Final answer:
The occipitotemporal system, involving the ventral visual stream that connects to temporal lobe structures, is responsible for visual word form recognition and rapid access to whole words.
Step-by-step explanation:
The cortical reading area responsible for visual word form recognition and rapid access to whole words is the occipitotemporal system. Within the visual processing of the brain, information proceeds through two main streams after reaching the primary visual cortex (area V1), which are the dorsal and ventral streams. The ventral visual stream is responsible for the identification of visual stimuli and their significance and connects to structures in the temporal lobe. This stream includes the area known for visual word form recognition, which is crucial for reading and understanding words quickly. Therefore, the answer is b. Occipitotemporal system.