What process involves constructing meaning using both the author's text and the reader's background knowledge?

The process of comprehension involves constructing meaning by integrating the information presented in the author's text with the reader's own background knowledge and experiences. When a reader comprehends a text, they actively engage with it, making connections between what they already know and the new ideas being presented. This interaction enhances understanding and allows for deeper insight into the material.

Comprehension encompasses various skills, including inferring, predicting, and summarizing, which all rely on the reader's ability to relate the text to their existing knowledge. It is a fundamental aspect of reading because it determines how well a reader can grasp the intent and message of the text, moving beyond mere decoding of words to a richer understanding of the content.

In contrast, the other processes—interpretation, analysis, and synthesis—while related to understanding text, do not focus specifically on the integration of background knowledge with the author's message in the same direct manner that comprehension does. Interpretation often involves explaining or elucidating meanings rather than constructing them from background knowledge, analysis focuses on breaking down text into parts for detailed examination, and synthesis is about combining various pieces of information to create something new. Thus, comprehension is the correct answer as it most aptly defines the process described in the question.