When you've worked on the same story for months, you already know what every character means and why every scene matters.
A new reader doesn't have that advantage.
That's why fresh feedback can be so valuable. A beta reader experiences the story without the writer's behind-the scenes knowledge and can point out where something feels unclear, rushed, predictable, or especially effective.
Sometimes, the most useful question is simply “What did you feel while reading this scene?”
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If the new reader does not have the advantage without reading back stories then surely the piece needs edited?
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tHANKS
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That's one reason I get feedback, Grace Whitmore. That's a great question to ask when writing a scene, rewriting a scene, and giving feedback on a scene!