(1) The benchmark for reading content standard 2 for a student at the end of grade 8 is the ability to:

(a) decode unknown words combining the elements of phonics, grammatical structures, analysis of word parts, and context to understand reading material;

(b) demonstrate understanding of and analyze literary elements (e.g., plot, character, setting, point of view, conflict) ;

(c) identify and compare literary devices (e.g., figurative language, exaggeration, irony, humor, dialogue) ;

(d) use features and organization of fiction and nonfiction material to comprehend complex material (e.g., paragraphs, chapters, titles, indices, tables of contents, graphs, charts, visuals) ;

(e) adjust fluency, rate and style of reading to the content and purpose of the material;

(f) develop vocabulary through the use of context clues, analysis of word parts, auditory clues, and reference sources, and construct general and specialized vocabularies related to specific academic areas, culture, and technology;

(g) use a variety of reading strategies to comprehend meaning, including self-correcting, rereading, using context, and adjusting rate; and

(h) ask questions, check predictions, and summarize information prior to, during, and after reading.