Cognitive Abilities Test (CAT4) Practice Exam 2026 - Free CAT4 Practice Questions and Study Guide

The interactionist approach to parsing posits that both syntax and semantics play a crucial role in understanding sentence structure as one reads. This means that as individuals read a sentence, their comprehension is not isolated to grammatical rules alone; instead, the meanings of words and phrases (semantics) are activated concurrently with the syntactic structure.

By engaging both these elements in real-time, readers can interpret sentences more effectively, as they are synthesizing information about word meanings and grammatical relationships simultaneously. This dual activation allows for a more dynamic understanding of language, adapting to context and prior knowledge as the sentence unfolds.

In contrast, focusing solely on syntax would neglect the semantic context necessary for nuanced interpretation. Additionally, while prior knowledge is important in reading, the interactionist approach emphasizes that meaning is constructed actively during the reading process rather than being based exclusively on prior understanding. Lastly, ignoring grammar would undermine the structural coherence of sentences, which is essential for effective parsing. Therefore, the choice that correctly encapsulates the core aspect of the interactionist approach is that semantics is actively engaged as the sentence is being read.