Arkansas Foundations of Reading Exam Reading Comprehension 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which question type requires students to make an inference rather than locate explicitly stated information?
- 'What color was the character's hat?'
- 'On what page does the author mention rainfall?'
- 'Why do you think the character decided to leave?' (Correct answer)
- 'How many chapters are in this book?'
Correct answer: 'Why do you think the character decided to leave?'
Asking why a character made a decision requires the reader to combine textual clues with reasoning, going beyond what is literally stated.
Question 2: The purpose of using a K-W-L chart before and after reading is to:
- Assess phonics knowledge
- Activate prior knowledge, set a reading purpose, and organize new learning (Correct answer)
- Evaluate reading fluency rate
- Identify spelling errors in student writing
Correct answer: Activate prior knowledge, set a reading purpose, and organize new learning
K-W-L charts engage students' prior knowledge (K), focus reading by articulating what they want to learn (W), and consolidate new knowledge (L) after reading.
Question 3: Which type of text structure presents ideas in time order?
- Description
- Compare/contrast
- Sequential/chronological (Correct answer)
- Problem/solution
Correct answer: Sequential/chronological
Sequential or chronological text structure organizes information in the order events occurred, using signal words like 'first,' 'then,' and 'finally.'
Question 4: A teacher asks students to retell a story including the characters, setting, problem, and solution. This activity develops students' understanding of:
- Text features in informational texts
- Narrative story structure (story grammar) (Correct answer)
- Compare-and-contrast text structure
- Author's purpose in persuasive writing
Correct answer: Narrative story structure (story grammar)
Story grammar elements (characters, setting, problem, events, resolution) form the structural framework of narrative texts, and retelling builds awareness of this structure.
Question 5: Which statement best describes the role of background knowledge in reading comprehension?
- Background knowledge is irrelevant because all necessary information is in the text
- Rich background knowledge helps readers fill in gaps, make inferences, and deeply understand text (Correct answer)
- Background knowledge only matters for informational texts, not fiction
- Background knowledge is automatically provided by vocabulary instruction
Correct answer: Rich background knowledge helps readers fill in gaps, make inferences, and deeply understand text
Readers use background knowledge (schema) to make inferences, connect ideas, and interpret author intent—gaps in background knowledge directly impair comprehension.
Question 6: Which comprehension strategy involves students creating pictures in their minds as they read?
- Summarizing
- Predicting
- Visualizing (Correct answer)
- Clarifying
Correct answer: Visualizing
Visualizing means forming mental images of text content, which deepens engagement and supports memory and comprehension of what was read.
Arkansas Foundations of Reading Exam Reading Comprehension 2
Which question type requires students to make an inference rather than locate explicitly stated information?