In reading instruction, what is the purpose of pre-reading scaffolds?

• A. To activate background knowledge and provide strategies
• B. To memorize vocabulary
• C. To test reading speed after reading
• D. To delay comprehension

Answer: (A)

Pre-reading scaffolds train readers to approach a text with a plan by tapping into what they already know and giving them tools to understand as they read. By activating background knowledge, students connect prior experiences and prior learning to the new content, which helps them make meaning more quickly and confidently. Providing strategies—such as predicting what the text will cover, asking guiding questions, and clarifying the purpose for reading—gives readers a framework for monitoring understanding and tackling unfamiliar parts. This preparation reduces cognitive load during reading and supports smoother comprehension, both during and after the text. The other options miss this anticipatory, strategy-focused purpose, since memorizing vocabulary, testing speed after reading, or delaying comprehension do not align with why pre-reading scaffolds are used.