Test of comprehension and critical thinking skills in a prose text for L4

Total number of correct answers: 3

4.3.1.6 Test of comprehension and critical thinking skills in a prose text for L4

The test items for these components assess the ability of individuals at an advanced level to read and understand a lengthy, complex, and abstract prose text that is less familiar and includes figurative language. The items also measure their ability to make some complex inferences from multiple sources. Sample items are presented in the box below. R w -b R w -c. Comprehension and critical thinking skills in a prose text for L4 [Time allocated for reading the text and answering the questions: 8 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. Father‘s Chest 54 Once there lived an old man with his two big sons both married. The sons were well mannered and devoted to the service of their aged father. Although the father and his two sons were peasants by profession, they owned lots of land and a nice cozy house, big enough to keep themselves quite comfortably. The old man, the head of the family was running the family affairs fairly. Everybody in the family was happy and quite relaxed. [80] As time passed on, the old man became even older and his sons also became the fathers of several children. One day, the old man called his sons and told them, ―I want you to take the family responsibilities from me and take good care of the 54 This text is excerpted and edited from a common folktale of Nepal, ―When the poor old man was retired‖, by Dhurba Krishna Deep 1993:79-80. family affairs from now on.‖ He divided all the property into two equal halves as inheritances for his two sons. His sons appreciated his decision. [152] Now the joint family was split into two different families. The house was also duly portioned leaving only a small room for the old man to live privately as he wanted. Regarding the responsibility of taking care of the retired family chief, an agreement was signed according to which it would require his sons to look after their aged father for one full month at a time in turns. [239] As agreed upon, he was fairly well looked after by his sons for the first few months. But very soon the old man found himself neglected and became quite lonely. His sons were no longer interested in him as they had everything they could get from him already. Life became more and more miserable for him to bear. He repented on leaving nothing for himself for his [ ] days. [307] The situation grew so worse that his sons did not even hesitate to give their aged father the worst meal fit only for animals. He, however, accepted the meal they gave, but never ate it and preferred to stay hungry. One day, he visited his family priest who had always been a well-wisher and nice advisor to him. He explained all about his grief to him. After a little thoughtful pause, the priest uttered a few words to the old man who immediately looked very delighted with his advice. Soon the old man came back home and stored something very quickly in his little chest which he always kept in his bed room and locked very heavily. Since then, he started to guard it almost round the clock. [435] Soon the chest became a subject of great curiosity to everyone in the family. Whenever his sons inquired about the content in the chest, he answered, ―A few valuables of my last assets. I would like you to share this last treasure between you two brothers equally after my death.‖ The two sons started dreaming of another untold treasure that they would soon inherit and also of their very bright and luxurious future. Good days came back to the old man once more. The old man enjoyed the good food and all the family hours he deserved until he finally died. [534] After his death, his two sons hastily opened their father‘s chest. But to their great disappointment, they could see nothing but a few pieces of heavy rocks and other junks. At last, they realized their father‘s wisdom and repented for all the mistreatment of their father. [578] [Total number of words: 578] 1. Which one is the best set of attributes for describing the old man and the two sons in this story? [Answer: ] stingy – curious greedy - stingy secretive - fearless wise - greedy sincere - generous 2. Which one is the most appropriate word to fit into the bracket of the underlined phrase? [Answer: ] happy bright rainy rich worthless 3. What is the best lesson we can learn from this story? [Answer: ] We need to eat well every day. We need to save money before we retire. We need to take care of our parents faithfully. We need to find treasures for our bright future. We need to plan well for our retirement. Total number of correct answers: 3

4.3.1.7 Test of document comprehension for L4