TEXES Science of Teaching Reading Practice Test

Which factor is NOT likely to contribute to difficulties in reading comprehension?

1. Difficulties with word recognition

2. Difficulty understanding function words

3. Limited prior knowledge

4. Deficits in strategy use

The correct answer is: Difficulty understanding function words

Understanding the core components of reading comprehension is essential for recognizing how various factors contribute to a reader's ability to comprehend text. Difficulties with word recognition, for instance, can severely hinder comprehension since recognizing words is fundamental for understanding sentences and overall meaning. If learners have trouble identifying words, it can disrupt their ability to make sense of what they read. Limited prior knowledge is another significant factor. A reader’s background knowledge on a topic influences how well they can connect ideas presented in the text. If a student lacks prior knowledge, they may struggle to relate new information to previously acquired knowledge, limiting their comprehension of the material. Deficits in strategy use are equally crucial. Effective reading strategies—such as summarization, questioning, and making inferences—are vital for understanding complex texts. If a student does not use or apply these strategies well, it can impair their comprehension abilities. The understanding of function words—such as prepositions, conjunctions, and articles—is important, but these words are usually not the primary barrier to comprehension. While they play a role in the grammatical structure of sentences, difficulties with function words do not typically impede comprehension as severely as the other factors listed. Therefore, while understanding function words is helpful, it is less likely to be a