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

What is a common use for captions in texts?

1. To identify main ideas

2. To summarize conclusions

3. To provide explanations for images or diagrams

4. To list sources of information

The correct answer is: To provide explanations for images or diagrams

Captions serve a crucial role in texts, particularly in relation to images or diagrams. Their primary function is to provide context and explanations that help the reader better understand the visual content. By offering descriptions, captions clarify what the image is depicting, often highlighting significant details that may not be immediately apparent. This enhances the overall comprehension of the material and supports the visual information presented. While identifying main ideas, summarizing conclusions, and listing sources are important functions in texts, they do not directly pertain to the specific role that captions play in conjunction with visual elements. Instead, captions focus on bridging the gap between text and visuals, ensuring that the reader has a complete understanding of the information being conveyed.