Which term describes the ability to actively manage reading by using prior knowledge and awareness of text structure?

• A. Metacognitive skills
• B. Metacognition
• C. Question generation
• D. Graphic organizers

Answer: (A)

The ability to actively manage reading by using prior knowledge and awareness of text structure is best described as metacognitive skills. This term refers to the specific strategies a reader employs to control comprehension: planning what to do before reading, monitoring understanding while reading, and adjusting approaches as needed. Using prior knowledge helps connect new information to what the reader already knows, while awareness of text structure (like headings, order, and organization) guides how to approach and interpret the text. Those practical, in-the-moment techniques are precisely what metacognitive skills capture.

Metacognition, more broadly, is the overall capacity to think about and regulate one’s own thinking. Question generation is one particular strategy within those skills, and graphic organizers are tools to aid understanding. The prompt emphasizes the active deployment of reading strategies, which aligns with metacognitive skills as the best fit.