What effect does visualization have on reading comprehension?

Visualization plays a significant role in reading comprehension by allowing readers to create mental images that connect with the text. This process helps individuals to better understand and remember the material they are reading. When readers visualize the events, characters, and settings described in a text, they are actively engaging with the content. This engagement promotes deeper cognitive processing, which supports retention and recall of important details, themes, and ideas presented in the reading.

For example, when students picture a scene from a story in their minds, they can relate it to their own experiences or prior knowledge, facilitating a richer understanding of the narrative and its underlying messages. By forming these mental images, readers often find it easier to summarize the text, draw inferences, and make predictions, all of which are vital skills for effective comprehension.

In contrast to this beneficial effect, the other options suggest negative consequences or irrelevance of visualization, which do not accurately reflect the positive impact it has on reading comprehension.