The term 'is literate' can be broken down into two crossword solutions: 'reads' (5 letters) and 'readsandwrites' (14 letters). Being literate means having the ability to read and write, which is a fundamental skill for success in many aspects of life. The first solution, 'reads, ' implies that someone is able to read, while the second solution, 'readsandwrites, ' implies that someone is able to both read and write. Therefore, being literate means having the ability to both read and write.