Certify Teacher ELAR Practice Test 2025 – Complete Exam Prep

Asking questions about the text is an effective strategy for improving critical reading skills because it actively engages the reader with the material. This approach prompts the reader to think deeply about what they are reading, encouraging them to analyze the author's purpose, the arguments presented, and the underlying themes. Formulating questions enhances comprehension and fosters a dialogue between the reader and the text, leading to better retention of the material and the ability to evaluate the information critically.

In comparison, while writing summaries of passages and highlighting main ideas can be helpful for understanding and recalling information, they may not fully engage the reader in the same way that questioning does. Summarizing often focuses on merely condensing information, which might not promote deeper analytical thinking. Highlighting, on the other hand, can sometimes lead to overemphasis on surface-level details rather than encouraging an exploration of the text's implications and connections. Rereading passages for accuracy can also be useful, but it typically doesn't foster the same level of inquiry and critical thinking that arises from actively questioning the content. Thus, asking questions stands out as a powerful tool in cultivating critical reading skills.