Test of word recognition for L2 Test of comprehension skills in prose text for L2

4.3.1 Silent reading skills for the Basic level and above

Table 32: Matrix for Silent reading skills Silent reading skills \Skill type Domain Word recognition Comprehension Critical thinking Decontextualized print R w -a ∙ ∙ Prose text ∙ R w -b R w -c Document text ∙ R w -d ∙ For skillful readers at the Basic level and above, automaticity in word reading is essential and that automaticity should be accompanied by immediate comprehension skills. The three test components mentioned above will measure the reading skills of Eastern Tamang adult learners at various levels. Descriptions of various test items of reading skills for different levels are presented in the following sub-sections.

4.3.1.1 Test of word recognition for L2

This task measures decoding skills in decontextualized print of Eastern Tamang adult learners. Sample items are presented in the box below. Rw-a. Word recognition in decontextualized print for L2 [Time allocated for reading aloud and answering the questions: 2 minutes] ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  When the letters in the brackets [ ] are combined in that order, what word is made? Please circle the right word. 1. [ ] + [ ी ] + [ ] + [ ी ] = ? [Answer: ] 2. [ ] + [ ] + [ िी ] + [ ] + [ ी ] + [ ] = ? र र रि [Answer: ]  Please look at the pictures below. Find and circle the word which is the name of the object pictured. 3. [Answer: ] 4. sun flag moon mountain [Answer: ] Total number of correct answers: 4

4.3.1.2 Test of comprehension skills in prose text for L2

These test items assess Eastern Tamang adult learners‘ decoding skills and the ability to identify and locate information in a short prose text. Sample items are presented in the box below. R w -b. Comprehension in prose text for L2 [Time allocated for reading the text and answering the questions: 5 minutes] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  Please read the following story in the box silently. When you have finished reading the story, read and answer the questions. Please circle the best answer to each question. A Heavy Rain In a small village of Kavre District in Nepal, there lived a boy named Man Bahadur Lama. In the summer that he became nine years old, there came a heavy rain one day. It destroyed many things. His house was damaged seriously a d his fa ily s fields ere lost y la dslides. Mud a d rocks filled the fields and roads around his village. However, villagers came to work together to restore the damaged fields a d roads. They also helped Ma s fa ily re uild their house a d cultivate the damaged fields. Whenever it rains heavily, Man remembers the generous help of villagers as well as the pain of the loss at that time. [Total number of words: 112] 1. Who is this story about? [Answer: ] Chaangba Lama Bam Bahadur Lama Man Bahadur Lama Madan Lama 2. What is the major event this story tells us about? [Answer: ] an earthquake a heavy rain a big fire a severe drought 3. What did the family do after they lost their house and fields? [Answer: ] They moved out of the village and settled in Kathmandu. They bought a new house and new fields in the village. They had to work for other rich neighbors in another village. They restored their house and fields again with the help of villagers. Total number of correct answers: 3

4.3.1.3 Test of comprehension skills in a document for L2