Arkansas Foundations of Reading Test (FORT)

Semantic skills in oral language development enable a student to:

1. Spell words correctly in writing

2. Understand meanings of words, phrases, sentences, and texts

3. Follow social rules in conversations

4. Recognize and use grammatical structures correctly

The correct answer is: Understand meanings of words, phrases, sentences, and texts

Semantic skills in oral language development play a crucial role in a student's ability to comprehend and utilize language effectively. When a student has strong semantic skills, they are adept at understanding the meanings of words, phrases, sentences, and texts, which is essential for several aspects of communication and literacy. Being able to grasp the meanings of words allows students to expand their vocabulary, understand context, and make connections between ideas. This understanding helps not only in interpretation of spoken and written language but also enhances their ability to express themselves clearly and accurately. As students develop their semantic skills, they become better equipped to engage with complex texts and discussions, leading to improved overall literacy and communication abilities. The other choices reflect important language skills as well, but they pertain to different aspects of language development, such as spelling or grammatical understanding, which are separate from the core focus of semantics.