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TEM4阅读理解测试内容效度分析TEM4阅读理解测试是中国大学英语四级考试中的一部分，主要测试考生对英文文章的理解能力。
在测试内容效度分析中，我们主要从以下几个方面进行分析：一、测试的考察内容是否与考生学习目标相符TEM4阅读理解测试的考察内容是对英文文章的理解能力，具有与考生学习目标相符的特点。
大学英语四级考试是评估英语语言能力的标准化考试，其主要考核目标是使考生具备英语阅读、听力、口语及写作的能力。
因此，TEM4阅读理解测试的考察内容与考生学习目标相符，考察的内容能够直接提高考生的英语阅读能力。
二、测试题目是否具有代表性TEM4阅读理解测试的题目涵盖了各种题型（判断、单选、多选、填空等），并且从不同的主题和话题入手，全面反映了考生在阅读理解方面所需要掌握的各种技能，因此具有代表性。
此外，每道题目都涉及各个层面的英语语言运用，如词汇、语法、逻辑推理等，也涵盖不同难度级别的文章，具有一定的代表性。
三、测试题目的难度是否符合考生实际水平TEM4阅读理解测试的题目难度与四级考试的要求相符。
四级考试的学习主要是以听、说、读、写为主，阅读一般是四个单元中的一个，难度主要指的是词汇量和语法水平。
针对TEM4阅读理解测试的题目，难度分级大致为易、中、难等级，针对不同水平的学生考察相应的难度系数，从而能够客观、有效地测试考生的阅读能力，检验考生的实际水平。
四、测试题目的形式是否多样化TEM4阅读理解测试的题目形式多样化，包括判断题、单选题、多选题、填空题等等。
其中，考题中还配有标准答案，便于学生自行检查答案的正确性。
因此，题目形式的多样性可以有效地达到测试效果，具有一定的实际意义。
综上所述，TEM4阅读理解测试的内容效度较高。
测试内容与考生学习目标相符，题目具有代表性，难度符合考生实际水平，题目形式多样化，这些特点使得测试能够有效地考察和评估考生英语阅读能力。
TEM-4 Reading Comprehension (一）TEM-4 Reading Comprehension (一）By Hong DanClass ArrangementsTEM - 4ReadingWhat How ExercisesWhat is TEM-4 reading?（a ）能读懂英美国家出版的中等难度的文章和材料。
（b ）能读懂难度相当于美国Newsweek 的国际新闻报道。
（c ）能读懂难度相当于Sons and Lovers 的文学原著。
（d ）能掌握所读材料的能掌握所读材料的主旨主旨主旨大意，了解说明主旨大意的大意，了解说明主旨大意的大意，了解说明主旨大意的事实和细事实和细 节节；既理解字面意义，又能根据所读材料进行；既理解字面意义，又能根据所读材料进行判断和推理判断和推理判断和推理；； 既理解个别句子的既理解个别句子的既理解个别句子的意义意义意义，也理解上下文的逻辑关系。
，也理解上下文的逻辑关系。
（e ）能在阅读中根据需要自觉调整阅读速度和阅读技巧。
（f ）考试时间考试时间252525分钟。
分钟。
一、考试大纲（一、考试大纲（examination syllabusexamination syllabus ）Since the late 19th century, the unofficial slogan of the U.S. PostalService (It doesn't have an official one ) has been guaranteed deliverythrough rain, sleet, or snow. Nowhere mentioned in that motto is a crippling economy or revenue and budget shortfalls. The government-subsidized service faces a nearly $7 billion net loss by year's end, landing it on the government list of federal programs at "high risk" fo collapse, right upthere with Medicare and the 2010 census. President Obama even piledon, remarking this summer that America's postal agency looked pretty dismal compared with private competitors like FedEx and UPS.(By Daniel Stone, Oct 5,2009, Newsweek)"Nevertheless, there was a state of peace in the house for some time. Mrs. Morel was more tolerate of him, and he, depending on her almost like a child, was rather happy. Neither knew that she was more tolerant because she loved him less. Up till this time, in spite of all, he had been her husband and her man. She had felt that, more or less, what he did to himself he did to her. Her living depended on him. There were many, many stages in the ebbing of her love for him, but it was always ebbing."(Sons and Lovers, Lawrence.D.H.)二、评分细则• 阅读理解共阅读理解共44篇文章，篇文章，Text A/B/C/D Text A/B/C/D Text A/B/C/D，， 共二十道 客观选择题。
英语专业八级阅读考点解析Introduction:The English Proficiency Test for English Majors Level 8 (TEM-8) is a widely recognized examination in China that measures the English proficiency of students majoring in English. One of the key components of this test is the reading section. In this article, we will analyze the essential reading points that students should focus on to excel in the TEM-8 examination.1. Vocabulary:Vocabulary is a fundamental aspect of reading comprehension. To master the reading section, candidates need to have a strong command of both general and specialized vocabulary. Paying attention to word formation, collocations, synonyms, and antonyms will help improve vocabulary proficiency. Additionally, building a solid foundation of academic vocabulary is crucial for understanding complex texts.2. Reading Techniques:Developing effective reading techniques is essential for comprehending and analyzing academic texts within a limited timeframe. Skimming, scanning, and critical reading are three predominant techniques worth mastering. Skimming helps to quickly grasp the main idea and structure of a text, while scanning facilitates locating specific information. Critical reading involves analyzing the author's argument, tone, and logical reasoning.3. Inference and Deduction:TEM-8 emphasizes the ability to draw inferences and deductions from the given text, making it important for candidates to develop critical thinking skills. Identifying implicit information, making logical connections between sentences and paragraphs, and understanding the writer's intentions are crucial in finding the implied meaning. Practicing with various