Which of the following skills is essential for understanding causal relationships in texts?

Understanding causal relationships in texts fundamentally relies on inferential comprehension. This skill involves the ability to read between the lines and draw conclusions based on the information presented, which is critical when determining how one event relates to another within a narrative or argument. Causal relationships require the reader to interpret not just the explicit content but also the implications and connections that are not directly stated.

For instance, when a text discusses how one event leads to another, the reader must infer the cause-and-effect dynamics at play, going beyond what is directly mentioned. This inferential thinking allows for deeper analysis and understanding of the text's meaning, making it essential in unpacking how different elements interact within the narrative or informational framework.

While fluency, evaluative comprehension, and literal comprehension are also important skills in reading, they serve different purposes. Fluency pertains to the ability to read smoothly and efficiently, evaluative comprehension involves judging the quality or value of the content, and literal comprehension focuses on understanding the explicit information presented. None of these skills directly emphasize the process of relating events or understanding the underlying logic of causation, which is why inferential comprehension is the correct answer in this context.