Ohio Assessments for Educators (OAE) Foundations of Reading Practice Exam

What do text features provide to the reader?

1. Contextual understanding of the content

2. Additional information to enhance comprehension

3. Examples of thematic elements in literature

4. In-depth analysis of textual arguments

The correct answer is: Additional information to enhance comprehension

Text features are crucial elements in written materials that help readers navigate and understand the content more effectively. They include items such as tables of contents, headings, subheadings, bullet points, captions, sidebars, and glossaries, among others. By providing additional information, text features serve to enhance comprehension. They guide readers in finding specific information quickly and help in organizing thoughts about the material, making connections, and summarizing key points. For instance, a graph or chart can visually represent data, making it more accessible and understandable compared to text alone. This additional information supports the reader in gaining a deeper understanding of the main ideas and details presented in the text. Other choices, while relevant to aspects of reading and comprehension, do not specifically capture the primary function of text features as effectively as the correct option. For example, while contextual understanding is important, it is more about the surrounding information rather than the textual aids themselves. Similarly, thematic elements and in-depth analyses pertain to broader literary discussions rather than the direct benefit provided by text features in improving comprehension.