While previewing a text, fifth-grade students identify the signal words 'because' and 'if... then'. Which comprehension skill are they primarily using?

• A. Examining text features
• B. Recognizing genres of texts
• C. Determining text structures
• D. Identifying purposes for reading

Answer: (C)

Identifying signal words like because and if... then helps you see how the text is organized. Because points to cause-and-effect, showing how one idea leads to another, while if...then signals a conditional relationship that sets up a result or consequence. Seeing these connections shows the structure the author is using to present information, which is the skill of determining text structures.

Other options describe different ideas. Examining text features focuses on elements like headings or captions, not the overall organization. Recognizing genres is about whether the text is fiction or nonfiction, and identifying purposes for reading is about why the author wrote it (to inform, persuade, or entertain). The signal words here specifically illuminate how the ideas are arranged, not these other aspects, so the best answer is determining text structures.