A study on application of some exploratory speed reading strategies for enhancing reading comprehension for the tenth graders in asian pacific college school in gia lai province

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING UNIVERSITY OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES, HUE UNIVERSITY PHAN ANH DUNG A STUDY ON APPLICATION OF SOME EXPLORATORY SPEED READING STRATEGIES FOR ENHANCING READING COMPREHENSION FOR THE TENTH GRADERS IN ASIAN PACIFIC COLLEGE SCHOOL IN GIA LAI PROVINCE MA THESIS IN THEORY AND METHODOLOGY OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHING In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts, Hue University of Foreign Languages HUE, 2019 MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING UNIVERSITY OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES, HUE UNIVERSITY PHAN ANH DUNG A STUDY ON APPLICATION OF SOME EXPLORATORY SPEED READING STRATEGIES FOR ENHANCING READING COMPREHENSION FOR THE TENTH GRADERS IN ASIAN PACIFIC COLLEGE SCHOOL IN GIA LAI PROVINCE MA THESIS IN THEORY AND METHODOLOGY OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHING CODE: 8140111 SUPERVISOR: Assoc Prof Dr TRAN VAN PHUOC HUE, 2019 BỘ GIÁO DỤC ĐÀO TẠO ĐẠI HỌC HUẾ TRƯỜNG ĐẠI HỌC NGOẠI NGỮ PHAN ANH DŨNG NGHIÊN CỨU ỨNG DỤNG MỘT SỐ KỸ THUẬT ĐỌC HIỂU NHANH NHẰM TĂNG CƯỜNG KHẢ NĂNG ĐỌC HIỂU CHO HỌC SINH LỚPP 10 TẠI TRƯỜNG QUỐC TẾ CHÂU Á THÁI BÌNH DƯƠNG TỈNH GIA LAI LUẬN VĂN THẠC SỸ LÝ LUẬN VÀ PHƯƠNG PHÁP DẠY HỌC BỘ MÔN TIẾNG ANH MÃ SỐ: 8140111 NGƯỜI HƯỚNG DẪN KHOA HỌC: PGS.TS TRẦN VĂN PHƯỚC HUẾ, 2019 Statement of Original Authorship The work contained in this thesis has not previously been submitted for a degree or diploma in any university I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, my thesis contains no material previously published or written by another person except where due reference is made in the thesis itself Signed: ………………… Date: ……/………/…… Abstract Although the National Foreign Languages 2020 Project was launched since 2008, high school learners of English have encountered many difficulties in mastering communication skills, especially reading comprehension skill The study analyzed the result of applying speed reading strategies to treat the experimental group of 20 tenth graders at Asian Pacific College School in Gia Lai Province who was involved in 15-week training course after having attended reading practice tests with another group (control group) This experimental approach also showed that the application of fast reading strategies such as skimming and scanning did not only enhance learners’ reading speed, confidence and motivation but forced them to concentrate better on doing comprehension questions as well Hence, these strategies should be considered as a strategic choice to speed up reading comprehension skill for high school learners of English, which will surely help widen their knowledge as the foundation for mastering other communication skills in English Keywords: speed reading, strategies, reading comprehension skill, enhance… ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This research paper is the end of my long journey in obtaining my M.A There are many people who made this journey easier with words of encouragement I would like to express my deep gratitude to the following people for their help, advice, and encouragement in both direct and indirect ways during the study First, I wish to express my deep and sincere grateful thanks to my advisor, Assoc Prof Dr Tran Van Phuoc, for his valuable and thorough comments, assistance, and support throughout the study I would like to thank Dr Truong Bach Le, Dr Ton Nu Nhu Huong, Dr Pham Hoa Hiep and Dr Le Pham Hoai Huong for their kindness and support for my work My thanks also go to Asia Pacific College Gia Lai (APC), especially Director-Board and School-Board for support of the research study; besides, I appreciate the whole-hearted co-operation from APC’s English teachers team and all tenth-grade students (school year 2018-2019) Finally, I would like to give my appreciative thanks to my wife and sons, my family and close friends for their kind assistance and constant encouragement which always bring about success to my life i TABLES OF CONTENTS Statement of Original Authorship iv Abstract v Acknowledgment i Tables of contents ii List of tables v List of figures vii List of abbreviations CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 1.1 Rationale 1.2 Aim of the study 1.3 Research questions 1.4 Hypothesis 1.5 Scope of the study 1.6 Significance of the study 1.7 Structure of the study CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW 2.1 Definition of terms in the study 2.2 Theoretical Background 2.2.1 Reading and reading comprehension skills in learning EFL 2.2.2 Sub-reading skills of EFL learners 2.2.3 Timed reading 2.2.4 Paced reading 10 2.2.5 Speed reading 11 2.2.6 Speed reading strategies 13 2.2.7 Cognitive and