The TABE Reading section tests your ability to determine the meaning of words and phrases from the context of a passage. This skill, often called vocabulary in context, is a crucial part of reading comprehension.
How to Figure Out Word Meanings
On the TABE, you are not expected to know the definition of every difficult word. Instead, you'll be given a passage and asked to figure out the meaning of a specific word or phrase based on how it's used. To do this, you can use several strategies:
Look for Clues: Pay close attention to the words and sentences surrounding the unfamiliar word. The author often provides clues that explain or hint at its meaning. These clues might be:
Synonyms: The passage might use a word with a similar meaning.
Antonyms: The passage might contrast the word with its opposite.
Examples: The author might provide an example of the word in use.
Explanations: The text may directly define the word in a different part of the sentence or paragraph.
Use Word Parts: If you know common prefixes (like un-, re-) or suffixes (like -ly, -less), you can use them to help figure out the meaning of a word.
Substitute the Word: Try substituting each of the multiple-choice options into the sentence where the word appears. The correct answer should make the most sense in the context of the sentence. 📖
Remember, the goal is to understand the word's meaning as it's used in the passage, not just its general definition.
