Use the sentences below to answer the question.
The debate over whether dogs or cats made better pets had become so contentious that soon students were shouting at each other. Only when the teacher rang a loud bell did the arguing finally stop.
Which word or phrase is NOT a useful context clue to help you find the meaning of contentious?
The word or phrase that is NOT a useful context clue to help find the meaning of contentious is "shouting at each other".
The word or phrase that is NOT a useful context clue to help find the meaning of contentious is "students were shouting at each other."
To determine which word or phrase is not a useful context clue to find the meaning of "contentious," it is important to analyze each option and assess its relevance to the meaning of the word.
In this case, we can examine each word or phrase as follows:
1. The debate over whether dogs or cats made better pets had become so contentious: This sentence directly contains the word "contentious," and its context indicates that there was intense disagreement or conflict.
2. That soon students were shouting at each other: This phrase supports the idea of a heated debate and emphasizes the level of disagreement between the students.
3. Only when the teacher rang a loud bell did the arguing finally stop: This sentence implies that the arguing was continuous and only ceased when the teacher intervened. It further highlights the degree of conflict that had taken place.
Analyzing these options, we can conclude that the phrase "The debate over whether dogs or cats made better pets had become" is not a useful context clue to find the meaning of "contentious." This phrase does not provide any direct information about the meaning of the word; rather, it sets the stage for the debate itself but does not offer a specific clue about the level of disagreement involved.