NA ME: DATE:

Readi n g S tra teg ies

(Unit 6, page 70)

Guessi n g mea ni ng fro m co nte x t

Lear n t o use t he c on te xt o f a r eadi n g to det ermi n e possib le m ea ni ngs o f u nfami liar words.

Prac tice. Look at the highlighted words in context and choose the best definition for each. Explain
your answers.

1. “The earth is rich in biodi versity with millions of different species of plants and animals. “

biodiv ersity
a. endangered animals b. the variety of living things c. threats to nature

2. “…the giant panda’s hab ita t has been decim ated —the old-growth bamboo forests where the
pandas make their home are being destroyed rapidly… (T)he polar bear’s icy h abi tat is disappearing
as a result of global warming, and it’s survival is at risk.”

habi ta t
a. the food animals eat b. the place animals live c. the extinction of animals

decima ted
a. helped b. destroyed c. enlarged

3. “Extinc tio n is one environmental problem that is truly irreversible—once gone, these species
cannot be brought back.”

ext inct io n
a. global warming b. trying to protect animals c. the disappearance of a species

4. “…WWF has advanced giant panda c ons erv atio n by training more than 300 panda reserve staff
and local government officials, working with the community to help save habitat and guard against
illegal hunting.”

conser va tio n
a. trying to protect animals b. dangers to animals c. feeding animals

5. “Biodiversity is reduced when ecosys tems are modified and the habitats of plants and animals are
destroyed…. If one species in an ecosyst em disappears, other species are affected. And when one
ecosyste m is altered or destroyed, a ripple effect occurs, and the interdependency of all living things
becomes clear.

ecosyste m
a. trying to protect animals b. threats to animals c. how plants and animals work
together

Summit 1 Unit 6
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