Which of the following best indicates that a reader has strong prosody and comprehension when reading aloud?

• A. The reader places emphasis on certain words
• B. The reader reads in three- to four-word phrase groups
• C. The reader waits to inflect until the end of the sentence
• D. The reader reads every sentence in a text at the same rate

Answer: (A)

Prosody in reading aloud means using rhythm, stress, and intonation to convey meaning. When a reader places emphasis on certain words, they signal which ideas are most important and how the sentence should be understood. This deliberate emphasis helps listeners hear contrasts, questions, or statements as the author intends, and it shows the reader is actively constructing meaning as they read.

Reading in three- to four-word phrase groups shows accurate chunking and fluency, but it doesn’t by itself prove that the reader is conveying meaning through emphasis. Waiting to inflect until the end of a sentence results in a flat, monotone delivery that doesn’t reflect how meaning changes across a sentence. Reading at the same rate for every sentence removes the natural variation that helps listeners grasp structure and emphasis.

So, placing emphasis on key words best indicates strong prosody and comprehension.