Reading Instruction Competence Assessment (RICA) Practice Test

What is primarily enhanced when students read texts with controlled vocabulary over multiple days?

1. Accuracy

2. Reading rate

3. Prosody

4. Comprehension

The correct answer is: Reading rate

When students read texts with controlled vocabulary over multiple days, they primarily enhance their reading rate. This repetition in reading familiar texts allows students to develop fluency, as they become more accustomed to the vocabulary and sentence structures presented. With continued engagement with the same material, they often experience an increase in speed because they don't need to exert as much cognitive effort to decode words they have seen multiple times. In addition to this, controlled vocabulary reduces the possibility of encountering unknown words, thereby allowing students to focus more on maintaining a smooth and efficient pace. The exposure to the same vocabulary also builds confidence, which can contribute to faster reading as the text becomes more recognizable and less challenging. This sustained practice not only improves reading rate but also fosters overall fluency in reading.