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Study Guide

Field 102: Arabic (Modern Standard)
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.

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 passage below presented in Modern Standard Arabic, then prepare a written response to the assignment that follows. Your response may be written in either Arabic or English.

هو أبو محمد عبداللَه بن أحمد ضياء الدين الأندلسي المالقي المعروف بابن البيطار، إمام النباتيين وعلماء الأعشاب والذي قيل عنه أنه أعظم كاتب عربي ظهر في علم النبات. ولد في مالقا بأسبانيا في أواخر القرن السادس الهجري ( 575 ھـ). وتتلمذ على يد أبو العباس النباتي الذي كان يجمع النباتات من منطقة إشبيلية. رحل إلى بلاد الإغريق وأقصى بلاد الروم باحثاً عن الأعشاب حتى كان الحجة في معرفة أنواع النبات وصفاتها وأسمائها وأماكنها. وعندما وصل إلى مصر، كان على عرشها الملك الكامل الأيوبي فالتحق بخدمته فعينه رئيساً على سائر العشابين. وفي دمشق بدأ ابن البيطار يدرس نباتات سوريا، ومنها انتقل إلى آسيا الصغرى باحثاً عن النباتات في مواطنها، دارساً لصفاتها. واشتهر ابن البيطار بأنه الطبيب الحاذق والعشاب البارع الذي يعرف خصائص الأعشاب. ومن أشهر مؤلفاته "الجامع لمفردات الأدوية والأغذية" الذي ترجم إلى اللغة الفرنسية. توفي ابن البيطار بدمشق سنة (646 ھـ - 1248 م) بعد أن عاش نحو سبعين عاماً. وقيل أنه مات بعد أن تجرع عقاراً قاتلاً كان يجري تجاربه عليه فمات لساعته.

Write a response of three to four sentences in which you:

Sample Response for the Reading Comprehension Assignment

موضوع ألقطعه هو إمام النباتيين وعلماء الأعشاب "إبن ألبيطار" الذي ولد في مالقا إسبانيا. من المشاركات التي قام بها هي رحل الى عدة بلاد باحثا عن الاعشاب لمعرفة انواع النبات وصفاتها واسمائها ومكانها ومن أشهر مؤلفاته "الجامع لمفردات الأدوية والأغذية".

نبرة الكاتب هي نبرة السرد لحياة ابن البيطار ونبرة الفخر به.

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.
  • The candidate demonstrates thorough comprehension of literal content, including virtually all significant ideas, details, and grammatical relations.
  • The candidate accurately infers implied information, even if it is subtly or abstractly conveyed.
3 The "3" response gives evidence of satisfactory reading comprehension skills.
  • The candidate demonstrates adequate comprehension of main ideas, but misses some details and grammatical relations.
  • The candidate adequately infers information, but may misinterpret some subtleties and abstractions.
2 The "2" response gives evidence of limited reading comprehension skills.
  • The candidate demonstrates limited comprehension of main ideas, details, and grammatical relations.
  • The candidate demonstrates limited ability to make inferences, particularly if information is presented subtly or abstractly.
1 The "1" response gives evidence of weak reading comprehension skills.
  • The candidate fails to comprehend ideas, understanding only isolated words and phrases.
  • The candidate fails to make any inferences.
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.