This was touched upon a wee bit in 12.1 Knowledge and 12.1 should be read first. Which means 1.5 should be read before 12.1. Please do not read any of the notes in section 12 without reading 1.5 and then each note in order. They are not free-standing and self-supporting.
Comprehension is not actually using or applying knowledge per se. It is about understanding the data, information, or situation, and what it means; the looking and observing, the hearing and listening. Observing is more than seeing and listening is more than just hearing. Observing and listening involve more cognitive processes!
The knowledge needed to comprehend something. Before you should apply, analyse, synthesize, or evaluate, you should have the appropriate level of comprehension. It is about decoding the situation, making connections with existing knowledge, putting the knowledge and situation in context (i.e., thinking deeply). This can cover the who, what, where, when, why, and how. It can cover the underlying assumptions (used later in applying and analysis), and knowledge about strengths, weaknesses, caveats, etc. This requires more complex thought than mere memorization.
We like to join the themes of 12.2 and 12.1 together. We suggest that the learning and assessment of knowledge in a pure form not be done. You can have some purity of course, but a healthy dose of comprehension is required at the same time.
Comprehension is what gets you from looking to seeing, from listening to hearing.