How does a reader's fluency level impact reading comprehension?

The relationship between a reader's fluency level and reading comprehension is significant, making the correct choice highly valid. Fluency refers to the ability to read text smoothly and accurately, which fosters better understanding of the material. When readers are fluent, they can focus their cognitive resources on comprehension rather than on decoding words. This allows them to engage more deeply with the content, make connections, and grasp the underlying ideas and themes of the text.

Additionally, fluent readers are typically more capable of maintaining the flow of reading, which further enhances their ability to extract meaning from the text. They can recognize words quickly, which helps them read at an appropriate pace and understand the syntax and structure of sentences effectively. Therefore, the correlation between fluency and comprehension is strong; as fluency improves, so does the ability to comprehend what is being read.

Other options suggest that fluency may have no effect on comprehension or is only relevant to specific groups of readers, which overlooks the universal advantages fluent reading brings across different age groups and reading levels. Additionally, implying that fluency only improves after vocabulary study does not reflect the interactive nature of these skills; fluency can develop concurrently alongside vocabulary growth and comprehension strategies.