Reading Instruction Competence Assessment (RICA) Practice Test

What is a primary focus of assessments of comprehension?

1. Observing student behavior during group work

2. Gathering data on reading fluency

3. Using Question and Answer Relationships (QARs)

4. Measuring vocabulary acquisition

The correct answer is: Using Question and Answer Relationships (QARs)

The primary focus of assessments of comprehension is indeed centered around understanding how students construct meaning from text. Using Question and Answer Relationships (QARs) provides a structured approach to gauge a student's comprehension levels by categorizing questions based on their relationship to the text. This method allows educators to assess the depth of understanding by determining whether students can locate answers directly in the text, infer meaning, or relate content to their own experiences. While observing student behavior during group work, gathering data on reading fluency, and measuring vocabulary acquisition are all important components of literacy instruction, they do not directly assess comprehension in the same targeted manner as QARs. Assessments of comprehension specifically aim to explore how well students grasp the text, which is effectively achieved through frameworks like QARs.