Which statement correctly describes text features and their role in comprehension?

• A. Bold words indicate important terms but do not aid comprehension.
• B. Headings, captions, bold words, diagrams guide attention and support comprehension.
• C. Pictures are the only helpful features.
• D. Glossaries are not text features.

Answer: (B)

Text features guide how we read and understand a text. Seeing a heading signals the topic and helps you anticipate what a section will cover, which makes it easier to focus on the right information. Captions connect visuals to the writing, so you know exactly what the picture or diagram is showing and why it matters. Bold words highlight important terms or new vocabulary, drawing your attention to ideas you’ll need to remember. Diagrams and other visuals turn ideas into concrete pictures of steps, cycles, or relationships, making complex ideas more memorable. Together, these features direct attention, organize information, and support meaning-making as you read.

Some statements overlook how these features help. For instance, bold words do aid comprehension by signaling key terms and concepts, not just decoration. Pictures aren’t the only helpful features—headings, captions, bold terms, and diagrams all play important roles. Glossaries are indeed text features because they provide definitions to support understanding of terms. So the description that headings, captions, bold words, and diagrams guide attention and support comprehension best captures how text features function.