Arkansas Foundations of Reading Test (FORT)

Which two skills are closely related to determining the meanings of unknown words?

1. Decoding and fluency

2. Knowledge of roots and affixes and use of context clues

3. Listening and speaking

4. Phonemic awareness and phonics

The correct answer is: Knowledge of roots and affixes and use of context clues

Understanding the meaning of unknown words is usually achieved by either identifying the context or breaking down the word by its roots and affixes. Decoding and fluency, while important skills for reading, do not necessarily directly relate to determining the meanings of unknown words. Listening and speaking may help with understanding language in general, but they are not specific skills for determining meaning. Phonemic awareness and phonics are primarily focused on sounds and identifying letters and words, which may not necessarily help with figuring out the meaning of an unknown word. Therefore, the best answer is B Knowledge of roots and affixes and use of context clues.