Why is it important for students to reflect on their background knowledge while reading?

Reflecting on background knowledge while reading is crucial because it enables students to make connections to the text. When students relate what they already know to new information, they can better understand and integrate the material. This process fosters deeper comprehension, making it easier for them to grasp complex concepts and themes within the reading. By connecting personal experiences, prior learning, or relevant information they have encountered before, students enhance their engagement and retention of the material. This strategy also encourages critical thinking as they analyze how their previous knowledge aligns with or diverges from the new content they are encountering.

The other choices do not capture this fundamental reason for reflection. While memorization may improve with familiarity, it does not lead to an understanding of the text. Making reading more challenging does not provide constructive benefits for comprehension, and skipping difficult words detracts from learning and understanding the text holistically.