psycholinguistic influence on EFL learners’ reading comprehension 15 2.3 Overview of previous studies 18 2.3.1 Abroad 18 2.3.2 In Vietnam 21 ii 2.4 Introduction to learning EFL at Asia Pacific College 22 2.5 Summary 23 CHAPTER 3: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 25 3.1 Revisited research questions 25 3.2 Research Approach 25 3.3 Research methods: Data collection methods 28 3.3.1 Population, sampling and participants 28 3.3.2 Instruments for data collecting 31 3.3.3 Training materials 34 3.4 Data collection procedure 36 3.4.1 Tests design 36 3.4.2 Test implementation 37 3.4.3 Survey 37 3.5 Data analysis methods 38 3.5.1 Qualitative data analysis 38 3.5.2 Quantitative data analysis 39 3.6 Summary 39 CHAPTER 4: FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION 41 4.1 Differences in students’ reading comprehension before and after the speed reading training course 41 4.1.1 Pre-test and post-test data 41 4.1.2 Significant differences between levels of reading comprehension of two groups after speed reading intervention 43 4.2 Students’ perceptions of speed reading strategies 48 4.2.1 The importance of learning speed reading at school 48 4.2.2 Students’ reading experience 49 4.2.3 Students’ speed reading strategies practice 50 4.2.4 Speed reading strategies to improve students’ reading speed 51 4.2.5 Speed reading strategies to improve students’ their reading comprehension 52 4.2.6 Frequency of speed reading strategies use 52 iii 4.2.7 Students’ speed reading practice and students’ reflection 53 4.2.8 Student’s satisfaction with speed reading strategies and speed reading practice tests 54 4.2.9 Student’s satisfaction with their reading tests’ results in school year 2017-2018 55 4.2.10 How students like learning speed reading classes? 55 4.2.11 The students’ reasons for speed reading class 56 4.2.12 Reading obstacles that students generally face 57 4.2.13 Positive influence of timed reading and paced reading on students’ reading speed improvement 57 4.2.14 Positive influence of timed reading and paced reading on students’ reading comprehension improvement 59 4.3 Attitudes of students 61 4.3.1 Development of students’ language proficiency in learning English with timed and paced reading activities 61 4.3.2 Students’ suggestion for implementation of speed reading strategies in English class 63 4.3.3 Students’ recommendation: 65 4.4 Conclusion 65 CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION 68 5.1 Summary of the key findings 68 5.1.1 Key findings 68 5.1.2 Side-effects: 70 5.2 Implications and suggestions 71 5.2.1 Implications for school and teachers 71 5.2.2 Implications for students 72 5.2.3 Suggestions 72 5.3 Limitations of the study 73 REFERENCES 73 APPENDICES 80 iv List of tables Table The population of the research 29 Table Sample for pre-test and post-test 30 Table 3 Demographic Data of the Participants in Experimental group 30 Table Sample for the questionnaire 31 Table The results of groups in the pre-test and post-test 42 Table Result of group in pre-test 43 Table Result of group in post-test 44 Table 4 Results of Independent Sample test on Pre-test scores 45 Table Results of Independent Sample test on Post-test scores 45 Table Compared mean values of post-test 46 Table Students’ reading experience 49 Table Students’ Speed Reading strategies practice 50 Table Speed reading strategies improving students’ reading speed 51 Table 10 Speed reading strategies improving students’ reading comprehension 52 Table 11 Students’ speed reading practice and reflection 53 Table 12 Student's satisfaction with speed reading strategies and tests 54 Table 13 Student's satisfaction 55 Table 14 How students like learning Speed Reading Classes 55 Table 15 The students' explanation to reasons they like speed reading class 56 Table 16 Studens' Reading obstacles 57 Table 17 Positive influence of timed reading and paced reading on students' reading speed improvement 57 Table 18 Students’ explanation 58 Table 19 Positive influence of timed reading and paced reading on students' reading comprehension improvement 59 Table 20 Students’ explanation 60 Table 21 Students’ language proficiency in learning English with timed and paced reading activities 61 v contain sulfur, resulting in increasing the acidity of the river water Sometimes, rubbish such as plastic bags and bottles, are also washed into the river channel Word count: 142 Time: Score: Questions When does river pollution occur? _ What is the important role of fresh water to humans and animals? _ What happens when heavy rainfall occurs in a polluted area? _ How may waste water be discharged into the river? _ What is the effect of industrial waste on the environment? _ TEXT WELCOME TO HAWAII Hawaii is a popular holiday destination But which island should you choose for VOUT holiday in paradise? OAHU AIL the international flights go from the capital, Honolulu, on Oahu Island Oahu is the most populated