Which statement accurately describes the term 'contextual clues'?

The statement that contextual clues are hints provided by the surrounding text to determine meaning is accurate because contextual clues help readers infer the meanings of unfamiliar words or phrases based on how they are used within the text. When readers encounter a word they do not understand, they can look at the sentences before and after it, as well as the overall theme of the passage, to gather hints that guide them towards the correct interpretation. This process relies heavily on understanding the relationships between words and concepts in a given context, making it a vital reading strategy for comprehension and vocabulary development.

The other choices do not align with the concept of contextual clues, as they either describe irrelevant aspects or definitions that do not pertain to assisting comprehension in textual analysis.