8

English
Quarter 1 – Module 1:
Context Clues
English – Grade 8
Alternative Delivery Mode
Quarter 1 – Module 1: Context Clues

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Published by the Department of Education

Secretary: Leonor Magtolis Briones
Undersecretary: Diosdado M. San Antonio

Development Team of the Module

Writer: DONNA KRISTIN H. VILCHEZ
Editors: MARIA CECILIA M. CALAMBA
Reviewer: MA. JORESSI O. SIMAFRANCA
Illustrators: IVORY JOAN M. TAMBALA, CHARISSE C. LOREJO, &
ROVIC E. AKIATAN
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BASILIO P. MANA-AY JR., CESE
EMMA M. CAMPOREDONDO. CESE
ALMA D. CIFRA, Ed.D.
MAY ANN M. JUMUAD, Ph.D.
ARIS B. JUANILLO, Ph.D.

Printed in the Philippines by Davao City Division Learning Resources

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Department of Education – Davao City, Region IX

Office Address: Elpidio R. Quirino Avenue, Poblacion District, 8000 Davao City
Telefax: (082) 224-3274, (082) 222-1672
E-mail Address: davao.city@deped.gov.ph
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English
Quarter 1 – Module 1:
Context Clues
Introductory Message
For the facilitator:

Welcome to the English Grade 8 Alternative Delivery Mode (ADM) Module Context
Clues.

This module was collaboratively designed, developed and reviewed by educators

both from public and private institutions to assist you, the teacher or facilitator in
helping the learners meet the standards set by the K to 12 Curriculum while
overcoming their personal, social, and economic constraints in schooling.

This learning resource hopes to engage the learners into guided and independent
learning activities at their own pace and time. Furthermore, this also aims to help
learners acquire the needed 21st century skills while taking into consideration
their needs and circumstances.

In addition to the material in the main text, you will also see this box in the body of
the module:

Notes to the Teacher

This contains helpful tips or strategies
that will help you in guiding the learners.

As a facilitator, you are expected to orient the learners on how to use this module.
You also need to keep track of the learners' progress while allowing them to
manage their own learning. Furthermore, you are expected to encourage and assist
the learners as they do the tasks included in the module.

For the learner:

Welcome to the English Grade 8 Alternative Delivery Mode (ADM) Module Context
Clues.

This module was designed to provide you with fun and meaningful opportunities
for guided and independent learning at your own pace and time. You will be
enabled to process the contents of the learning resource while being an active
learner.

This module has the following parts and corresponding icons:

What I Need to Know This will give you an idea of the skills or
competencies you are expected to learn in
the module.

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 What I Know This part includes an activity that aims to
check what you already know about the
lesson to take. If you get all the answers
correct (100%), you may decide to skip this
module.

What’s In This is a brief drill or review to help you link

the current lesson with the previous one.

What’s New In this portion, the new lesson will be

introduced to you in various ways; a story, a
song, a poem, a problem opener, an activity
or a situation.

What is It This section provides a brief discussion of

the lesson. This aims to help you discover
and understand new concepts and skills.

What’s More This comprises activities for independent

practice to solidify your understanding and
skills of the topic. You may check the
answers to the exercises using the Answer
Key at the end of the module.

What I Have Learned This includes questions or blank

sentence/paragraph to be filled in to process
what you learned from the lesson.

What I Can Do This section provides an activity which will

help you transfer your new knowledge or
skill into real life situations or concerns.

Assessment This is a task which aims to evaluate your

level of mastery in achieving the learning
competency.

Additional Activities In this portion, another activity will be given

to you to enrich your knowledge or skill of
the lesson learned.

Answer Key This contains answers to all activities in the

module.
At the end of this module you will also find:

References This is a list of all sources used in

developing this module.
The following are some reminders in using this module:

1. Use the module with care. Do not put unnecessary mark/s on any part of
the module. Use a separate sheet of paper in answering the exercises.

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2. Don’t forget to answer What I Know before moving on to the other activities
included in the module.
3. Read the instruction carefully before doing each task.
4. Observe honesty and integrity in doing the tasks and checking your
answers.
5. Finish the task at hand before proceeding to the next.
6. Return this module to your teacher/facilitator once you are through with it.
If you encounter any difficulty in answering the tasks in this module, do not
hesitate to consult your teacher or facilitator. Always bear in mind that you are
not alone.