island and home of the famous Waikiki beach International surfing competitions take place here Oahu is also the place for shops, restaurants and MAUI Maui is the most romantic Island and ideal for relaxing There are white sandy beaches with turquoise water, and in summer the waves are small and perfect for inexperienced surfers In winter, you can see whales in the warm water Maui is ideal for nature lovers and visitors falling in love with the island’s natural beauty BIG ISLAND Big Island is cheaper and for the more adventurous visitors You can go to the top of the highest mountain - 4000 meters above sea level, and enjoy an amazing view Word count: 148 Time: Score: Questions: Read the article about Hawaii Which is the best island for the activities (1-5) Write O for Oahu, M for Maui, and BI for Bag Island in each blank When I’m on holiday, I enjoy shopping to buy presents for my family I’ve never seen a whale - I really want to go whale-watching one day When I’m on holiday, I like new experiences like learning to surf I’m not interested in sport when I’m on holiday Lying on the beach is my favorite activity Climbing a mountain is very hard work, but you get a fantastic view from the top! TEXT 15 AMERICAN SCIENTIFIC INVENTIONS AND APPLICATIONS American history is full of scientific inventions and applications that changed our lives As early as 1844, Samuel F.B Morse had perfected the electrical telegraph Soon afterward, 89 distant parts of the country were linked by a network of poles and wires In 1876, Alexander Graham Bell demonstrated a telephone instrument Within half a century, 16 million phones sped up the social and economic life of the nation Businesses grew with the invention of the typewriter in 1867, the adding machine in 1888, and the cash register in 1897 The linotype-composing machine, invented in 1886, along with the rotary press and paper-folding machinery, made it possible to print 240,000 eightpage newspapers in an hour Thomas Edison's radiant lamp eventually lit millions of homes, and his talking machine, also known as a phonograph, filled our ears with the sounds of music and words Together with George Eastman, Edison also helped to develop the motion picture Word count: 153 Time: Score: Questions In 1876, Alexander Graham Bell demonstrated a A phonograph B telephone C telegraph Who perfected electrical telegraphy? A Alexander Graham Bell B Thomas Edison C Samuel F.B Morse 16 million phones sped up the social and economic life of the nation within A 40 years B 50 years C 60 years The typewriter was invented in A 1867 B 1888 C 1897 Who helped develop the motion picture? A George Lucas B H.G Wells C George Eastman TEXT 11 JAMES MARSHALL On January 24, 1848, James Marshall discovered several small nuggets of gold at Sutter's Mill in California The first printed notice of the discovery appeared on March 15 in the San Francisco Californian Not long afterward, General John Bidwell discovered gold in the Feather River, and Major Pearson Reading found his own in the Trinity River The combination of discoveries produced a rash of "gold fever." Almost half a million people began a stampede to the western United States in search of their own fortunes The gold continued to pour in In 1849, quartz mining began at the Mariposa mine; gold deposits were found inside the veins of quartz In 1850, gold-bearing quartz was also found at Gold Hill in Grass Valley It led to the development of great underground mines and a gold-producing industry that continued for more than 100 years By 1852, California's annual gold production reached an all-time high of 81 million dollars The supply seemed inexhaustible It appeared even more so when a 54-pound nugget was found in Butte County, and a 195-pound mass was found in Carson Hill When gold was discovered on the Fraser River in British Columbia, some miners began to head north By 1855, the rich surface placers were largely exhausted in California, and, by 90 1864, California's gold rush had ended Hydraulic mines became the chief sources of gold for the next 20 years Word count: 232 Time: Score: Questions: Who discovered several small nuggets of gold at Sutter's Mill? A Pearson Reading B John Bidwell C James Marshall California's annual gold production reached an all-time high of A 54 million dollars B 68 million dollars C 81 million dollars Gold was also discovered on the Fraser River in A Nevada B British Columbia C Oregon California’s annual gold production reached an all-time high 81 million dollars by A 1852 B 1854 C 1895 By what year had California's gold rush ended? A 1849 B 1852 C 1864 TEXT 12 THE CIVIL WAR The Civil War began because the Southern states did not agree with the laws the Northern states set for them In the election of 1860, Abraham Lincoln stated that he wanted to stop the spread of slavery, a major institution in the South The Southern states said that if Lincoln won the election for President, they would