Which of the following best describes the reading comprehension tasks in the English/language arts section?

The selection of multi-genre readings, including poetry and informational texts, reflects a comprehensive approach to assessing reading comprehension skills. This option indicates that the reading comprehension tasks are designed to represent a variety of text types, which is important for evaluating a student's ability to understand and interpret different kinds of material.

By including poetry, prose, and informational texts, the assessment can better gauge a student's proficiency in navigating diverse literary forms and styles, as well as their ability to extract meaning, analyze content, and apply critical thinking skills across genres. This diversity in reading selections supports a well-rounded understanding of language and literature, which is essential in both academic settings and everyday life.

In contrast, focusing solely on fiction, technical manuals, or a single genre approach would limit the scope of comprehension skills assessed, making it less effective in providing a comprehensive measure of students' reading abilities. Thus, option C represents a more thorough and relevant evaluation of reading comprehension in the English/language arts section.