Question

Read the passage below and answer the question.

O, swear not by the moon, the inconstant moon, that monthly changes in her circled orb, lest that Thy love prove likewise variable.

Use context clues to identify the best definition of the word variable as used in the passage from Romeo and Juliet.

A. Disintegrating
B. Altering
C. Encouraging
D. Provoking

Answer 1

I believe the answer is B: altering

Answer 2

Answer: B) Altering.

Explanation: Context clues are hints that an author gives to help define a difficult or unusual word within a book. They can be placed within the same sentence as the word to which it refers or it may follow in the next sentence. In the given passage, the context clues that help to identify the definition of the word "variable" are "inconstant" and "changes" from which we can infer that the word "variable" means "altering."