secede (leave) the Union Lincoln won, and the South seceded The Southern states formed their own nation, known as the Confederate States of America The Civil War began in April of 1861, when the Confederate Army took over Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina President Lincoln was forced to declare war The war was long and bloody - over 600,000 men on both sides died, and over 1,100,000 were injured The South was devastated General Robert E Lee surrendered to General Ulysses S Grant on April 9, 1865 at Appomattox Court House in Virginia, ending the war Word count: 154 Time: Score: Questions: The Southern states said if Lincoln won the election, they would A succeed B secede C appeal Abraham Lincoln wanted to stop the spread of A disease B poverty C slavery The Confederate Army took over 91 A Fort Smith B Fort Arkansas C Fort Sumter During the war, over _ men on both sides died A 650,000 B 620,000 C 600,000 The Civil War lasted from 1861 to A 1875 B 1865 C 1885 TEXT 13 THE ATMOSPHERE The atmosphere is made up of many gases Some of these are nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon dioxide It also has layers Each one has different properties The troposphere reaches from the ground to 12 kilometers high It is the region where weather occurs It contains clouds, rain, snow, and storms The stratosphere reaches from 12 to 50 kilometers high The ozone layer in this region absorbs ultraviolet radiation This makes it possible for life to exist on the planet The mesosphere, or "middle atmosphere," reaches from 50 to 80 kilometers high The temperature drops sharply in this region Most meteoroids burn up here The thermosphere extends above 80 kilometers high The air is very thin here, and very hot - up to 1,800 degrees Celsius It has no outer limit The thermosphere is divided into two regions The ionosphere reaches from 80 to 550 kilometers above Earth's surface Ions in this region reflect radio waves back to Earth This is also the region that produces the aurora borealis, or the "northern lights." The exosphere is the "outer atmosphere." It extends from 550 kilometers high out into space Artificial satellites orbit in this region Word count: 193 Time: Score: Questions The ionosphere reaches from A 12 to 50 kilometers B 50 to 80 kilometers C 80 to 550 kilometers The troposphere is the region where A satellites orbit B weather occurs C the aurora borealis occurs Most meteoroids burn up in the A thermosphere B mesosphere C ionosphere The aurora borealis are called _ A the "southern lights" B the "northern lights" C the "western lights" The air in the thermosphere is A very cold B very hot C ionized 92 TEXT 14 STUDYING FOSSILS Fossils can tell us a great deal about the past Studying fossils, researchers have found the oldest known fossil animal It is called an archeopteryx The researchers believe it is the "missing link" between dinosaurs and birds It contains features of each On the one hand, the fossil shows clear impressions of feathers The animal "frozen" in time has an expanded braincase It also has large eye sockets and a pronounced beak, just like those of modern birds In addition, the animal's hind legs have three claws at the ends Also, it has well-developed wings The structure and arrangement of its feathers indicate it could fly On the other hand, it appears to have well developed teeth, like a theropod (meat-eating dinosaur) It also has a long, well-formed tail These are traits that are similar to those of small dinosaurs Scientists can only guess about its status until more such creatures are found to support their theory Word count: 157 Time: Score: Questions Researchers believe the archaeopteryx is the A oldest known fossil B missing link C simplest form of bird The animal's hind legs have claws A three B four C five It appears to have well-developed A teeth B muscles C talons The fossil has an expanded A wing structure B skeletal structure C braincase The traits are similar to those of small _ A elephants B dinosaurs C chimpanzees TEXT 15 COME "FLY" OVER THE RAINFOREST - WE'LL TAKE YOUR BREATH AWAY! Located in Cairns Australia, Rainforest Flyway is a world leader in ecotourism We take our guests on a breathtaking "flight ' over rainforest trees and straight info the heart of the rainforest for an unforgettable experience On the Flyway, you'll experience over 7.5 kilometers of living rainforests while learning about this spectacular place Did you know that Australia’s rainforests arc home to over 3,000 different plant species? And some of the trees here are more than 3,000 years old! After this visit you’ll understand why it’s so important to preserve the rainforests And you’ll see that environmentally responsible travel can be fun educational, and breathtaking Even if you're a world traveler, you’ve never experienced anything like the Rainforest Flyway You'll start your unique journey above the rainforest, as you “fly” in a comfortable