types of texts can significantly enhance these skills.4. Text Structure:Understanding the organization and structure of different types of texts is pivotal in comprehending academic readings. Familiarity with typical structures such as cause and effect, compare and contrast, and problem and solution can aid in quickly identifying the main ideas and supporting details. Recognizing transitional words and phrases, as well as understanding paragraph coherence, will enhance overall comprehension.5. Contextual Clues:Strong reading comprehension also relies on the ability to use contextual clues to infer the meaning of unfamiliar words or phrases. Recognizing the relationship between words and their surrounding context can help determine the intended meaning. Additionally, paying attention to cohesive devices such as pronouns, synonyms, and conjunctions can assist in comprehending the logical flow of the text.6. Time Management:As the TEM-8 reading section has a strict time limit, effective time management is vital. Candidates should practice completing reading passages within the allocated timeframe, ensuring they allocate sufficienttime for each question. By improving reading speed without compromising comprehension, test-takers can maximize their overall performance.Conclusion:In conclusion, achieving success in the TEM-8 reading section requires a combination of vocabulary mastery, effective reading techniques, inference and deduction skills, understanding of text structures, utilization of contextual clues, and efficient time management. By focusing on these key areas and practicing with a variety of texts, English majors can enhance their reading proficiency and improve their performance in the TEM-8 examination.。
(一)解题步骤与方法1．略读。
快速浏览全文，理清文章基本结构，了解文章的框架及各段大意。
2．扫读。
扫读图表，分析表格结构和内容，准确定位填空的要求，以便带着问题寻找答案。
3．细读。
深入理解文章内容，分析整合信息，准确表达。
归纳概括，转换信息寻找答案。
4．复查。
通观全篇，复读检查，尤其要注意大小写和拼写。
(二)复习中应注意培养解题能力1．培养词形和词性转换能力。
(1)用所给词的适当形式填空The car rushed down the road at astonishing(astonish) speed.The postal service(serve) here is very unreliable.The exam was relatively(relative) easy.(2)常见的词性转换有：2.培养英语释义与概括能力，如：根据提示用意义相同的词完成各句，每空一词。
The boy felt uncomfortable with his new classmates.(not comfortable)If you ignore your diet，trouble will follow.(pay no attention to)At any rate，the medical supplies will reach you within a week.(things such as food，medicines，etc.that are needed by a group of people)3．培养逆向思维能力。
如：根据提示用意义相反的词完成各句，每空一词。
I am unable to cycle to school because my bicycle is broken.(able)There has been a steady decrease in population in this city.(increase)The rough road made the car vibrate.(smooth)4．培养语篇结构解读能力。
专题37【口袋书】阅读理解推理判断题满分对策原卷版阅读理解推理判断题命题规律探究一、推理判断题解题三步曲1．定位信息：通过寻读找到相关信息点。
2．字面理解：理解相关信息点字面意义。
3．深层理解：进而理解作者的言外之意。
二、推理判断题干扰项特征1. 似是而非：只是对原文信息简单重述，而不是依据文章提供事实依据推断出来的结论。
2. 夸大事实：对文章的事实或证据进行夸大；有时，选项内容与原文一致无需推断。
3. 推理过度：选项往往过于绝对化或片面化(以偏概全)，有时会出现only, all等词语。
4. 掺入常识：根据考生已有常识是正确的，但不是根据文章中的证据推断出来的结论。
三、推理判断题五大解题技巧1．抓特定信息，逆向或正向推理。
抓住关键词或短语利用逆向思维或正面推理。
2．整合全文(段)信息进行推断。
整合与题目相关的信息，综合推理判断定结论。
3．利用语境的褒贬性进行推断。
考虑主人公特定心理和情绪状态褒贬性来推断。
4．根据文章的结论推断作者的态度。
作者思想倾向和感情色彩隐含在字里行间。
5．根据上下文的逻辑得出结论。
严格根据文章中所陈述的事实论点例证来推理。
阅读理解推理判断题分类点拨题型一：人物态度推断题词汇点拨：一是乐观支持类：positive肯定的favorable 支持的，赞同的supportive支持的approval赞成的二是客观中立类：objective客观的neutral中立的cautious谨慎的三是消极反对类：negative否定的opposite相反的unfair公正的doubtful怀疑的indifferent漠不关心的critical批评的ironic讽刺的。
方法点拨：第一，不要加入自己的态度。
第二，要学会根据作者在文章中所运用词汇的褒贬性去判断作者的态度，尤其是动词、形容词和副词，如wonderfully, successfully, unfortunately, doubtfully 等。
【必刷题】2024高一英语上册英语学术论文阅读专项专题训练（含答案）试题部分一、选择题：1. 在英语学术论文中，以下哪个部分通常用来概述研究背景和目的？A. IntroductionB. MethodologyC. ConclusionD. Literature Review2. 以下哪个词组常用于表示“结果表明”？A. As a resultB. It turns out thatC. The findings show thatD. In conclusion3. 在阅读英语学术论文时，以下哪个部分可以帮助我们了解研究方法？A. AbstractB. IntroductionC. MethodologyD. Discussion4. 以下哪个词组表示“在某种程度上”？A. To some extentB. In some wayC. On the other handD. As a matter of fact5. 在学术论文中，以下哪个标点符号用于引号内的句子结尾？A. CommaB. PeriodC. Question markD. Exclamation point6. 以下哪个词组表示“”？A. In additionB. HoweverC. ThereforeD. Moreover7. 在阅读学术论文时，以下哪个部分可以帮助我们了解研究的主要发现？A. IntroductionB. MethodologyC. ResultsD. Literature Review8. 以下哪个词组表示“尽管如此”？A. NeverthelessB. ThereforeC. MoreoverD. Otherwise9. 在学术论文中，以下哪个部分通常用于提出研究问题？A. IntroductionB. MethodologyC. DiscussionD. Conclusion10. 以下哪个词组表示“考虑到”？A. Taking into accountB. Given thatC. In order toD. On the condition that二、判断题：1. 学术论文的应简洁明了，直接反映研究主题。
