What is one outcome of students gaining semantic and lexical knowledge through repeated exposure to targeted words?

Gaining semantic and lexical knowledge through repeated exposure to targeted words leads to enhanced understanding of word relationships, which is a critical aspect of vocabulary development. When students are frequently exposed to new words in various contexts, they begin to recognize not only the meanings of those words but also how they relate to other words. This deeper understanding facilitates their ability to make connections between words, grasp synonyms and antonyms, and comprehend nuances in meaning based on context. This foundation is essential for effective communication and literacy development, enabling students to utilize language more proficiently in both written and spoken forms.

In contrast, the other outcomes listed do not adequately reflect the benefits of vocabulary learning: increased annoyance with vocabulary tasks can stem from ineffective teaching methods, higher performance in standardized tests can be a result of various factors beyond just vocabulary knowledge, and loss of interest in reading is typically counterproductive to literacy growth. Therefore, enhanced understanding of word relationships stands out as the most relevant and positive outcome of repeated exposure to vocabulary.