gondola only a few meters above the trees Sit back and enjoy the extraordinary scenery' 93 You will be amazed at the breathtakingly rich and lush foliage And rest assured, there was no damage done to the rainforest ecology during the construction of your gondola That’s why the development of the Flyway took over 40 months to complete Your gondola will bring you down into the rainforest itself, where you follow a path to sec, hear, and smell the rainforest environment from the ground Free tours arc available several times a day l our guides can point out some unusual plants, provide you with interesting facts about rainforest ecology, and answer your questions Your Rainforest Fly way experience lasts 90 minutes and ends in the small town of Kuranda, just 25 kilometers northwest of Cairns Here, you can continue your eco-tour with a visit to the protected areas that 2,000 tropical butterflies call home You can also buy original arts and crafts made by the people of Kuranda And if that isn’t enough, you can continue on to the wildlife reserve located a short kilometers west of Kuranda to see animals from all parts of the world Rainforest Flyway has won numerous awards, including Travel Planet magazine’s “Best Ecotourism Destination” Call or visit us online to make your reservations Word count: 352 Time: Score: Questions On this trip you can learn about A some great ecotourism destinations B tour guides C the ecology of Australia’s rainforests D the environmentally responsible travel A gondola is A a rainforest animal B a person who leads the tour C a type of transportation D a tree more than 3,000 years old Rainforest Fly way encourages guests to A follow a path to explore the rainforest B make a new path in the rainforest C take a souvenir from the rainforest D take another Flyway to view the rainforest Tour guides can A bring you down into the rainforest B give you souvenirs C make reservations for you D teach you about the rainforest The rainforest has A many types of arts and crafts B 3.000 different types of plants C animals from all parts of the world D 2.000 different types of tropical butterflies 94 ANSWER KEYS: TT TITTLE Amelia Earhart Susan Anthony Chinese zodiac Common wedding rituals in the USA Electronic devices that help you learn English Electronic learning Birds and their nests River pollution Welcome to Hawaii 10 Come "fly" over the rainforest we'll take your breath away! 11 James Marshall 12 The civil war ANSWER KEYS 1.F 2.NG 3.F 4.T 5.F 1.C 2.B 3.C 4.B 5.D They are generous, charming, and creative They make good surgeons and hairdressers They are clever, skillful, and flexible They are deep thinkers, independent, and adventurous They both use animals as symbols 1.D 2.A 3.B 4.C 5.C Can download the lessons from an English translation Internet site/listen and learn anywhere You can learn in many locations including your car It includes hundreds of thousands of words, definitions and thesaurus entries/you can view them on the screen or hear it spoken Talking Electronic Dictionary or Audio Phrasebook Help learning English easier, faster, more enjoyable T 2.T 3.NG 4.F 5.F In many different places in the environment: high braches, bushes, or on the ground Mainly for hatching their eggs and raising their offerings They are losing their habitats and breeding ground To observe birds and nests, and how they take care of their eggs Keep enough open space around their homes where birds feel safe When pollutants are not removed from sewage and are dis charged in to the river It provides a constant supply of fresh water for drinking, cooking, washing to humans, and animals depends on clean river water When heavy rainfall happens Through our drainage system It increases the acidity of the river 1.O 2.M 3.M 4.M 5.BI 1.C 2.C 3.A 4.D 5.B 1.C 2.C 3.B 4.A 5.C 1.B 2.C 3.C 4.C 5.B 95 NOTE 13 The atmosphere 1.C 2.B 3.B 4.B 5.B 14 Studying fossils 1.B 2.A 3.A 4.B 5.B 15 American scientific inventions and applications 1.B 2.C 3.B 4.A 5.C PROGRESS GRAPH Name: _ Class: School: _ Write your score in the box under the # Then put an X in one of the boxes to show your reading time and word-per-minute reading rate Time 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 TEST wpm 400 345 300 265 240 22 200 185 170 160 150 140 135 125 120 115 110 105 100 P1 T 1 1 Score 96 2 2 P2 T APPENDIX C PRE-TEST AND POST-TEST PRE-TEST FOR EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON APPLICATION OF SOME EXPLORATORY SPEED READING STRATEGIES FOR ENHANCING READING COMPREHENSION FOR THE TENTH GRADERS IN ASIAN PACIFIC COLLEGE SCHOOL IN GIA LAI PROVINCE READING COMPREHENSION TEST – GRADE 10 Time allotted: 30 minutes Student’s name Class Mark I Read the text about Adele and answer the questions that follow Adele has been one of the world's most well-known singers and songwriters in recent years Born in North London in 1988, Adele started singing at a young age and she was mostly influenced