Context Clues: Look for an Example

Use examples in a sentence to figure out a new word.

Sometimes an author gives examples right after a hard word. Watch for 'like', 'such as', and 'for example'. Read: 'We saw many reptiles at the zoo, such as snakes, lizards, and turtles.

' If you didn't know 'reptiles', the examples tell you: they're animals like snakes and lizards. Here is another: 'Mom grows herbs, like mint and basil, in little pots.

' Mint and basil are plants used for flavor, so herbs must be those kinds of plants. The examples are a little map to the meaning.

• 1Authors sometimes give examples of a hard word.
• 2Look for 'like', 'such as', 'for example'.
• 3Ask what the examples have in common.