Study Guide
Field 100: Japanese
Reading Comprehension
Sample Directions for Reading Comprehension
In this section of the test, you will read two passages in the target language. You will then prepare a written response to the assignment that follows each passage.
Your responses may be written in either English or the target language. If you choose to respond in English, type your response in the response box presented on-screen. If you choose to respond in the target language, your final response must be written on the response sheet provided. Please label each response sheet with the appropriate exercise (e.g., "Reading Comprehension Assignment 1"). Your response sheets must be scanned using the scanner provided at your workstation.
Instructions for scanning your Response Sheets are available by clicking the "Scanning Help" button at the top of the screen.
You may use the erasable notebooklet to make notes, write an outline, or otherwise prepare your response. However, your final responses to the exercises must be typed into the on-screen response box OR written on the response sheet and scanned using the scanner provided.
Your responses will be evaluated on the basis of the following criteria.
- LITERAL COMPREHENSION: accuracy and completeness in comprehending literal content of written language
- INFERENTIAL COMPREHENSION: demonstrated ability to infer information implied in a reading passage, including subtleties such as tone
Be sure to write about the assigned topics. You may not use any reference materials during the test. Remember to review your work and make any changes you think will improve your responses.
Any time spent responding to the assignments, including scanning the response sheet(s), is part of your testing time. Monitor your time carefully. When your testing time expires, a pop-up message will appear on-screen indicating the conclusion of your test session. Only response sheets that are scanned before you end your test or before time has expired will be scored. Any response sheet that is not scanned before testing ends will NOT be scored.
Select the Next button to continue.
Sample Reading Comprehension Assignment
Read the e-mail below. Then prepare a written response to the assignment that follows. Your response may be written in either Japanese or English.
川口一郎様､
突然メールをする失礼をおゆるし下さい｡
ニューヨーク大学の3年生で国際関係専攻のクリス・リーという者です｡
友人の鈴木まゆみさんから川口様のお名前とメールアドレスをご紹介いただきました｡実は､今年７月から８月の二ヶ月間､インターン（実習）をする所を探しているのですが､貴社でさせていただくわけにはいきませんでしょうか｡ どんな仕事でも一生懸命がんばります｡給料はなしで､食費・住居費なども自分もちです｡ 私の日本語はまだまだですが､ 高校の時に日本に１年間住んだことがあり､ 生活には不自由しません。ぜひ働かせていただきたいのですが、いかがでしょうか。川口様にはなるべくご迷惑をおかけしないように致します。
お会いしたこともないのに、無理なお願いをして本当に申し訳ありません。もし、インターンの可能性があるようでしたら､ 早速､ 履歴書と推薦状を送らせていただきたいと思います。どうぞよろしくお願い致します。
それでは､ お返事をお待ちしております。
取り急ぎ用件のみにて失礼致します。クリス・リー
Write a response of three to four sentences in which you:
- summarize the main purpose of the e-mail;
- describe the writer's background; and
- explain the relationship between the writer of the e-mail and the person to whom the e-mail is addressed.
Sample Response for the Reading Comprehension Assignment
この手紙では、学生のクリス・リーが今年の7月から8月の二ヶ月間、川口一郎さんが働く会社でインターン（実習生）として受け入れてもらえないか、お願いしている。
クリスはニューヨーク大学の三年生で、国際関係を専攻している｡高校生の時に日本に一年間住んだことがあるので、生活に不自由しない程度の日本語が話せる。
二人に面識はなく、クリスの友人である鈴木まゆみさんが、クリスに川口さんの名前とメールアドレスを紹介してくれた｡
Performance Characteristics for the Reading Comprehension Assignments
| Literal Comprehension | accuracy and completeness in comprehending literal content of written language |
|---|---|
| Inferential Comprehension | demonstrated ability to infer information implied in a reading passage, including subtleties such as tone |
Score Scale for the Reading Comprehension Assignments
|
Score Point |
Score Point Description |
|---|---|
| 4 |
The "4" response gives evidence of strong reading comprehension skills.
|
| 3 |
The "3" response gives evidence of satisfactory reading comprehension skills.
|
| 2 |
The "2" response gives evidence of limited reading comprehension skills.
|
| 1 |
The "1" response gives evidence of weak reading comprehension skills.
|
| U | The response is "unscorable" because it is not on the given topic, illegible, not in the appropriate language, or too short to score. |
| B | There is no response to the assignment. |