by the Spice Girls At the age of 16, Adele composed her first hit song, "Hometown Glory" When she was a student at the British School for Performing Arts and Technology, she recorded three songs for a class project All these songs later were posted on MySpace.com and became very popular As a result, she was offered a record deal from XL Recordings after her graduation Her first album "19" debuted at number one on the British charts in 2008 In March 2008, she did a short tour in America and soon her international career began In 2011, her second album, "21", came out The music on this album was different from the soul music of "19" It was influenced by American country music, which Adele was listening to during her tour In 2012, she wrote and recorded "Skyfall" for the James Bond film of the same name The song sold more than two million copies worldwide and for it Adele won the Academy Award for Best Original Song Since 2012, Adele has won many more awards She has many fans including other famous singers because they admire her unique voice and her passion for music (Adapted from "Adele" by Learning Resource Network, 2016) Circle the best answer A, B, C, or D for each of the following questions Adele's first song _ A was recorded at her art school B was influenced by the Spice Girls' music C was written when she was a teenager D was written for her class project The second paragraph is mainly about _ A the songs Adele wrote for XL Recordings B what Adele did when she was a student C how Adele made her songs popular D how Adele began her professional music career After Adele graduated from her art school, _ A she posted her songs on MySpace B she started singing and writing songs C she got a contract with a recording label D she started her career in America 97 The word "came out" in paragraph can be replaced by _ A be composed B be released C be offered D be recorded The word "it" in paragraph refers to _ A the song "Skyfall" B the Academy Award C Adele's best song D the 2012 James Bond film II Read the text and answer the questions that follow Many people worry about the effects of television on family life in the United States In the average home, the TV is on more than six hours a day But people always keep their mind on the programs? And people who watch TV really spend less time on other free-time activities? A study by some New York researchers found out that watching TV is the most popular free-time activity in the United States More than 70% of Americans say that they watch TV every day, or almost every day The second most popular activity is reading the newspaper Listening to music at home is third Talking on the phone to friends and relatives is fourth Exercising or jogging is fifth Surprisingly, television does not seem to take time away from free-time activities at home Six out of ten people said that when the TV is on, they seldom pay attention to it During a typical television program, people may eat dinner, housework, read a newspaper or magazine, or talk or read to their children The TV becomes 'background music' The researchers learned that in some ways Americans are very traditional Teenagers and single people may be interested in activities and excitement outside the home However, eight out of ten Americans like to spend their free time at home with family member and friends (Adapted from "Reading Explorations") Choose the best answer A, B, C, or D for each of the following questions What is the passage mainly about? A The bad effects of TV on American family life B The fact that Americans are very traditional C Americans’ television viewing habits D How Americans spend their spare time According to the research, which is the most popular leisure activity in America? A listening to music C going out with friends B watching TV D doing housework What does the word "it" in paragraph refer to? A family activity B free-time activity C television D TV viewers Fill in each blank with NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the text ranks as the second most favourite pastime in the US 10 While watching TV, people rarely to it because they are also doing something else III Read the text about Movember and answer the questions that follow Moustache + November = Movember! Every year in November millions of men around the world grow moustaches to raise money for charity and to help people learn about men's health issues such as certain types of cancer and mental health 98 A man who wants to participate in the Movember event starts with a clean face on November 1st and then he grows a moustache for the next 30 days A man who doesn't shave for Movember is called a 'Mo Bro' (short for Moustache Brother!) He registers on the official website, Movember.com, and he asks his family and friends to sponsor him If you sponsor a Mo Bro, you agree to give him money if he keeps his moustache until November 30th As well as collecting money for cancer and