Sometimes, writers include examples to help explain unfamiliar words and phrases. Words and phrases like for example, for instance, such as, or like signal these kinds of clues.
| EXAMPLE | I experienced many disasters playing sports. For example, I broke my arm trying the high jump. |
Use Context Clues Work with a partner. Read each sentence. Use context clues to figure out the meaning of each underlined word.
1. I didn’t have sports equipment like basketballs, footballs, and hockey sticks when I was growing up.
2. I chose individual sports, such as hiking and bicycle riding.
3. An amazing feat, such as kicking the football through the basketball hoop, was talked about for days.
4. My daughter probably inherited my inability at sports. For example, she was terrible at softball.
Exaggeration is one style a writer uses to be funny. The writer stretches the truth, or makes things seem bigger than they really are. This often creates a humorous image in the reader’s mind.
Analyze Exaggeration Reread the second paragraph on page 318. Look at the chart. It shows examples of exaggeration from the paragraph. Why are they funny? Complete the chart.
| Example | Why It Is Funny |
|---|---|
| I ended up with the ugliest, thickest, most unwanted frames on the planet. | They must be really ugly if they are the ugliest pair on the planet. |
| I could have clubbed an ogre with my glasses. Or hammered together a house. |
Work with a partner to find other examples of exaggeration in “Two Left Feet, …” Make a chart, and tell why they are funny.