Efficient readers are characterized by knowing when they are or aren't comprehending and by doing what else?

• A. Using prior knowledge before, during, and after reading.
• B. Relying only on pictures.
• C. Rereading only the confusing parts.
• D. Avoiding purpose for reading.

Answer: (A)

Efficient readers monitor their understanding and actively bring in and organize background knowledge to make meaning. Activating prior knowledge before, during, and after reading helps connect new information to what readers already know, supports making predictions, clarifies unfamiliar ideas, and strengthens memory for the material. This combination of metacognitive awareness and strategic use of background knowledge keeps comprehension strong and makes reading more purposeful and efficient.

Relying only on pictures doesn’t provide enough information for understanding full text, and rereading only the confusing parts misses the ongoing, proactive effort to monitor and repair meaning throughout the reading. Avoiding a purpose for reading reduces engagement and the use of strategies that support comprehension.