New Hampshire Foundations of Reading Practice Test

Semantic cues help in understanding texts by incorporating what aspect?

1. Correct spelling of words

2. Knowledge about sentence structures

3. Personal experiences and text meaning

4. Listening to spoken words only

The correct answer is: Personal experiences and text meaning

Semantic cues play a crucial role in comprehension by connecting the information in a text to a reader's personal experiences and understanding of the world. This means that when readers encounter a word or phrase, they use their background knowledge and personal insights to interpret the meaning effectively. By relating new information to what they already know, readers can better grasp the overall message and significance of the text. Incorporating personal experiences allows readers to create mental images, make inferences, and draw conclusions, which enhances their engagement with the material. This process is essential for deeper comprehension, as it transforms mere words on a page into meaningful concepts that resonate with the reader's life and experiences. This is why semantic cues, which involve personal experiences in understanding text, are fundamental for developing reading comprehension skills.