Question

Read the sentence below and use context clues to determine the meaning of the word despondent:

My best friend's phone calls are always so happy, but this time she sounded really despondent.

Which person is most likely to be despondent? Someone who is

ordering dessert
playing with toys
singing a sad song
winning a race

Answer 1

`\boxed{\bold{Singing \ a \ sad \ song}}`

Step-by-step explanation:

Despondent: In low spirits from loss of hope or courage

Sentence: "My best friend's phone calls are always so happy, but this time she sounded really despondent."

By using context clues, we can tell that the narrator's friend usually has happy and/or upbeat phone conversations, but this time, her friend is feeling 'despondent', meaning sad or in despair.

Options: Ordering dessert, playing with toys, singing a sad song, winning a race

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Ordering dessert

Playing with toys

Winning a race

When doing these things, you are not sad, in despair or in low spirits from 'loss of hope or courage.' You are upbeat and happy. There is no reason to be despondent.

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Singing a sad song

You would have no reason to sing a sad song unless your were despondent. You might be in low spirits or having loss of hope or courage when doing this.

`\boxed{\bold{Mordancy}}`

Answer 2

The sentence is using the word "but" which is contrasting two ideas. If your best friend's phone calls are always happy but today she sounded despondent, she was the opposite of happy. A person singing a sad song would be most likely to be despondent.

Hope this helps!