The multiple choice technique can test written and oral comprehension and linguistic competence at beginning and intermediate levels. Examples of test items concerning sounds, stress, vocabulary, and structures are presented, and brief comments on the items are included. (SW)

Concludes that both able and less able eighth grade readers who read text versions in which key concepts and the relations between them had been explained thoroughly learned significantly more word meanings than did students who read any of the other versions. (FL)

Analysis of the performance of 257 adult English-as-a-second-language students on six language tests (multiple choice, cloze, listening, reading, structure) indicated that age was a significant factor on listening and structure tests and high school graduation affected performance on all tests but one listening test. (Author/CB)

Describes a study of third- and sixth-grade students indicating no differences in comprehension between story reading on a page and on a computer screen, and that students were more interested in the story while reading from the screen, but that the story was more difficult in this condition. (HTH)

Using a counterbalanced order, 34 learning disabled students were given the Peabody Individual Achievement Test and the Woodcock Reading Mastery Tests. When scores in reading recognition and comprehension subtests were compared, Peabody scores were higher, indicating that fewer students were certifiable as learning disabled by Peabody scores than…

Provides guidelines for using action (pop-up) books of rhymes and tales to help children develop prereading skills and a sense of story structure. (AEW)

Summarizes five theories explaining the relationship between word knowledge and comprehension of text in native language acquisition and explores possible implications for second language researchers and practitioners. (Author/CB)

Describes a prototypical adjunct reading program which was used for two summers with high-risk students about to enter a private, medium-sized university. The program, "Strategies for Learning," provides instruction in 14 specific strategies for comprehending college texts, understanding course syllabi, taking notes, and organizing…

A mapping strategy for thinking critically about expository text, focusing on the passage's main idea, major supporting points, other viewpoints, reader's conclusion, and relevance to a contemporary situation, was effective in improving reading comprehension of four high school sophomores in a remedial reading class and two mildly mentally…

Investigation of the relevance of student background discipline (185 college students studying science and technology, biology, and humanities and social science) on tests of reading comprehension in English as a foreign language found that content area passages do affect student performance on reading comprehension tests but not as greatly as…

Elementary school children's ability to monitor other children's reading comprehension was examined through the use of a cloze test. Considered were children's ability to correct other children's errors, differences attributable to reading ability level, and the effect of context distance on task performance. (MSE)

Discusses pedagogical implications of recent theory and research on response to literature. Contends that now teachers must be aware of readers, the text, and the context in which a text is read and discussed. (MS)

Considers current research on reading in a second language from five points of view: (1) the reader's role in light of new models of language and textual meaning; (2) revised definitions of textual meaning and reader processing; (3) reader processing of schemata; (4) relationship between second-language competency and reader strategies; and (5)…

Details events from the experiences of two young children as they learned written language. Concludes that children need to have a say in why and what they are reading. (FL)

Teaching organizational strategies to language-disordered children can improve comprehension and formulation of written language. The semantic organizer approach involves activating and organizing prior knowledge, understanding text structure, and developing organizational strategies with both a verbal component and a graphic-structure component.…