North Carolina Foundations of Reading Practice Test

What can be inferred about Barret, the 3rd grader in need of intervention?

1. He has a strong grasp of letter sounds

2. He is likely to excel in math comparisons

3. He may have difficulty distinguishing similar sounds

4. He prefers to write over reading

The correct answer is: He may have difficulty distinguishing similar sounds

The inference that Barret may have difficulty distinguishing similar sounds is significant because it highlights a common area of struggle for young learners, especially in the context of reading development. Difficulty with distinguishing similar sounds can directly impact phonemic awareness, which is crucial for effective reading and spelling skills. When children cannot consistently differentiate between similar phonemes—like ‘bat’ and ‘pat’—it often leads to challenges with word recognition, decoding, and overall literacy. Recognizing this potential difficulty suggests that Barret may need targeted interventions to enhance his phonological processing skills. This could involve strategies such as engaging in phonemic awareness activities, practicing with minimal pairs (words that only differ by one sound), and using instructional approaches that focus on sound discrimination in the context of reading. Considering the other choices, they propose strengths or preferences that do not align with Barret's need for intervention. If he had a strong grasp of letter sounds, he would likely not require intervention in that area. Similarly, excelling in mathematical comparisons or having a preference for writing over reading does not directly relate to the need for support in phonemic awareness and could misrepresent his academic challenges.