In DRA, after reading a selection, students are asked to

• A. Retell what they have read to the examiner.
• B. Solve math problems related to the text.
• C. Write a summary without reading.
• D. Discuss the author’s tone.

Answer: (A)

The main idea being tested is a student’s ability to demonstrate comprehension by orally recounting what they read. In the DRA, after finishing a reading selection, students typically retell the story to the examiner. This task shows whether they can recall sequence of events, identify key details, and express the main ideas in their own words, which are core markers of understanding.

The other options don’t fit this assessment purpose. Solving math problems related to the text isn’t part of this reading measure, writing a summary without reading isn’t feasible and wouldn’t reveal actual comprehension, and discussing the author’s tone is a different kind of literacy task that isn’t the standard retell measure used by DRA.