模拟演练(三)A(2017·南京学情调研)A backpack-carried digital nose that sniffs out improvised explosive devices(IEDs) and other threats promises to ease checkpoint duty for troops stationed in hot spots around the world.Developed by Scent Detection Technologies(SDT)，a small privately owned company based in Herzliya, Israel，the militarized mininose—trademarked MN- 2000-MIL—detects and identifies IEDs，rigged vehicles(伪装的车辆) and other hazards by the vapors or traces particles(微粒)left on skin，machinery and personal belongings.Soon to enter mass production，the MN2000-MIL is a ruggedized(强化的) version of the firm’s MiniNose-2000 designed for use by law enforcement and security personnel.It is a second-generation version of the firm’s MN1000，which has been purchased by several Asian countries，including China，which introduced the system for the Beijing Olympics.Like its former products，the system is based on company-patented High-Frequency Quartz Crystal Microbalance(HFQCM) technology that digitally imitates mammalian olfactory(嗅觉的) sense capable of learning to recognize new substance.“It works like a supersensitive digital nose able to detect very low nanolevel(纳米级) amounts of any source substance，” SDT Chief Executive Officer Bengal said.“We then teach it to identify substances by matching them with a library of threats we’ve programmed into the machine.”“The entire analysis process，” Bengal said，“takes 8 to 26 seconds，depending on the substances.”Unlike other trace detection systems on the market，which are based on radioactive-source Ion Mobility Spectrometry technology，SDT’s QCM-based system contains no radioactive parts.“Ion Mobility Spectrometry systems are essentially radioactive，” Bengal said.“You need special licensing to sell them and specially trained personnel to service them.But we’re using essentially green technology.You don’t need trained technicians to operate or even open our machines.”In the two years since SDT began producing the MN2000 for the homeland security market，the system has demonstrated its ability to operate for months at a time without servicing or technical repairs.Bengal said the new military model will be much stronger，as it was designed to operate in dust，heavy fog and otherwise extreme field conditions.B(2017·盐城期中调研)One of the keys to successful time management is prioritizing tasks and distinguishing optional activities from the essential.Whether you are writing different “to-do’s”in different colors of ink or are giving each list item a priority ranking，your decisions about the importance of activities will have a huge impact on how you spend your day.Most of those who run their own business tend to develop a deep and strong commitment to work and to the overall success of their endeavors.Long hours are a norm，sleep appears to be optional and almost every effort is poured into growing the business.However，those who overemphasize work-related activities at the expense of truly essential projects may actually see their time management collapse.That’s because neglect of essential projects will make life，overall，less meaningful and enjoyable.At some point，the mere process of chasing after money will no longer subconsciously justify the disregard of some very important things.What are these essential tasks? They have nothing to do with record keeping，taxes，improving advertising copy or handling customer relations.Instead，they involve being a good father，a good wife and a good person.These chores are the ones that give us a reason to have our financial goals.We work in the first place for these things.Your essential projects will be determined by your own personal preferences and lifestyle.Those with strong religious beliefs will consider worship essential.Those who feel the needto exercise in order to relax will label physical activity as an essential activity.It’s too easy to let these important things slide to the back burner when one is under pressure to produce or to grow their business.One invests a great deal of himself or herself in creating a successful project and it can feel as though spending every waking hour at work is more important than virtually anything else.This perspective，however intuitive it may seem to one looking for ways