Which aspect of reading does the text emphasize as being improved for Zach through this strategy?

The correct choice highlights the improvement in Zach's academic vocabulary, which is crucial in developing reading comprehension and overall literacy skills. Academic vocabulary refers to the formal, subject-specific words and phrases that are often found in educational texts and materials. By focusing on vocabulary development, the reading strategy likely provides Zach with more tools to understand complex texts and articulate his thoughts more effectively.

This enhancement in vocabulary contributes not only to his ability to comprehend challenging texts but also supports his academic performance across various subjects. A rich vocabulary allows students like Zach to engage with texts more deeply, leading to better summarization skills and potentially increased enjoyment of reading as well, although this latter aspect is not specifically emphasized.

While summarizing texts, reading speed, and enjoyment of fiction are important components of reading development, the focal point here is on how enhancing academic vocabulary can serve as a foundation for broader literacy skills, ultimately impacting understanding, communication, and engagement with a variety of texts in an academic context.