词汇知识和阅读能力在美国高考思辨阅读中的作用实证研究

An empirical study of the predictability of vocabulary knowledge and reading ability on redesigned SAT critical reading

本研究以通过英语专业四级考试(TEM4)的中高水平51人为研究对象,采用词汇广度2个测试工具,词汇深度测试工具(语境高频学术词汇测试表)和TEM4综合成绩、TEM8阅读成绩共5个测试工具,考查了5个变量对于思辨性阅读新SAT阅读的影响贡献力。采用SPSS19.0对实验数据做多元线性回归分析,结果表明:词汇深度和TEM8阅读能有效预测思辨阅读能力;词汇广度和TEM4综合成绩对于思辨阅读能力不具有预测性。通过文本指难针工具和ETS开发的TextEvaluator~?文本难度分析器对TEM8阅读和SAT阅读文本难度的内在联系做分析,同时结合二者的思辨能力考查点进行比较,发现新SAT阅读在思辨能力上增加了2个大的维度,即修辞功能评价维度和信息综合分析维度,强化了信息综合思辨分析应用能力,因此改革前TEM8阅读能部分解释难度偏高的美国高考思辨阅读中体现的能力,而词汇深度测试工具与思辨阅读的能力要求存在高度正相关关系。

51 third-year English majors with intermediate or proficient English levels participate in this study. Their performances in two vocabulary tests including Vocabulary Level Test（VLT） and Vocabulary Size Test（VST） are both adopted to test the breath of vocabulary knowledge. In addition, scores about depth of vocabulary knowledge （ High- Utility Academic Words and Phrases） ,TEM4 overall scores, TEM8 reading scores and redesigned SAT critical read- ing scores are collected as the original data. After the Pearson correlation and linear regression analysis, it is found that firstly the VST and VLT are unable to predict learners＇ critical reading proficiency while depth of vocabulary knowledge and TEM8 reading can effectively predict critical reading ability. Secondly, TEM4 fails to predict language learners＇ critical reading ability. Thirdly, after analyzing SAT reading and TEM8 reading with Text Difficulty Level Calculating Tool developed by Language Data website and TextEvaluator~ text analysis tool developed by ETS in America, it is found out that in addition to text difficulty similarities between them, the redesigned SAT critical read- ing and TEM8 reading share one common core ： information and idea testing, but SAT critical reading has 2 additional dimensions of rhetoric and information synthesis which reflect the higher critical ability of Bloom taxonomical model, namely, application, analysis, synthesis and evaluation.