What comprehension challenge are English learners likely to face in a text with dialogue?

In texts that include dialogue, English learners are particularly challenged by understanding idiomatic meanings of words and phrases. Idiomatic expressions often do not translate directly, and their meanings can be quite different from the literal meanings of the individual words. For example, a phrase like "kick the bucket" means to die, which may not be immediately understood by someone who is not fluent in English.

This difficulty can hinder comprehension significantly, as idioms frequently appear in conversational language and dialogue, influencing how characters express themselves and interact with one another. Grasping the subtleties and cultural context of these expressions is crucial for fully understanding the nuances of the dialogue being presented. While other options may present challenges—such as decoding irregularly spelled words or recognizing less common vocabulary—they do not specifically relate to the complexity of meaning that idioms introduce in dialogues.