to improve his or her time management skills，is actually a dead end.Over time，one will notice their motivation for work-related efforts slipping away.That inevitability arises from a subconscious recognition of life’s declining value，possible feelings of guilt，and a recognition that one is simply not meeting his or her most important responsibilities and commitments.As you triage your activities as a part of your time management strategies，resist the temptation to elevate those tasks directly related to working above other truly essential responsibilities.By maintaining a proper balance you can invigorate(使有活力) your efforts and live a fuller，more meaningful life.Work isn’t incompatible(矛盾的) with being a fulfilled person.On the contrary，a great work ethic and a successful business can lead to a great deal of fulfillment.However，when important non-work tasks are classified to the bottom of a “to-do”list，it surely results in negative consequences.C(2017·无锡期中调研)Looking back at my younger years，I am sometimes amazed at how life has turned out.Nothing is exactly what I had originally planned for.The only thing that stays the same is who I am，my values，and my interests.If I could go back in time and hang out with my younger self for a day，here’s what I would tell her.1．Everything happens for a reason.Without mistakes and failure，you would never have learned.Without pain，you would never have grown.So don’t stress or think that life is unfair because everything happens for a reason.And only time will tell what it will teach us.2．Focus on one thing at a time.You can have it all but not all at once.It is not surprising that many of us are doing too many things at once.We need to make ends meet.But if you are working three jobs at a time，it is not likely that you will succeed at any of them.You have to keep your eyes on the big picture.You have to ask yourself what exactly you want to achieve for the next 10 years.Focus on one thing at a time.Achieve your goals one by one.3．You can plan in advance，but your plan will definitely change when the time comes.You can plan in advance because sometimes planning in advance can give you a clearer direction of where you want to go.However，plans will almost always change，so be prepared!4．Trust your instincts(直觉)．Don’t worry too much about a decision you have to make.Just do what feels right.You know what you want.You might consult other people.But deep down, you know what you want.Do what makes you happy.Because at the end of the day，even if you follow logic，you will want to quit and follow your heart.5．It’s okay to be unsure about your purpose in life.You might be graduating or have hit a turning point with your career.You might feel a bit lost and unsure of where to go.It’s okay.Go out there and try as many different things as you can.Don’t ever feel like you’re wasting your time.Enjoy the journey.Don’t rush.Every little path will lead you somewhere.And looking back，you will be able to connect the dots.It will all make sense.6．Don’t try too hard with people.Don’t worry if you feel like it’s hard to make new friends.Just be yourself and be as open as you can.It might take a while until you find new best friends and a mate for life，but when you do，you will know it.It’s not hard work.So，just do your thing and be yourself.。
Read carefully the following excerpt on term-time holiday arguments in the UK, and then write your response in NO LESS THAN 200 words, in which you should：summarize the main message of the excerpt, and then comment on whether parents should take children out of school for holiday during term time in order to save money. You should support yourself with information from the excerpt.Marks will be awarded for content relevance, content sufficiency, organization and language quality. Failure to follow the above instructions may result in a loss of marks.Term-time holidays will be banned Parents are to be banned by Michael Gove, UK's Education Secretary, from taking their children out of school to save money on holidays.He is to abolish the right of head teachers to 'authorize absence' from the classroom, which has been used to let families take term-time breaks, and will warn them they face fines for their children not being at school.