How does vocabulary development influence comprehension?

• A. Vocabulary has no effect on decoding.
• B. Vocabulary only affects writing, not reading.
• C. A richer vocabulary improves decoding, word recognition, and understanding of text meaning.
• D. Vocabulary development slows down reading.

Answer: (C)

Expanding vocabulary strengthens how a child understands what they read. When students know more words, they can recognize words quickly (sight word recognition) and use clues from word parts and context to figure out unfamiliar terms. This smoother word recognition frees cognitive effort for the meaning of the text, so they can predict, infer, and grasp deeper ideas as they read. In short, a richer vocabulary makes decoding easier and helps students derive accurate, meaningful comprehension from what they read. The other statements miss that connection: vocabulary does affect decoding, it matters for reading as well as writing, and it does not slow down reading—in fact, it usually speeds and deepens understanding.