Before reading to support comprehension, what practice is recommended?

• A. Write questions they want answered before reading
• B. Skim only
• C. Read aloud for the entire time
• D. Wait for teacher prompts

Answer: (D)

Setting a purpose for reading and generating questions before you start helps your brain focus on what matters. When you write questions you want answered, you actively decide what you’re looking to learn, what might be confusing, and what counts as a main idea. This prepares you to spot important details as you read and to check your understanding as you go. It also taps into what you already know, making new information easier to connect and remember.

Think about reading a nonfiction passage on plants: you might ask, “What do plants need to grow?” “How does sunlight influence growth?” “What changes happen inside a plant as it grows?” As you read, you look for those answers, confirming or revising your questions and building a coherent picture of the text.

Options that rely on skimming only, reading aloud the entire time, or waiting for teacher prompts keep you from actively guiding your own understanding, which makes it harder to grasp and remember what you read.