finished, hopeless as the result might be. Yet the glow
of the metal seemed purer and whiter than before, and there was no sign of the beautiful
body that had been entombed therein. So the ponderous casting was made; and lo! When
the metal had become cool, it was found that the bell was beautiful to look upon and
perfect in form, and wonderful in color above all other bells. Nor was there any trace
found of the body of Ko-Ngai; for it had been totally absorbed by the precious alloy, and
blended with the well-blended brass and gold, with the intermingling of the silver and the
iron…”

Activity 1: Contextualize It!

 Determine the meaning of the underlined words based on context by choosing the
letter of your answer. Write it on your paper.

1. It was an awful day – horrible and dreadful for the third time, the casting of the
great bell was unsuccessful.
A. fearful B. foul C. happy D. nasty

2. Kouan Yu might think that the result of the making of the great bell for the third
and last time was much more likely an egregious failure because of what happened
to his daughter.
A. glaring B. grievous C. scandalous D. shameful
3. His animosity or ill-feeling because of what happened to his daughter was so great.
A. anger B. bitterness C. hate D. malice

4. Wild with his grief, he felt deep remorse and would have leaped in after his
daughter, but strong men held him back.
A. guilt B. regret C. shame D. sorrow
5. How the blending with the well-blended brass and gold, with the intermingling of
the silver and the iron after Ko-Ngai leaped, was a conundrum, a puzzle that's
difficult to solve.
A. mystery B. problem C. query D. question