Examples of Semantic Clues:
1. Synonyms:
* Sentence: The massive building stood tall, a colossal symbol of power.
* Clue: "Massive" and "colossal" are synonyms, both meaning very large. This clue helps us understand the size of the building.
2. Antonyms:
* Sentence: She was known for her optimism, always looking at the bright side of things, unlike her pessimistic brother.
* Clue: "Optimism" and "pessimistic" are antonyms, helping us understand the opposite nature of the two people's attitudes.
3. Definitions:
* Sentence: The arachnid (a type of insect with eight legs) scurried across the floor.
* Clue: The sentence itself provides a definition of "arachnid", making it clear what kind of creature is being described.
4. Examples:
* Sentence: The weather was unpredictable, one moment sunny, the next pouring rain.
* Clue: The examples of "sunny" and "pouring rain" illustrate the unpredictable nature of the weather.
5. Comparisons:
* Sentence: The child's laughter was as bright as the sun.
* Clue: The comparison of the laughter to the sun helps us understand the joyful and radiant nature of the child's laughter.
6. Contextual Clues:
* Sentence: The patient was anxious to receive the results of her medical test.
* Clue: The words "patient" and "medical test" create a context that suggests the anxiety is related to a medical situation.
7. Word Families:
* Sentence: The astronaut had a passion for astronomy, often studying the stars for hours.
* Clue: "Astronaut," "astronomy," and "stars" all belong to the same word family related to space exploration, strengthening our understanding of the astronaut's interests.
These are just a few examples of semantic clues. Identifying these clues can help you understand the meaning of unfamiliar words or complex sentences.