We hope that through this material, you will experience meaningful learning
and gain deep understanding of the relevant competencies. You can do it!

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 What I Need to Know

Great day to you dear learner! In this module you will learn the dynamically
colorful examples and meanings of the English language particularly the context
clues.

You may be able to use context clues in oral conversations and even in
written outputs. May you find significant learning experiences and joy from this
module. Let’s start the fun and learning now.

After going through this module, you are expected to:

1. Decipher the meaning of the word/expression.
2. Find the context clue that gives a hint to the meaning of the
word/expression.
3. Identify types of context clues used (Synonym and Antonym).

What I Know

DIRECTIONS: Find the meaning of the underlined word in the sentence inside the
word box and write it before the number.

WORD BOX

peaceful rest white

high bare

happiness sad

room beauty burning

__________1. I dream of living close to the beach on a sizzling hot day.

__________2. I want to make shining castles while sitting on a silver sand.

__________3. I dream of climbing into the attic of my tall house near the shore.

__________4. I like having retreat to my room when everyone is going swimming in

the summer.

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__________5. I sometimes feel so gloomy and melancholy on rainy days, and I do not
understand why.
__________6. I wanted to climb the lofty coconut tree to get the refreshing fruit, but I
was too afraid of heights.

__________7. I could see nothing but the sky as I wandered through the desolate
plains.

__________8. I like to sit near the shore when the wind is calm, and the water is
tranquil.
__________9. When I was invited to a beach party, I was so overcome with felicity
that I could barely find the words to accept it.

__________10. It is good to wake up early in the morning and witness the sunrise.
Nature's splendor is really amazing.

Lesson

1 Context Clues

Let us take a first step in building your vocabulary through learning context
clues. You may use pictures as hints of a new word. Pictures are good instrument for
word meaning.

What’s In

Activity 1 Picture Analysis

DIRECTIONS: Analyze the pictures in each set. Write an appropriate word that you
can think about the pictures to complete the sentences.
dfgwgf

These girls have the same parents. They are 1. _____________.

In other words, they are 2. ___________________.

dfghaeh

gggrre
rthsrth

They live together as a 3. _____________.

In other words, they are 4. ___________________.
rtjhrtjhrht

hdhdhhte

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 gaege
A wonderful place for a family is a 5. _____________.

It is also called 6. ________________.

dvsdgs

fAfdf
Does the word make sense in your sentence? If it does not make sense look at the
clues (pictures) again.

What’s New

Activity 2 Finding Clues

Let us take a higher step in learning context clues. Expression or idioms can be
easy to understand if you are able to find clues. Meanings of expressions or idioms
can be just right before your very eyes.

DIRECTIONS: Complete the chart. Read each passage and writethe unknown
expression. Look for clues used in the passage to get the meaning of the
expression. The first item is done as your guide.

Passage Unknown Expression Clue/Meaning

Example:
It is not surprising that I have The apple does not fall similar qualities
similar qualities with my mother. far from the tree.
The apple does not fall far from the
tree.
1. My brother is as tall as my father.
They play the same sports too. Like
father, like son.

2. My sister and my mother look

almost identical. They both have
deep brown eyes. I could say my
sister is a spitting image of my
mother.

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3. I am my grandfather’s favorite
companion. We love to go fishing all
day long. I am the apple of his eye.

4. Father is the breadwinner of the

family. He works long hours to be a
good provider of our needs.

5. When we were kids, my oldest sister

was in charge of household chores.
She also told us what to do. She
ruled the roost.

Did you get everything right? You may check the key to correction for the right
answers.

What is It

Context clues are pieces of information in the words or sentences or

illustrations that help supply the meaning of the word. Just like what you did in
picture analysis, using the pictures or other words, helped you figure out the
words.

CONTEXT

The words, phrases, and sentences surrounding an unfamiliar word.

The context can help you make a guess about a new word or phrase.

Let us study the sentence below:

context clue

It is not surprising that I have similar qualities with my mother. The apple does not
fall far from the tree.

idiom

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 Good readers use context clues to understand the meaning of an
unfamiliar and challenging word. There are types of context clues that can
help you figure out the meaning of new words. The common types are the
following:

Let us study the examples.

synonym clue

1. Some Japanese built their homes with brick made of sun-dried clay. The
Filipinos also used adobe to build their homes.

unfamiliar word

In the above sentence, adobe is synonym to brick. The signal word ALSO
tells you that they are similar in meaning.

antonym clue

2. Most Japanese love to live in single-family houses, but the Filipinos live
in longhouses.

unfamiliar word

In the above sentence, the word long houses is the antonym of single-family
houses. The signal word BUT tells you that they are opposite in meaning.

