Which statement about predictions in reading is true?

• A. Predictions are always accurate.
• B. Predictions should never be revised.
• C. Predictions are subject to revision.
• D. Predictions are irrelevant to comprehension.

Answer: (C)

Predicting while you read is a dynamic part of understanding a text. As you gather clues and details, you form expectations about what might happen next or what a word or phrase might mean. But new information can change those expectations, so you revise your predictions to fit the evidence you’ve just encountered. That ongoing adjustment is why the true statement is that predictions are subject to revision.

This matters for comprehension because making and checking predictions keeps you actively engaged with the text. If a detail seems to contradict your forecast, revising your thinking helps you make new connections and stay aligned with the developing story or argument. It’s not about being right the first time; it’s about using clues and feedback from the text to refine your understanding.

The idea that predictions are always accurate isn’t realistic, since texts often surprise you or reveal twists. The notion that predictions should never be revised isn’t true, because clashing details should lead you to rethink your guess. And predictions aren’t irrelevant to comprehension—without them, you’d read passively rather than actively constructing meaning.