Mississippi Foundations of Reading Practice Test

Which term refers to understanding speech at a basic level?

1. Advanced listening comprehension

2. Listening comprehension

3. Lexical understanding

4. Metalinguistic understanding

The correct answer is: Listening comprehension

Listening comprehension refers to the ability to understand spoken language, focusing on the recognition and interpretation of words and phrases used in communication. This encompasses the ability to decode sounds and follow the flow of speech, which is essential for grasping basic information and ideas conveyed orally. Advanced listening comprehension, while also important, involves a deeper level of understanding that includes inference, analysis, and synthesis of information, which extends beyond the fundamental grasp of speech. Lexical understanding specifically refers to the comprehension of vocabulary and word meanings, which is just one aspect of the broader category of listening comprehension. Metalinguistic understanding involves an awareness of language itself, such as understanding language structure and usage, and is not limited to basic speech comprehension. Thus, listening comprehension encompasses the foundational skills necessary to understand speech at a basic level, making it the correct term for this question.