‘Any time out of school has the potential to damage a child's education,' a senior source at the Department for Education said this weekend. 'That is why the government will end the distinction between authorized and unauthorized absence.‘This is part of the government's wider commitment to bring down truancy levels in our schools. There will also be stricter penalties for parents and schools.‘The tough measures on truancy are part of a wider attempt by Mr. Gove to make education more academically rigorous and to tackle a culture in the educational establishment which he believes has accepted 'excuses for failure’.Russell Hobby, the general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, said the measure would discourage parents from trying to put pressure on heads to sanction term time holidays. 'The high cost of holidays outside of term time is still an issue but ultimately a child's education is more important than a holiday,' he said.参考答案When it comes to whether parents should take their children to spend holidays during term-time, views on the issue vary from person to person. Parents claim that by doing so, they can save a lot of money born of busy school holidays. Educational officials strongly oppose this tendency on the ground that it encourages truancy, which in turn damages a child’s education. From my perspective, the merits of banning term-time holidays outweigh its demerits.To begin with, taking tough measures on this kind of truancy is conducive to the normal teaching process, one of the key elements to guarantee kid’s academic performance. As we know, currently, teachers have the discretion to approve a certain time of absence from school for each child, which is supposed to be for illness and is not supposed to be granted for holidays. By definitely abolishing the right of head teachers to “authorize absence” from the classroom, those teachers can rarely be pestered by parents who want to take children to go on a holiday just to save money, which severely disrupts teaching process. What ‘s more, without strict penalties imposed on the parents who lead to their kid’s playing truant, those parents can gradually view asking for holiday leave as a right. Once this cultural expectation is formed, the level of truancy will dramatically increase.Accordingly, the growing trend of term-time holidays should be banned with no delay. In this way, teachers can impart knowledge without disturbance and parents will be deterred from savingmoney at the expense of sacrificing their kid’s education.。
考研英语报刊文章阅读及剖析（1） The European Court sides with Levi Strauss in its battle with Tesco IT WAS a ruling that had consumers seething with anger and many a free trader crying foul. On November 20th the European Court of Justice decided that Tesco, a British supermarket chain, should not be allowed to import jeans made by America's Levi Strauss from outside the European Union and sell them at cut-rate prices without getting permission first from the jeans maker. Ironically, the ruling is based on an EU trademark directive that was designed to protect local, not American, manufacturers from price dumping. The idea is that any brand-owning firm should be allowed to position its goods and segment its markets as it sees fit: Levi's jeans, just like Gucci handbags, must be allowed to be expensive. Levi Strauss persuaded the court that, by selling its jeans cheaply alongside soap powder and bananas, Tesco was destroying the image and so the value of its brands--which could only lead to less innovation and, in the long run, would reduce consumer choice. Consumer groups and Tesco say that Levi's case is specious. The supermarket argues that it was just arbitraging the price differential between Levi's jeans sold in America and Europe--a service performed a million times a day in financial markets, and one that has led to real benefits for consumers. Tesco has been selling some 15,000 pairs of Levi's jeans a week, for about half the price they command in specialist stores approved by Levi Strauss. Christine Cross, Tesco's head of global non-food sourcing, says the ruling risks "creating a Fortress Europe with a vengeance". The debate will rage on, and has implications well beyond casual clothes (Levi Strauss was joined in its lawsuit by Zino Davidoff, a perfume maker). The question at its heart is not whether brands