What encompasses the essence of comprehension in reading?

The essence of comprehension in reading is best captured by the ability to relate and weigh the text's components. This involves not only understanding the individual elements of the text—such as vocabulary, sentence structure, and thematic content—but also integrating these components to build a coherent understanding of the overall message and purpose of the text. It requires readers to make connections, analyze the relationships between ideas, and critically evaluate the information presented.

Focusing solely on memorizing difficult words may help with understanding specific terms but does not ensure a broader comprehension of the text. Similarly, summarizing after every paragraph can be useful, but it is only one strategy and does not encompass the broader skill of synthesizing information and understanding how different parts of a text work together. Additionally, reading as quickly as possible often leads to superficial engagement with the text and can hinder deep comprehension, as it may prevent readers from adequately processing and reflecting on the material. Therefore, relating and weighing the text's components is vital for achieving true comprehension.