What does the activity involving the word "fair" promote in students?

The activity involving the word "fair" promotes the use of semantic and syntactic clues for homographs, which is particularly significant in the context of reading comprehension and language development. The word "fair" can have multiple meanings based on its context—such as an event where goods are sold or a descriptor of something just or equitable. By engaging with homographs like "fair," students learn to discern meaning through the semantic clues (the meanings and associations behind the word) as well as syntactic clues (how the word functions within the sentence structure). This practice enhances their ability to navigate and comprehend text that contains words with dual meanings, thereby contributing to their overall reading proficiency and critical thinking skills. Mastery of this concept is crucial as it lays the foundation for deeper understanding and effective communication in reading and writing.