understanding the meaning or the point of a topic, F. Dubin, D.E Eskey and W. Grabe show more specific explanation, comprehension means
relating what we do not know or new information, which is not random collection or facts but a “theory of world” in each of our heads. Reading
comprehension is most likely a simple multiplication of word recognition abilities and general language comprehension abilities.
Reading comprehension is very important in our everyday reading. When we glance at newspapers, magazines, and books, we often need to
understand the reading passage more profoundly. Someone cannot get information completely without comprehension. Comprehension includes
recognizing and understanding main ideas and related details. A good recognizes that many ideas are implied and shehe must read between the
lines to get the full meaning. Penny Ur states that in reading, it is recorded the meaning of text, to get some meaning from what the text means, and
our understanding of which it is composed.
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Based on the previous definitions, it can be synthesized that definition of reading comprehension is the process of interaction between
a reader and a text to get information from the text and to form an interpretation and to draw a conclusion of that information. Delivery of
ideas, opinions, or feeling is some important aspects of the process which a writer’s ideas become real to reader.
2. The Objective of Reading
Reading is an activity with an objective. A person may read in order to get some information , for enjoyment or to enhance knowledge of
the language being read. Rivers and Temperly suggest that second language learners will
want to read for the following objectives: a. To obtain information for some purpose or because we are curious
about some topic;
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Penny Ur, A Course in Language Teaching, Teching and Theory, New York: Cambridge University Press, 1986. P. 138
b. To obtain instructions on how to perform some task for our work or daily life e.g. knowing how an appliance works;
c. To act in a play, play a game, do a puzzle; d. To keep in touch with friends by correspondence or to understand
business letters; e. To know when or where something will take place or what is
available; f.
To know what is happening or has happened as reported in newspapers, magazines, reports;
g. For enjoyment or excitement.
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3. The Types of Reading Text
There are seven types of reading texts which is learned by students in secondary school. They are Descriptive, Narrative, Spoof,
Recount, Procedure, Report and Anecdote.
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Students are expected to understand and master all of the texts after they learnt English.
In line with the limitation, formulation and objective of the research in the previous chapter, the writer would like only to explain about Descriptive
text.
Descriptive Text
Descriptive text is a text which lists the characteristics of something. The purpose of descriptive text is to describe and reveal a
particular person, place, or thing. The generic structure of descriptive text are:
a. Identification : Identifies phenomenon to be described.
b. Description : Describes parts, qualitie, characteristics.
Descriptive text also has language features, they are: a. Focus on specific participants
b. Use of attributive and identifying processes
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David Nunan, Designing Tasks for The Communicative Classroom, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1989, p. 34
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Depdiknas, Kurikulum 2004 Standar Kompetensi Mata Pelajaran Bahasa Inggris SMP dan MTs, Jakarta: Depdiknas, 2003, p. 17
c. Use of adjectives d. Frequent use of Ephitets and Classifiers in nominal group
e. Use of simple present tense The example of descriptive text is:
Rafflesia Arnoldii Identification:
Rafflesia Arnoldii is a rare flower that is well known because of the size of the flower’s petals and the smell of rotten
meat that it gives out.
Description: this enermous and rare flower grows in the forest of
southeast Asia, including the phillipines. Its large flower can grow to 3 meters in diameter and weigh up to 11 kilograms. It does not have any
leaves, stem, or roots and because of lacking clorophyls this plant can not photosynthesize making it a parasite, living on other plants nutritions. The
flower has five petals red in colour and has white spots which surrounds the middle of the flower much like hole. At the base of the flower there is
a part which has needles and contains the reproduction parts of the flower.
4. The Factors Influence Reading Comprehension
