Multiple Choice Reading Comprehension Exercises

Comprehension refers to the ability to understand written words on a page. It is different from recognizing words. Recognizing words on a page but not knowing what they mean does not fulfill the purpose or goal of reading, which is comprehension. The child can read the entire passage, but he or she knows nothing when asked to explain what was read. Comprehension adds meaning to what is read. Reading comprehension occurs when readers understand the author's intent and the text's overall message. It allows readers to gain knowledge from texts and build on that knowledge by discussing or analyzing them with others.

Many U.S. children have not fully developed their reading skills, as the number of children in grades 4 through 8 who are reading at or above their grade level has decreased between 2017 and 2019. The National Reading Panel Report found that five components are essential to helping children develop reading skills: phonological awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. Four comprehension strategies that can be used to help increase the reading comprehension of young children and older students who struggle with reading were identified in the report.

There are different ways to help children improve their reading comprehension skills. Some require patience and a lot of guidance, while others can be learned more gradually on your own. When working with children, it's important to model the strategy yourself as well as provide guided practice so that they can get better at using them on their own over time. The goal is for them to be able to use these strategies automatically once they've learned them

Spanish Reading Passages for Comprehension

Some teachers use a strategy called “predictions” with their students. Predictions require asking children to make guesses about what might happen. They are made based on what they see, hear, or read relative to the book’s cover, title, pictures, drawing, table of content and headings.

 When asked a question such as “What do you think this book will be about?” or “What do you think will happen to/if …?,” children often make predictions or guesses. By predicting, children build interest and understanding of the text. This strategy keeps children actively engaged by connecting, reflecting, and revising their predictions.

Children start by making connections between text and their personal experiences (text-to-self). As they grow older, connections are made between different books, texts, or ideas by identifying similarities. In other words, to increase comprehension, get children to make text-to-self, text-to-text, and text-to-world connections before, during, and after they read. For example, a discussion of the new or difficult vocabulary words before reading the text can help increase children’s comprehension. When reading, they can then activate their prior knowledge of the new terms. One way to make connections to prior knowledge involves connecting a new idea to knowledge and experiences already known. This requires getting children to relate their own experiences to something in the story. The goal is for them to use their prior knowledge in order make sense of what they are reading. When the children read a new word, such as “skeleton”, their prior knowledge of bones will be used to help them understand the new term. 

Spanish Reading Comprehension Exercises

Visualizing can help children to better understand what they are reading, remember details, and draw conclusions from the things they encounter while reading. For example, ask children to make a drawing based on what they read or to close their eyes and listen while you read them a passage.

Teaching children how to summarize a story is an important strategy for reading. By identifying the main idea in a text and putting it into their own words, children can better understand the information that is being presented. This skill can be practiced throughout the entire story, not just at the end.