What is the primary goal of reading?

• A. Speed
• B. Spelling
• C. Comprehension
• D. Grammar

Answer: (C)

Understanding and making meaning from what you read is the main goal of reading. When students read, they’re not just pronouncing words; they’re building a mental picture of ideas, information, and stories, connecting them to what they already know, and using that understanding to think, learn, and reason. Fluency and decoding help access the text, but speed alone doesn’t ensure understanding. Spelling and grammar matter for language skills, yet they aren’t the objective of reading itself—the aim is comprehension, to grasp the message and meaning the author conveys.