How does background knowledge influence reading comprehension?

Background knowledge plays a crucial role in reading comprehension because it equips readers with the context necessary to make sense of new information. When readers encounter a text, their existing knowledge allows them to draw on relevant experiences, concepts, and information that help them understand the material more deeply.

For instance, if a reader is familiar with a specific topic, such as the life cycle of a butterfly, they can more easily grasp related concepts when reading about it. This prior knowledge enables them to make predictions, draw inferences, and critically analyze the text. As a result, they are not just decoding words but actively engaging with the content, making connections between what they already know and what they are learning.

In contrast, the other options do not accurately capture the primary role of background knowledge. While decoding and memorization are certainly important skills for reading, they do not directly address comprehension in the way that the ability to connect and interpret information does. Additionally, stating that background knowledge has no significant impact on comprehension overlooks extensive research highlighting its importance in understanding and engaging with text.