How does visualization contribute to reading comprehension?

Visualization plays a critical role in reading comprehension by allowing readers to create mental images that enhance their understanding of the text. When readers visualize concepts, characters, settings, and events, they engage more deeply with the material. This process helps them to not only remember details better but also to grasp the content more fully.

By forming mental images, readers can connect the text to their own experiences or prior knowledge, making abstract or complex ideas more tangible. This deepens their engagement with the narrative or information and promotes retention, ultimately improving their overall comprehension. Visualization also aids in making inferences and predictions, as readers fill in gaps with their mental images, leading to a richer interpretation of the text.

The other choices do not directly relate to the main function of visualization in enhancing understanding through mental imagery. While increasing reading speed and focusing on decoding are important skills, they are more about the mechanics of reading than the comprehension aspect that visualization provides. Identifying text features is also vital for understanding, but it typically relies more on analyzing the structural elements of the text rather than engaging with its content through imagery.