Background knowledge - general world knowledge

Efficient readers do not rely just on the words on the page to develop comprehension. They use their general knowledge of the world or their knowledge of topics in the text to 'fill in' background information, and to predict what is coming up in later paragraphs. The wider a reader's general knowledge base, the better that reader will be at reading comprehension. Of course, the main way we develop our world knowledge is through reading, since reading allows us to explore areas we cannot directly experience. So this skill both feeds and is fed by generous reading.