Mississippi Foundations of Reading Practice Test

What are decodable texts best used for?

1. Reinforcing phonics rules that have been taught

2. Introducing complex and irregular vocabulary

3. Practicing comprehension with advanced texts

4. Building critical thinking skills in reading

The correct answer is: Reinforcing phonics rules that have been taught

Decodable texts are specifically designed to reinforce phonics skills and rules that have been explicitly taught to students. These texts use a controlled vocabulary that aligns with the phonetic elements that learners are currently mastering. By focusing on sounds and patterns that students have learned, decodable texts help them practice their decoding skills in a context that supports their development as independent readers. This scaffolding approach ensures that students gain confidence in their ability to sound out words and understand basic sentence structures, which lays a solid foundation for more complex reading skills in the future. In contrast, options that involve introducing complex vocabulary or advanced texts do not serve the primary purpose of decodable texts. Building critical thinking skills may occur, but it’s not the main focus when students are engaged with materials designed to reinforce foundational phonics knowledge.