Research indicates that the informal reading does not produce reliable enough information on reading ability to use it for individual placement of students, though it can be used to judge the achievement of groups. (Ed./JD)

Data from the National Child Development Study are used to examine the relationship between school attendance, at the ages of 7 and 15, and reading and mathematics test scores and school behavior at age 16. Also examines the relationship between attendance and school adjustment as well as assessing the relative importance of poor attendance early…

Reports on research concerning cloze techniques; shows how a technique termed the "Interactive Cloze Procedure" was used to help eighth grade students study the use of imagery in a literary selection. (MAI)

The identification of criteria and procedures to be used for selecting applicants for teacher training is a problem that has received considerable comment and inquiry. Evaluates one selection criterion, the preservice teacher's ability to read, as an aid in the screening process. (Author/RK)

Utilizing Peel's and Hutson's instrumentations, the levels of abstraction of forty-one adult basic education students were assessed and then related to reading comprehension. The seven major findings indicated that there is a relationship between level of abstraction and reading comprehension. (EM)

Black undergraduate students (N=262) randomly assigned to three groups read premarked reading materials having both correct and extraneous markings. Results indicated that markings significantly affected reading comprehension. Recommendations for educators concerning correct and extraneous markings are made. (Author)

A report on an experiment testing the hypothesis that reading comprehension in a foreign language is learned more quickly and improved if reading instruction follows instruction and practice in listening comprehension. Results indicate that there is a high degree of transfer from listening to reading comprehension. A bibliography is provided. (AMH)

Describes the use of the cloze procedure in testing global communicative competence of university students of French. The topics covered are: the instrument and procedures, background of scorers, inter-scorer reliability, scoring methods, power of discrimination and validating of the tests. Paragraphs used in the experiment appear in the appendix.…

A description of a methodic approach to instruction in reading comprehension. The selection of texts, particularly those of high interest to students, is discussed. Several sample exercises illustrating the method, usable at all levels, are included. There are also a number of simple texts. (Text is in French.) (AMH)

This study assessed reading comprehension at different levels of second language learning. Adaptations of Carver's reading tests, a variation of the cloze procedure, were administered to 486 college students enrolled in beginning Spanish courses. Tests were found moderately reliable and were recommended for diagnostic purposes at beginning and…

Conventional paragraph structure requires that the topic sentence be presented first, followed by connected, coherent sentences. The processing role of these rules was investigated by comparing performance on reading simple passages that conformed to or violated conventional paragraph organization. (Author/SW)

The Department of Germanic Languages at the University of Texas at Austin has developed a language program in which students are trained in listening and reading comprehension before practicing production. The main objective was to improve student attitudes and reduce attrition between semesters. (SW)

Two types of bioloby textbooks were tested by 232 culturally disadvantaged seventh grade students in Israel. The reading material was written in either scientific prose or a longer narrative style. Reading ability was similar for all subjects. Reading comprehension and student preferences were measured. (GDC)

This investigation seeks to determine: the validity and reliability of cloze tests for measuring reading comprehension; the relation of cloze scores to difficulty levels of reading passages; the relation of cloze test performance to length of English training; and the merits of judgmental vs. random word deletion in test construction. (DB)

Reports on the newly devised optional Reading Comprehension Test in the high school graduation examination for Realschulen. Proposes a coordination of learning goals and teaching procedures with the various parts of the test. Offers suggestions for grading. Many examples are given. (Text is in German.) (IFS/WGA)