Efficient readers have which of the following characteristics?

• A. They know when they are and aren't comprehending and use relevant prior knowledge before, during, and after reading.
• B. They focus only on decoding accuracy.
• C. They rely solely on pictures.
• D. They ignore their purpose.

Answer: (A)

Efficient readers monitor their understanding and actively use knowledge before, during, and after reading. Before reading, they activate relevant background knowledge and set a purpose for reading. During reading, they check for meaning, ask questions, make predictions, and adjust strategies if something doesn’t make sense—such as rereading or identifying unfamiliar words. After reading, they summarize what they’ve learned and connect it to what they already know or to the goal they had for reading.

This approach works because understanding text comes from more than just sounding out words. It relies on linking new information to prior knowledge, continually assessing comprehension, and applying strategies to repair gaps when needed. The other options miss this active, strategic process: decoding alone focuses on word accuracy without guaranteeing meaning, relying only on pictures ignores the actual text, and ignoring the purpose removes the guidepost that helps determine what information to extract.