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 What’s More

Activity 3. Read On
Read the story below. Look closely at the underlined words in the story. Try to
find clues of these words when you finish reading the story.

The Story of the Aged Mother

(Japanese Folktale by Matsuo Basho)

Long, long ago there lived at the foot of the

mountain a poor farmer and his aged, widowed
mother. They owned a bit of land which supplied
them with food, and their humble were peaceful
and happy. Shinano was governed by a despotic
leader who though a warrior, had a great and
cowardly shrinking from anything suggestive of
failing health and strength. This caused him to
send out a cruel proclamation. The entire
province was given strict orders to immediately
put to death all aged people. Those were
barbarous days, and the custom of abandoning
old people to die was not common. The poor
farmer loved his aged mother with tender
reverence, and the order filled his heart with
sorrow. But no one ever thought a second time
about obeying the mandate of the governor, so
with many deep hopeless sighs, the youth
prepared for what at that time was considered the
kindest mode of death.

Just at sundown, when his day’s work was ended, he took a quantity of
unwhitened rice which is principal food for poor, cooked and dried it, and tying it in
a square cloth, swung and bundle around his neck along with a gourd filled with
cool, sweet water. Then he lifted his helpless old mother to his back and stated on
his painful journey up the mountain. The road was long and steep; then arrowed
road was crossed and re-crossed by many paths made by the hunters and
woodcutters. In some place, they mingled in a confused puzzled, but he gave no
heed. One path or another, it mattered not. On he went, climbing blindly upward
– ever upward towards the high bare summit of what is known as Obatsuyama,
the mountain of the “abandoning of aged”.

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 The eyes of the old mother were not so dim but that they noted the reckless
hastening from one path to another, and her loving heart grew anxious. Her son
did not know the mountain’s many paths and his return might be one of danger, so
she stretched forth her hand and snapping the twigs from brushes as they passed,
she quietly dropped a handful every few steps of the way so that they climbed, the
narrow path behind them was dotted at frequently intervals with tiny piles of twigs.
At last the summit was reached. Weary and heart sick, the youth gently released
his burden and silently prepared a place of comfort as his last duty to the loved
one. Gathering fallen pine needle, he made a soft cushion and tenderly lifting his
old mother therein, he wrapped her padded coat more closely about the stooping
shoulders and with tearful eyes and an aching heart said farewell.

The trembling mother’s voice was full of unselfish love as she gave her last
injunction. “Let not thine eyes be blinded, my son.” She said. “The mountain road
is full of dangers. Look carefully and follow the path which holds the piles of twigs.
They will guide you to the familiar way farther down”. The son’s surprised eyes
looked back over the path, then at the poor old, shriveled hands all scratched and
soiled by their work of love. His heart smote him and bowing to the grounds, he
cried aloud: “oh, Honorable mother, thy kindness thrusts my heart! I will not leave
thee. Together we will follow the path of twigs, and together we will die!”

Once more he shouldered his burden (how light it seemed) and hastened
down the path, through the shadows and the moonlight, to the little hut in the
valley. Beneath the kitchen floor was a walled closet for food, which was covered
and hidden from view. There the son hid his mother, supplying her with everything
needful and continually watching and fearing. Time passed, and he was beginning
to feel safe when again the governor sent forth heralds bearing an unreasonable
order, seemingly as a boast of his power. His demand was that his subject should
present him with a rope of ashes. The entire province trembled with dread. The
order must be obeyed yet who in all shining could make a rope of ashes?

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 One night, in great distress, the son whispered the news to his hidden
mother. “Wait!” she said. “I will think. I will think” On the second day she told him
what to do. “Make rope twisted straw,” she said. “Then stretch it upon a row of flat
stones and burn it there on the windless night.” He called the people together and
did as she said and when the blaze and died, behold upon the stones with every
twist and fiber showing perfectly. Lay a rope of whitehead ashes.

