How does vocabulary development contribute to reading comprehension in EMC learners?

• A. It is not related to comprehension.
• B. Vocabulary knowledge helps understanding of texts, enables inference, and links to background knowledge; needs explicit instruction in Tier 2/3 words, multiple exposures, and varied contexts.
• C. Only listening comprehension matters.
• D. Vocabulary development hinders decoding.

Answer: (B)

Vocabulary knowledge fuels reading comprehension by giving readers access to word meanings that underpin understanding. When EMC learners know a broad range of words, they can grasp ideas more quickly, connect new information to what they already know, and infer meaning from context. For these learners, it’s essential to teach high-utility Tier 2 words and domain-specific Tier 3 terms explicitly, and to provide multiple exposures across varied contexts so the words become durable, usable knowledge. This depth of word knowledge also supports linking new ideas to background knowledge, which strengthens overall comprehension and the ability to monitor and repair understanding as they read. In short, vocabulary development isn’t just about knowing word meanings; it’s about building a toolkit that makes decoding, interpreting, and integrating text information smoother and more powerful.