Which component of the ASVAB measures critical reading skills?

The component of the ASVAB that measures critical reading skills is Paragraph Comprehension. This section assesses a test-taker's ability to read a passage and understand its content, drawing inferences, and identifying the main ideas and supporting details. It is focused specifically on comprehension, which includes analyzing and interpreting information from written texts.

The Paragraph Comprehension section is designed to evaluate how well an individual can understand and process written instructions or information, making it a crucial skill for various tasks in both civilian and military contexts. Mastery of this section can contribute to better overall communication skills and understanding complex material, which are essential in both academic and professional environments.

In contrast, the other sections mentioned assess different skills: Word Knowledge focuses on vocabulary and the ability to understand word meanings, Mathematics Knowledge measures mathematical concepts and applications, while Arithmetic Reasoning evaluates problem-solving skills in a numerical context. Each serves its specific purpose but does not directly measure critical reading skills in the way that Paragraph Comprehension does.