Which factor most influences whether a miscue affects comprehension?

• A. Pacing of voice.
• B. Whether the miscue alters meaning or disrupts grammar.
• C. The font size of the text.
• D. The reader's favorite topic.

Answer: (B)

Understanding how a miscue affects comprehension depends on its impact on meaning and grammar. If the misread word doesn’t change the overall message and the sentence still follows correct syntax, readers can usually rely on context to keep the idea clear, so comprehension stays intact. But when the miscue changes what the sentence is saying or breaks the sentence structure, the message becomes harder to grasp and understanding can suffer. For example, reading “The cat slept on the mat” as “The cat slept on the hat” swaps a key detail and alters meaning, which can confuse the reader. Or reading “The cat sleep on the mat” disrupts grammar, making it harder to parse. These scenarios show why this factor—the effect on meaning and grammar—most strongly predicts whether a miscue will disrupt understanding. Pacing of voice, font size, or the reader’s topic interest don’t determine that disruption in the same way.