Final answer:
Language comprehension becomes critical for reading success after acquiring decoding skills, as it allows individuals to understand text and context, leading to deeper engagement with reading material. The correct answer is option (c).
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding Language Comprehension in Reading Success
Language comprehension becomes increasingly vital for reading success after individuals have acquired decoding skills. When students learn the alphabet and develop phonemic awareness, they are taking the initial steps towards literacy. However, it is after they have acquired decoding skills that comprehension truly starts to play a significant role.
Decoding is the ability to translate text into speech by rapidly identifying the relationships between letters and sounds. Once students are proficient at decoding, they shift focus to understanding the meaning behind what they read - this is when language comprehension becomes paramount. Comprehension is not only about reading words on a page but also includes the ability to understand context, ask questions, make predictions, and critically analyze text. Language comprehension enables students to move beyond word recognition and into the realm of reading to learn and to engage with content at a deeper level.
As students progress, mastering fluency becomes another important milestone in reading success because it allows them to read text smoothly and with expression, enhancing understanding. However, even with fluency, the comprehension of language and text is what truly drives the ability to absorb knowledge from reading, interacting with various texts, and communicating effectively. Therefore, the correct option in relation to the importance of language comprehension in reading success is c. Acquiring decoding skills.