Question

What does the process of close reading help a reader do? Understand how the story ends, analyze and critique the story, understand the story in just one reading, understand the literary elements of the story, comprehend the surface meaning of the story

Answer 1

The process of close reading help a reader to ANALYSE AND CRITIQUE THE STORY.
Close reading refers to the type of reading in which the reader carefully read through the text in order to gain a deeper understanding of the story. Close reading makes it possible for one to interpret the story and to critique it because it paves way for better understanding of the work as a whole. 

Answer 2

Understand the literary elements of the story.

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~Travis