Which stage of reading development is characterized by decodable texts, rapid word recognition, and simple comprehension?

• A. Emergent
• B. Transitional
• C. Fluent
• D. Early reading

Answer: (B)

The description points to the early reading stage. At this stage, learners rely on phonics to sound out words using decodable texts, which helps them recognize words quickly and read with accuracy. The focus is on building decoding skills first, so the comprehension remains simple as students practice the basics of meaning while they grow fluency. Emergent readers are just starting to explore print and pretend reading, transitional readers handle longer and more varied words with growing comprehension, and fluent readers read smoothly with automatic recognition and more complex ideas.