Prior knowledge plays a role in which aspect of reading comprehension?

Prior knowledge significantly contributes to understanding context, which is a crucial aspect of reading comprehension. It allows readers to make connections between the text and their existing knowledge, helping them to interpret meanings and derive implications that may not be explicitly stated. When a reader encounters new information, their background knowledge helps anchor this information, enhancing their overall comprehension of the material being read.

For instance, if a reader has prior knowledge about a specific culture, they can better understand references or themes related to that culture in a text. This context aids in deciphering the author’s intent and the nuances of the language used, leading to a deeper grasp of the passage.

In contrast, identifying words, enhancing vocabulary, and improving fluency, while important skills in reading, do not directly utilize prior knowledge in the same way that understanding context does. These aspects focus more on language skills, rather than the interpretive skills enhanced by prior knowledge.