Arkansas Foundations of Reading Test (FORT)

Which is NOT a type of context clue?

1. Antonym clue

2. Definition clue

3. Inference clue

4. Imaginary clue

The correct answer is: Imaginary clue

The correct choice is based on the understanding that context clues are hints within a text that help readers deduce the meanings of unfamiliar words. Antonym clues provide a contrast to the word in question, offering an opposite to help clarify its meaning. For example, if the word is "generous," an antonym clue might say, "Unlike her stingy brother, she is very generous." Definition clues directly define the word within the surrounding text. An example would be, "The arboreal creature lives in trees; it is a type of squirrel." Inference clues require the reader to use their reasoning skills to figure out the meaning based on context and prior knowledge, such as when an unfamiliar term is surrounded by descriptive adjectives or related ideas that imply its meaning. Imaginary clues, on the other hand, do not fit the established definitions of context clues and do not provide relevant information that helps in understanding a word's meaning. They lack the grounded context that aids comprehension, making this option the one that does not belong among recognized types of context clues.