Which phrase in a reading standard indicates the level of complexity students are expected to handle?

• A. Read and comprehend
• B. Text complexity band
• C. Scaffolding
• D. High end of the range

Answer: (D)

Understanding reading standards involves recognizing how they express how difficult the texts should be for students. The phrase that signals the level of complexity students are expected to handle is the high end of the range. It points to the upper limit of text difficulty that students should be able to understand, indicating the most challenging texts considered appropriate for that grade or progression.

The other phrases describe different ideas: read and comprehend is about the skill itself—being able to understand text. Text complexity band refers to the overall range of text difficulty a curriculum covers, not the specific level students must reach. Scaffolding refers to the supports used to help students reach higher levels of difficulty, not the target complexity level they’re expected to achieve.