Which statement best describes the relationship between oral reading fluency and verbal comprehension over time?

The correct answer highlights a key aspect of literacy development, noting that as children grow, the emphasis on verbal comprehension increasingly outweighs the necessity for oral reading fluency. This reflects an important developmental trajectory in literacy skills where, initially, young readers often rely heavily on their ability to read words fluently. However, as they mature, their ability to understand and engage with the text—verbal comprehension—takes on greater significance.

This shift underscores that while fluency is essential for effective reading, the ultimate goal of reading is comprehension, or understanding the meaning of what is read. For older students and adults, rapidly processing text is less valuable if it does not lead to a deep understanding of the material. Consequently, the relationship between these two skills evolves, positioning verbal comprehension as a more critical skill in later stages of development.

In contrast to the other options, which may suggest equal importance or an inverse relationship between the two skills, this perspective aligns with research on reading development and the cognitive processes involved in effective reading. It acknowledges the increasing complexity of texts encountered as children progress through their education, necessitating stronger comprehension skills to derive meaning from more sophisticated literature.