What should you do if a passage uses unfamiliar vocabulary?

Paying attention to context and tone is a highly effective strategy when faced with unfamiliar vocabulary in a passage. This approach allows you to derive meaning from the surrounding information, which can provide clues about the unfamiliar words. By considering the overall theme and the speaker's tone, you can make educated guesses about the meaning of the vocabulary. This comprehension strategy is particularly useful in spoken passages, where immediate clarification may not be possible, and looking up words on a dictionary may interrupt your flow of understanding. Context helps bridge gaps in knowledge and enhances retention of new language.

Other methods, like asking for clarification, can be beneficial in some situations, but they depend on immediate interaction. Using a dictionary may be impractical in real-time settings like listening exams. Ignoring unfamiliar vocabulary altogether can lead to missing key details and a lack of understanding of the passage. Thus, focusing on context and tone offers a balanced approach to grasping the content while navigating unknown words.