mental health charities, the idea is that the new moustaches will help to start conversations that help people to learn more about men's health Started in Australia in 2003, Movember has attracted more than million participants worldwide to become a popular charity event in 21 countries (Adapted from "November", Learn English Teens) Circle the best answer A, B, or C for each of the following questions 11 The second paragraph is mainly about A activities of Movember participants Movember B participants of Movember C the goals of 12 Which is NOT a main goal of Movember? A Collect money for health charities B Raise awareness about male health issues C Promote the habit of growing a moustache Fill in each blank with NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the text 13 A man who grows a moustache for Movember is called _ 14 A Movember participant raises money by asking people to _ him if he grows a moustache for a month 15 More than _ people have joined in Movember since 2003 IV Read the passage carefully and choose the correct answer: Music influences people in different ways or the same person differently at different times Music may seem to influence people differently That is because people can react differently to the music We are able to apply a choosing process to the music we hear If someone hates jazz, then a jazz piece with a positive effect will probably not make him feel good A happy song might appear to make an angry person angrier, yet it is not the music itself that is creating the anger; rather it is the positive effect of the music The angry person does not want to accept the song's happy feeling: it points out his already existing anger, and makes that anger come to the surface When a piece of music is played and we are listening to it, our body, mind, and feelings are being affected The musicians of ancient cultures such as China, India, Turkey and Greece understood the effects of music In fact, Pathagoras, in ancient Greece, introduced a whole science that concerned them Because the musicians of these ancient cultures understood these effects, they created music that was positive, uplifting, and beneficial Once the effects of music are better understood, the next step is to gain a better understanding of the music around us, and what effect it is actually having 16 The text is about _ A The science of music B Understanding music C The effects of music on human feelings D Music and an angry person 17 Music _ A cannot be chosen B affects everybody in the same way 99 C affects us in different ways D never makes us angry 18 According to the text, _ A Everybody likes jazz C No one likes jazz B Jazz always makes us feel better D a very angry person sometimes not accept music 19 In ancient cultures, there used to be a science that concerned the effects of music in _ A China B India C Turkey D Greece 20 The word "Once" has a close meaning to _ A on time B when C because D if ANSWER KEYS: I C D C B II D B C Reading the newspaper 10 pay attention III 11 A 12 C 13 (a) Mo Bro 14 Sponsor 15 million IV 16 C 17 C 18 D 19 D 20 B 100 A POST-TEST FOR EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON APPLICATION OF SOME EXPLORATORY SPEED READING STRATEGIES FOR ENHANCING READING COMPREHENSION FOR THE TENTH GRADERS IN ASIAN PACIFIC COLLEGE SCHOOL IN GIA LAI PROVINCE READING COMPREHENSION TEST – GRADE 10 Time allotted: 30 minutes Student’s name Class Mark I Mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to best completes the passage The Meadow Park Zoo, which (41) three months ago, is already attracting large numbers of visitors The new zoo is quite small, compared with other similar (42) _ You won’t find any large and dangerous animals such as lions or tigers in cages Instead, there is a children’s zoo, where children can handle little animals like rabbits and (43) They can also have rides on a camel or an elephant The zoo had a working farm, too, with cows, sheep, ducks and chickens Lots of children from cities don’t understand what happens (44) a farm It’s important (45) them to see for themselves where their milk and eggs come from (Source: DOET of Thai Binh Province - 2016) A opened B opens C opening D open A attractions B parties C schools D events A hippos B mice C crocodiles D bears A across B in C up D for A for B at C of D up II Read the passage and complete the sentences Mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet Once there were lots of pandas in the mountains of Western China Today they are becoming extinct The reason is they cannot find enough food Pandas eat bamboo leaves They not like another food The bamboo grows very slowly It can take ten years for a bamboo to grow from a seed to a big plant Some types of bamboo have seeds only once every 60 years Pandas must wait many years for their food to grow While the bamboo is growing, pandas not have enough leaves to eat Farmers are using more and more of the land on the