A study examined whether first-grade children comprehended less-familiar vocabulary from four "Mother Goose" nursery rhymes and whether the children used auditory context clues and/or visual illustrations to comprehend unknown vocabulary in the nursery rhymes. Subjects, 40 children from suburban areas and 40 children from urban areas, completed a questionnaire administered individually. Results indicated that 36% of the 11 words in the questionnaire were unknown by 70% or more of the children. Results also indicated that a number of the children attempted to use the context of the rhyme and/or the illustrations to assist with their comprehension, but their understanding of these words was limited. Findings suggest that while children enjoy the rhyme and rhythm of nursery rhymes, they have incomplete or poor knowledge of their meanings. (Twenty-six tables of data are included; 29 references, the text of the 4 nursery rhymes, and the survey instrument are attached.) (RS)