How does background knowledge support reading comprehension?

Background knowledge plays a crucial role in enhancing reading comprehension by enabling readers to make connections to the texts they encounter. When individuals engage with a text, their prior knowledge allows them to relate new information to what they already understand, facilitating a deeper interaction with the material. This connection-building process enhances their ability to infer meanings, predict outcomes, and draw conclusions, making the reading experience more enriching and meaningful.

When readers come across familiar concepts, themes, or vocabulary that resonate with their own experiences or knowledge, they are better equipped to understand the author's intended message. This exploration of connections can include relating characters’ experiences in a story to one’s own life or linking new information in a nonfiction text to previously acquired knowledge. Thus, background knowledge acts as a scaffold that supports comprehension, allowing readers to integrate and synthesize information more effectively.