What are the three levels of understanding in reading as an interactive process?

The three levels of understanding in reading, identified as Surface code, Text base, and Mental models, reflect the cognitive processes involved in comprehension.

At the surface code level, readers focus on the words and sentences of the text, capturing the literal details and basic structure. This foundational layer is crucial as it comprises the essential elements that readers need to decode the text accurately.

The text base level goes deeper, where readers begin to construct a coherent understanding of the content beyond just words. Here, the focus shifts to the meaning derived from the relationships between ideas and information presented in the text. This level of understanding is crucial for synthesizing information and moving towards a complete grasp of the narrative or exposition.

Finally, mental models represent the highest level of understanding. At this stage, readers integrate their existing knowledge with the text to form a dynamic, personal interpretation of its meaning. This involves drawing inferences, making predictions, and connecting the text to broader contexts or prior experiences. Mental models are indicative of deep comprehension, as they reflect a reader's ability to engage with the material critically and thoughtfully.

In contrast, choices that discuss top-down or bottom-up processes focus more on reading strategies rather than levels of understanding. Literal, inferential, and critical categories emphasize types