The governor was pleased at the wit of the youth and praised greatly, but he
demanded to know where he had obtained his wisdom. “Alas! Alas!” cried the
farmer, “the truth must be told!” and with deep bows he related his story. The
governor listened and then meditated in silence. Finally, he lifted his head.
“Shining needs more than strength of youth,” he said gravely. “Ah, that I should
have forgotten the well-known saying, “with the crown of snow, there cometh a
wisdom!” That very hour the cruel law was abolished, and custom drifted into as
far a past that only legends remain.

DIRECTIONS: Fill in the diagram below. Write the similar words (synonym)
and the opposite words (antonym) of the underlined word in the story. Use
the context clues that surround the word.

despotic

mandate

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 summit

Activity 4. More Keywords

DIRECTIONS: Go back to the story, The Aged Mother. Fill in the chart with
more unfamiliar words or difficult words. Look for the keyword or clue and
write a sentence using the keyword. The first one is done for you.

Unfamiliar Keyword/
Sentence
Word Clue

The leader gave a strict

proclamation order order to put aged
people to death.

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 What I Have Learned

Activity 5: I’d Rather

DIRECTIONS: Put the items in order from the things you would most rather
do to the things you would least rather do. Write ordinal numbers 1st to 5th
on the line. Then encircle the word clue/context clue that gives meaning to
the underlined word.
I would rather…
__________ follow my intuition in making decisions. Just like I follow my
feelings in choosing culture beliefs.

__________ conform to the strict orders no matter what happens. Also, I

would rather obey than be punished.

__________ let my aged mother follow orders. In the same way, I would follow
rules for the best situation.

__________ be worried if my mother is already old and frail, but I would be

fine if she is still young and strong.

__________ disobey the law than abandon my aged mother. Unlike other
people in the village, they would rather submit to the rules.

What I Can Do

Activity 6 Cloze Passage

DIRECTIONS: Read the passage below that has missing words. Choose a word in
the box for each blank to complete the paragraph. Each word will be used only one
time.

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 fitting tell flawed complex no luck

The Suzuki-en

One happy day, father and I decided to take a long day trip to a fishing
place. I did not know where the fishing place was and father just wanted it to be a
surprise. That was Thursday when the weather was perfect in the morning but (1)
____________ by a heavy rain in the afternoon. While on the road, father gave me a
map. I studied it for quite a while. I thought the map was simple, but it was really
(2) _____________. I was a bit confused of the map. A little later, it was difficult to
conceal the surprise. Father just wanted to (3) ____________ the name of the fishing
place so badly. It’s called Suzuki-en. It was an appropriate name for a fishing place.
It was a (4) ____________ name because the Japanese owner taught us some fishing
tips and tricks. That beautiful day was filled with adventure and fun. However, we
were the most hapless persons that day. In other words, father and I had (5)
_____________ at all. We did not bring any fish home, but we brought joy in our
hearts.

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 Assessment

Test I.
DIRECTIONS: Encircle the letter of the correct meaning of the underlined word.
Then identify the context clue used by writing synonym or antonym on the space
before the number.
__________1. Speaking rudely to a person in authority is a rash behavior. Even
more, it is not good to act foolish to anybody.
a. loud
b. funny
c. desirable
d. inconsiderate

__________ 2. The kind of movie to watch is sometimes the cause of sibling dispute.
It would be so much simpler if they both liked the same kind of movie.

a. deal
b. discovery
c. conversation
d. disagreement

__________ 3. Mom has to sterilize the baby's bottle. It is not good for the baby to
use dirty bottle.

a. clean
b. messy
c. unused
d. disorganized

__________ 4. My big brother has been a companion to me for five years. He is my

confidant in all my endeavors.

a. foe
b. friend
c. assistant
d. opponent

__________5. Some think that rules are unimportant, but they are vital in making
things in order even inside our homes.
a. useful
b. followed
c. important
d. unnecessary

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__________6. Visitors have to stay in my brother’s immaculate room. They will not
be comfortable in my very messy room.
a. big
b. dirty
c. clean
d. small

__________7. Father is disappointed, and he has nothing more to say. He left me to

contemplate how mother will react to this news.

a. cry
b. pray
c. solve
d. think

__________8. My rich neighbor gave a paltry amount to the needy even though she
was able to give much more.
a. much
b. small
c. equal
d. worthy

__________9. Sometimes elder brother begins to bully when everyone is getting

along. He always instigates fights and then acts like innocent.
a. starts
b. leaves
c. ignores
d. protects

__________10. Because I am lucky to have such good friends and family, I

considered myself fortunate.
a. blessed
b. wealthy
c. unlucky
d. deprived

Test II.
DIRECTIONS: Read and understand a short poem. Check 2 words in the list that
give meaning to the underlined word.

