Contrast & Antonyms
Tested in questions 4 and 10 comparing finesse to brute power.
Context Clue Types
Inference & Cause/Effect
Tested in questions 1, 3, 7, and 9 through narrative events.
Court Vision • Teacher Answer Key Page 1 of 2 • Turn Over for Detailed Rationales
Correct answers, context clue evidence, and common distractor pitfalls
Grade 6 ELA
Q1: Meaning of Deficit Key: A
Rationale: The very next sentence clarifies: "Being behind by so many points so late in the fourth quarter caused panic..." Hence, a deficit is the amount by which a team is trailing.
Distractor C mixes up what occurs during a timeout.
Q2: Clue for Tenacious Key: C
Rationale: The em-dash directly defines tenacious as "an unyielding, aggressive effort that refused to surrender an inch...".
Distractors A, B, and D describe setting/characters without defining the word.
Q3: Meaning of Intercept Key: B
Rationale: Marcus leaped to grab the ball "before it reached the intended forward, snatching possession mid-air." Intercepting means stopping or taking the ball in transit.
Distractor A is an offensive assist, the opposite of a defensive steal.
Q4: Contrast with Finesse Key: A
Rationale: The author contrasts finesse by stating: "Rather than forcing a wild shot with brute power, Marcus showcased remarkable finesse..."
Distractor C is an example of finesse, not the contrast.
Q5: Definition of Momentum Key: B
Rationale: The author explains momentum with an appositive phrase: "...giving the Cougars the energetic surge and driving force they needed..."
Distractor A confuses the referee's action with physical and emotional momentum.
Q6: Meaning of Pivotal Key: B
Rationale: Paragraph 3 explains it as: "the single decisive play that would determine whether they won the trophy or went home empty-handed."
Distractors A and C are antonyms suggesting triviality.
Q7: Clue for Jubilant Key: C
Rationale: "erupting onto the floor in pure joy and celebration" directly demonstrates the joyous, celebratory meaning of jubilant.
Distractors A, B, and D describe preceding gameplay actions.
Q8: Type of Clue (Tenacious) Key: A
Rationale: An em-dash (—) connects the term directly to its definition phrase: "an unyielding, aggressive effort that refused to surrender..."
Students often overlook punctuation marks as structural context clues.
Q9: Central Idea Key: B
Rationale: The story traces how composure, relentless defensive effort, and selfless teamwork enabled the team to overcome a 9-point deficit.
Distractor C is contradicted when Marcus passes to Kayla for the winning shot.
Q10: Opposite Word Pair Key: A
Rationale: Finesse (graceful, delicate skill) and brute power (raw, forceful strength) represent opposing approaches to the shot.
Pairs B, C, and D are synonyms in the context of the story.
Targeted Teaching Tips • Context Clue Mastery
If students struggle with Q4 & Q10 (Contrast): Teach them to hunt for contrast signal words like rather than, unlike, or instead of. In paragraph 2, "Rather than..." tells the reader that finesse is being juxtaposed with brute power. If students struggle with Q8 (Punctuation Clues): Emphasize that authors frequently use dashes (—), commas, or parentheses to insert immediate definitions without interrupting narrative flow.
Court Vision • Teacher Answer Key Page 2 of 2 • Comprehensive ELA Instructional Resource
Final Climax
“With four seconds remaining, Marcus drove into the lane. This was the pivotal moment—the single decisive play that would determine whether they won the trophy or went home empty-handed.”
“As the buzzer blared, Kayla’s three-pointer swished through the hoop, sending the jubilant bench erupting onto the floor in pure joy and celebration.”
Action Clue: The bench “erupting in pure joy and celebration” paints the exact picture of what jubilant means!
Court Vision Comeback Lesson Slide 5 of 8
Class Walkthrough • Question 2
Skill: Q2
Question 2 Prompt
Which phrase provides the clearest clue to the meaning of tenacious?
A “caused panic in the stands”
B “During the timeout”
C “unyielding, aggressive effort that refused to surrender” (CORRECT)
D “remained composed”
Court Vision Comeback Lesson Slide 6 of 8
Deep Dive • Question 4 & 10
Opposites in Action
What It Is NOT
Raw physical force, shoving through defenders, wildly firing the ball toward the rim.
What It IS
Delicate footwork, graceful control, and a soft finger roll that gently touches the glass.
Key Takeaway for Question 10: Authors place contrasting words side-by-side to highlight how an athlete plays with intelligence and style rather than just strength.
Court Vision Comeback Lesson Slide 7 of 8
Game Wrap-Up
Deficit
Trailing or behind on the scoreboard
Tenacious
Unyielding, fierce, and relentless
Intercept
Catching or stopping a pass in flight
Finesse
Delicate, graceful, and refined skill
Momentum
Driving force and energetic surge
Pivotal
Crucially decisive moment of impact
Court Vision Comeback Lesson Slide 8 of 8
