How do context clues assist in understanding unfamiliar vocabulary?

Context clues play a crucial role in helping readers infer the meanings of unfamiliar vocabulary. They are often found in the surrounding text—within sentences or paragraphs—that provide hints or signals about the meanings of words that might not be immediately recognizable. For instance, a sentence may describe a scenario or emotion that allows readers to deduce what the unfamiliar word might mean based on the clues given. This inference process is essential as it helps to make sense of the text as a whole without needing to pause and look up each unfamiliar word, thus maintaining the flow of reading and enhancing comprehension.

The other options indicate misunderstandings about context clues. For example, stating that context clues are irrelevant undermines their established role in aiding vocabulary understanding. Summarizing the text does not directly help with individual word meanings, and claiming they are usually incorrect contradicts the effectiveness of context clues in literacy.