1.
_____ quietness
Calm as a river
Tranquility in my heart _____ noise
Blue summer skies reign.
_____ chaos
-Paul Holmes
_____ peace

Source:
https://www.familyfriendpoems.com/user16
/paul-holmes/
2.
_____ hate
Strokes of affection
Light and tenderly expressed _____ love
Keep love’s bonds so strong. _____ dislike
- Paul -Holmes _____ feelings

3.
_____ thorn
Source:
Everything I touch
https://www.familyfriendpoems.co _____ petal
with tenderness, alas,
m/poem/a-caress-haiku
pricks like a bramble. _____ shrub
Source:Kobayashi Issa
https://www.familyfriendpoems.com/user _____ bud
/paul-holmes/

4.
_____ rich
Abundant in its fullness
With small rivers _____ plenty
The spring is overflowing.
_____ empty
-Haru No Kawa _____ limited

5.
Source:
_____ city
https://www.familyfriendpoems.co
The moon is the guide
m/poem/a-caress-haiku
Come this way to my house _____ place
So saying, invite
The host Source:
of a wayside inn. _____ house
https://www.familyfriendpoems.com/user
-Matsuo Basho _____ village
/paul-holmes/

Source:
https://www.familyfriendpoems.co
m/poem/a-caress-haiku

Source:
https://www.familyfriendpoems.com/user
/paul-holmes/

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 Additional Activities

DIRECTIONS: Read any stories of your interest. List words and expressions with
their meanings using context clues. Then fill in the Independent Reading Report
below.

Tiltle of the Story:

________________
Author:
__________________________

Expressions Meaning
____________ ____________
____________ ____________
____________ ____________
____________ ____________

Unfamiliar
Words Meaning
____________ _______________
____________ _______________
____________ _______________
____________ _______________

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 Answer Key

What I know What’s In What’s New

Pre-Test. Activity 1. Picture Activity 2. Finding

Analysis. (answers in Clues.
1. burning each set can be
2. white interchanged) 1. Like father, like son
3. room – the same
4. rest 1. siblings 2. Spitting image -
5. sad 2. sisters identical
6. high 3. kin 3. Apple of the eye -
7. bare 4. family favorite
8. peaceful 5. home 4. Breadwinner –
9. happiness 6. residence provider
10. beauty 5. Ruled the roost – in
charge

What’s More. Activity 3 What’s More. Activity 3

despotic mandate

What’s More. Activity 3 Activity 4: More Key Words. Answers

may vary

What I Have Learned

Activity 5: I’d Rather. Answers may vary

for the order of the items.
summit
intuition – feelings
conform – obey
orders – rules
frail – strong
disobey – submit

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What I Can DO Assessment Test II.

Activity 6. Cloze Test I. 1. Tranquility –

Passage. quietness and peace
Synonym 1. D Antonym 6. C 2. Affection – love and
1. flawed feelings
2. complex Antonym 2. D Synonym 7. D 3. Bramble – thorn and
3. tell shrub
4. fitting Antonym 3. A Antonym 8. B
4. Abundant – rich and
5. no luck plenty
Synonym 4. B Synonym 9. A
5. Inn – place and house
Antonym 5. C Synonym 10. A

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References

Basho, M. (2020). The narrow road to the deep north and other travel sketches.
Penguin UK.

Fengning, Y. (1994, July). Context clues-a key to vocabulary development. In

Forum (Vol. 32, No. 3, p. 39).
Hass, R., Matsuo, B., Yosa, B., & Kobayashi, I. (1994). The essential haiku.

Laroche, C. (2014). Using Context Clues With Signal Words. IPADE, Florida: USA.

Neptune, J. K., & no Sugomori, T. Month: March 2011.

https://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/peacefulness-haiku

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For inquiries or feedback, please write or call:

Department of Education–Region XI Davao City Division

Elpidio Quirino Avenue, Davao City, Davao del Sur, Philippines

Telephone: (082) 224 0100 / 228 3970

Email Address: info@deped-davaocity.ph / lrmds.davaocity@deped.gov.ph

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