What are picture cues used for in reading?

Picture cues play a vital role in aiding readers' comprehension by providing visual context that enhances understanding. They help bridge the gap between text and meaning, particularly for emerging readers who may struggle with unfamiliar vocabulary or complex concepts. By seeing an image that corresponds with the text, readers can make connections and infer the meanings of words and phrases, thus deepening their overall grasp of the material.

Using picture cues effectively supports literacy development, especially in early education and among learners who benefit from multimodal learning approaches. They serve as a scaffold, enabling readers to engage with the content more fully and enhancing their ability to retain information.

While other options present potential benefits of pictures in different contexts, such as genre identification or even the possibility of a distraction, they do not align with the primary function of picture cues in fostering comprehension and word understanding.