Be careful when lighting a match in the science lab— there are flammable liquids in there!

Question

Explain the meaning of flammable as it is used in the sentence, as well as the context clues that helped you determine this meaning.

Answer 1

In this sentence, the word "flammable" refers to substances that are easily set on fire and burned. The context clues that help determine this meaning are "match" and "science lab," indicating that the location contains potentially hazardous materials. Moreover, the warning to "be careful" implies that fire is a significant risk, reinforcing the idea that flammable liquids are present. The combination of these clues suggests that "flammable" refers to substances that can ignite and sustain combustion easily.