mountain side to grow food for man The farmers cut down the bamboo Bamboo leaves become less plentiful Pandas cannot find enough food to eat They starve and die China and World Wildlife Fund (WWF) are trying to save the pandas In 1979 they began to set up special parks where pandas can live One such park is the Wolong Reserve in Sichuan The Wolong Reserve has the highest number of pandas in the world Scientists come here to study the pandas’ eating and mating habits By learning more about the pandas’ habits, scientists can save them from extinction (Source: DOET of Thai Binh Province - 2016) 101 What is the main food of pandas? A Young bamboo trees B Bamboo roots C Bamboo trees D Bamboo leaves How long does it take a bamboo to grow into a big plant? A 60 years B a century C a decade D 10 months Why farmers cut bamboo trees? A To get farmland B To make pandas starve and die C To get food for pandas D To drive pandas away What scientists to save pandas from extinction? A They study about pandas’ habits B They only set up parks for them C They plant bamboo trees and set up parks for them D They put them in bamboo forest 10 What does the word “They” refer to? A Special parks B Pandas C Farmers D Bamboo trees III Read the passage and answer the questions that follow International Women’s Day takes place every year on March to celebrate the achievements of women worldwide It started with a protest that took place in New York City in 1908 where women went out onto the streets to demand the right to vote, shorter working hours and better pay Nowadays, it is a global event that is supported by many charities, NGOs, governments and academic institutions In today’s world, it may appear that women have all the same opportunities as men If you watch the news, you will see women astronauts, women prime ministers and women leaders in business However, if you look at the statistics you will realise that there’s still a long way to go A report by BBC a few years ago showed that in the UK, women occupied only 30.9% of the most senior positions in areas like politics and business What is more, latest figures suggest that British women still earn on average 20% less than men So, although progress has been made since 1908, there is still a lot to before we see an equal number of men and women in the top jobs and receiving equal pay To celebrate International Women’s Day, a lot of special events take place in towns and cities all over the UK There are exhibitions, theatre shows, talks, walking tours, films, workshops and so much more All the events are designed not only to celebrate the role of women in society but also to encourage efforts to achieve gender equality (Adapted from International Women’s Day by British Council) T 31 Women protested in New York City in 1908 for some women’s rights 32 The word “it” refers to a protest 33 In reality, more men are top leaders in politics and business than women 34 The second paragraph mainly discusses the reasons why we need to continue promoting gender equality 35 In the UK, special activities are organized for International Women’s Day to achieve gender equality Decide whether the following statements are true (T) or false (F) 102 F IV Read the passage and answer the questions that follow Earth Hour is an annual global campaign that encourages people and businesses around the world to switch off electricity at the same time for one hour at the end of March Organised by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), Earth Hour started in Australia in 2007 when 2.2 million people in the city of Sydney turned off all non-essential lights for 60 minutes Since then it has grown to a massive global event In 2013, more than 7,000 cities and towns worldwide participated in this campaign Every year landmarks and well-known buildings around the world such as the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge, the Petronas towers in Malaysia, the UK Parliament, Buckingham Palace and the Empire State Building take part and “go dark” for Earth Hour Therefore, Earth Hour has been a symbolic event to make people think about the problems of climate change and show their commitment to protect the planet (Adapted from “Earth Hour” by British Council) The passage is mainly about A a global competition to save the Earth’s energy B a worldwide event to help protect the planet C an activity of Sydney people to take place in March The word “non-essential” in the second sentence can be best replaced by A unnecessary B useless C unused The word “it” in the third sentence refers to A the city of Sydney B a global event C Earth Hour Earth Hour was first ognanised in A Malaysia B Australia C the UK Earth Hour is held to raise awareness about A the shortage of electricity B the problems of famous landmarks C a kind of environmental issues ANSWER KEYS: I 1.A 2.A 3.B 4.B 5.A II 6.D 7.C 8.A 9.A 10.B III 11.T 12.F 13.F 14.F 15.F IV 16 B 17.A 18.C 19.B 20.C 103