Steps three and four of the lesson focus specifically on which component of reading comprehension?

• A. Phonological awareness
• B. Fluency
• C. Word recognition skills
• D. Understanding text structure

Answer: (C)

The focus is on word recognition skills—the ability to identify printed words quickly and accurately so reading flows and meaning can be grasped. When a reader can recognize words with little effort, cognitive resources aren't tied up in decoding, leaving more where to comprehend the text as a whole. Phonological awareness is a precursor that helps with decoding sounds, but it’s about hearing and manipulating phonemes rather than recognizing actual words in context. Fluency concerns speed, accuracy, and expression in reading aloud, which builds after word recognition becomes automatic. Understanding text structure deals with how a passage is organized, not with recognizing individual words. So the steps target developing word recognition skills.