Reading Instruction Competence Assessment (RICA) Practice Test

What type of sight words are specific to subjects like social studies and science?

1. Content-area words

2. High-frequency words

3. Irregular spelling words

4. Common words

The correct answer is: Content-area words

Content-area words are specific vocabulary that relates directly to particular subjects such as social studies and science. These words are essential for understanding the concepts and terminology that are unique to each field of study. For instance, in social studies, terms like "democracy" and "economy" are fundamental, while in science, words like "photosynthesis" and "atom" are pivotal for comprehension. This type of vocabulary is critical for students, as it allows them to engage meaningfully with content and enhances their ability to participate in discussions related to these academic disciplines. Mastering content-area words is crucial for reading comprehension in all subject areas since they often serve as the building blocks for deeper understanding of the material being studied. High-frequency words, while also important for reading, generally encompass words that appear regularly in written texts and are typically not tied to specific subject matter. Irregular spelling words focus on atypical spelling patterns and don't directly relate to content-area vocabulary. Common words refer to general vocabulary that does not necessarily belong to domain-specific language. Thus, recognizing the unique role that content-area words play in education is crucial for developing literacy skills across various subjects.