Final answer:
Emma is most likely to understand a new word she has decoded if it is already a part of her oral vocabulary, as this pre-existing knowledge will help her derive the word's meaning when encountered in reading.
Step-by-step explanation:
When Emma, a beginning reader, decodes a new word and wishes to understand its meaning, the most helpful scenario would be if the new word is already a part of her oral vocabulary. If Emma has previously been exposed to the word through conversations and has a grasp of what it means when spoken, she will be more likely to understand its significance in text after decoding it. This existing familiarity aids in comprehension and allows her to connect the new written form to the concept she already knows.
Reading comprehension is greatly enhanced when readers can immediately recognize and understand words found in their reading materials. Having a rich oral vocabulary provides a solid background for this recognition. As Emma encounters new words in context, she will be able to derive meaning from her pre-existing knowledge, even without explicit instruction at the moment of reading.