Which option best describes the strategy of using surrounding text to predict the meaning of a word?

• A. Memorization.
• B. Context clues.
• C. Skimming.
• D. Scanning.

Answer: (B)

Using surrounding text to predict a word’s meaning relies on context clues. You look at nearby words and phrases that describe, explain, contrast, or give examples of the unfamiliar term. These signals help you piece together what the word means without having to pause for a dictionary. This is why it’s the best approach: language often flags meaning right in the sentence or paragraph, so you can infer it from how the word is used.

Memorizing a definition misses that live hint from the text, while skimming or scanning are reading techniques aimed at speed or finding specific information rather than figuring out meanings from context.