TEXES Science of Teaching Reading Practice Test

Which of the following teaches students to analyze character motives in a story?

1. Reading comprehension exercises

2. Theme discussions

3. Vocabulary drills

4. Fluency practices

The correct answer is: Theme discussions

The focus on theme discussions as a method to analyze character motives is rooted in the idea that themes often emerge from the actions and motivations of characters within a story. When students engage in discussions about the themes of a narrative, they must consider why characters act the way they do, what drives their decisions, and how their motives relate to the overarching messages of the text. This process encourages deeper thinking and critical analysis, as students look for evidence within the story to support their interpretations of the characters' motivations, thus enhancing their understanding of both character development and thematic connections. In contrast, reading comprehension exercises may help students understand the general plot or identify characters, but without a specific focus on themes, the analysis can be superficial. Vocabulary drills are important for language development but do not inherently lead to analyzing motives, and fluency practices focus on the ability to read text smoothly and accurately, which does not address comprehension or character analysis directly. Therefore, theme discussions are the most effective approach for teaching students to examine and interpret character motives within literature.