What is the Directed Reading-Thinking Activity (DR-TA) intended to accomplish?

• A. To develop lifelong reading habits in students.
• B. To improve group discussion skills for oral presentations.
• C. To develop critical reading through teaching group comprehension.
• D. To emphasize reading speed and accuracy.

Answer: (C)

DR-TA is aimed at building critical reading by guiding students to think deeply about text in a collaborative setting. The approach uses a guided sequence: before reading, students predict what the text will cover and set purposes; during reading, they generate questions, monitor comprehension, and adjust their understanding as needed; after reading, they discuss and justify their interpretations as a group. This process makes thinking visible and develops metacognitive strategies—predicting, questioning, clarifying, and evaluating meaning—while students work together to construct understanding. While elements like discussion may happen, the core goal is to enhance comprehension through active, reflective, group-based reading, not merely to improve speed or to foster presentations or lifelong reading habits.