Reading Instruction Competence Assessment (RICA) Practice Test

What is syllabic analysis focused on?

1. Identifying root meanings

2. Decoding using word sounds

3. Examining a word's syllables to recognize it

4. Understanding grammatical structure

The correct answer is: Examining a word's syllables to recognize it

Syllabic analysis is a reading strategy that involves breaking down a word into its constituent syllables to aid in recognition and pronunciation. This method is particularly effective for students or beginning readers who may struggle with unfamiliar or multi-syllabic words. By focusing on the syllables, learners can use their understanding of how syllables function—recognizing patterns such as vowel sounds and consonant blends—to decode words more effectively. This analysis promotes not only word recognition but also phonemic awareness, as it emphasizes the sound units that make up a word. The other options focus on different aspects of language and reading. Identifying root meanings pertains more to morphological analysis, decoding using word sounds relates to phonics but does not specifically address syllable structure, and understanding grammatical structure is associated with syntax and language comprehension. Each of these plays a role in literacy, but they do not capture the specific aim of syllabic analysis, which is ultimately centered on recognizing and processing syllables within words.