2.1.2 Knowledge of Vocabulary
Researchers tend to agree that vocabulary knowledge is a major prerequisite in comprehension and that there is a relationship between vocabulary size and reading comprehension. Rost (1993: 88), for example, states that vocabulary is an important knowledge component assessed in reading comprehension tests. Laufer describes knowledge of vocabulary as the key ingredient to successful reading, and he argues that “no text comprehension is possible, either in one’s native language or in a foreign language, without understanding the text’s vocabulary” (1997: 20). Laufer emphasizes that a larger vocabulary enhances a candidate’s text comprehension and improves performance in reading comprehension tests.