Mississippi Foundations of Reading Practice Test

What is the primary focus of close reading?

1. Improving vocabulary through exposure to complex texts

2. Enhancing comprehension through detailed analysis of text

3. Developing speed reading techniques

4. Summarizing the main ideas of multiple texts

The correct answer is: Enhancing comprehension through detailed analysis of text

The primary focus of close reading is on enhancing comprehension through detailed analysis of text. This method involves carefully examining a text to uncover deeper meanings, nuances, and structural elements that contribute to its overall message. By encouraging readers to engage with the text at a granular level, close reading fosters critical thinking and helps students develop a more profound understanding of the author's intent, themes, and the various literary techniques employed. While improving vocabulary is certainly a beneficial outcome of engaging with complex texts, it is not the main goal of close reading. Similarly, speed reading techniques prioritize rapid consumption of text, which is counter to the detailed analysis inherent in close reading. Summarizing the main ideas could be a byproduct of close reading; however, it does not encapsulate the comprehensive analytical approach that defines the practice. Thus, the correct focus remains on the in-depth exploration and understanding of the text itself.