need to control how they are sold to protect their image, but whether it is the job of the courts to help them do this. Gucci, an Italian clothes label whose image was being destroyed by loose licensing and over-exposure in discount stores, saved itself not by resorting to the courts but by ending contracts with third-party suppliers, controlling its distribution better and opening its own stores. It is now hard to find cut-price Gucci anywhere. Brand experts argue that Levi Strauss, which has been losing market share to hipper rivals such as Diesel, is no longer strong enough to command premium prices. Left to market forces, so-so brands such as Levi's might well fade away and be replaced by fresher labels. With the courts protecting its prices, Levi Strauss may hang on for longer. But no court can help to make it a great brand again. 注(1)：本文选自Economist; 11/24/2001, Vol. 361 Issue 8249, p58, 1/2p 注(2)：本文习题命题模仿对象2001年真题text 5(其中因2001年真题text 5只有4个题目，所以本文第5题模仿参照对象为1999年 Text 1的第4题。
Testing VocabularyS. Kathleen Kitao : Doshisha Women's College :Kyoto, JapanKenji Kitao : Doshisha University : Kyoto, JapanA good knowledge of English vocabulary is important for anyone who wants to use the language, so knowledge of vocabulary is often tested. It is important that the test maker be aware of what he/she is doing when testing vocabulary.Types of Vocabulary KnowledgeVocabulary knowledge can be divided into four types. The first is active speaking vocabulary, that is, words that the speaker is able to use in speaking. The second is passive listening vocabulary, which is words that the listener recognizes but cannot necessarily produce when speaking. The third type is passive reading vocabulary, which refers to words that a reader recognizes but would not necessarily be able to produce. Finally, there is active writing vocabulary, which is words that a writer is able to use in writing. This typology can be expressed in the following chart:丂丂丂丂丂丂丂Oral丂丂丂丂丂丂丂丂丂丂丂GraphicActive丂丂丂active spoken丂丂丂丂丂丂active writtenPassive丂丂 passive listening丂丂丂丂passive readingA test may test one or all of these types of vocabulary, but the test maker should be aware of the differences among these types and which is being tested. Most traditional vocabulary tests test only passive reading vocabulary, since they are paper and pencil tests and rely on reading.If all the test maker intends to test is passive reading vocabulary, thatis fine, but there should be an awareness that that is what is being tested.If test specifications indicate that other types of vocabulary should be tested, then other methods need to be developed to test other types of vocabulary knowledge. Once the decision has been made to test other types of vocabulary knowledge, there must also be a decision about how to weight the four types of items. If the type of English education students havebeen exposed to emphasized reading, then it is appropriate to give passive reading vocabulary the greatest weight.Sources of Words to TestThe test maker's job is easiest if all of the students have been using the same syllabus or course of study. In that case, sources as the syllabus, the textbook (with emphasis on words that occur in natural speech or writing), students' reading materials, and lexical errors form students' written work or incorrect answers on a cloze test.If the testees have not been using the same syllabus, for example, in the case of a proficiency test used to judge testees' suitability for a certain task, the problem of choosing vocabulary becomes more complicated. In this case, the students do not have a common syllabus to draw on. In that case, it is probably most appropriate to draw on the vocabulary of the task for which the testees are being tested. For example, if the test is being used to choose students to go to an English-medium university, then the items for the test can be chosen from academic vocabulary.In any case, when testing vocabulary, the grammatical structures used should be easy to understand. If the grammatical structures are difficult to understand, the test is testing both the ability to understand the grammatical structure and knowledge of vocabulary. Therefore, a testee might miss an item due to a lack of understanding of the grammatical structure, not due to lack of vocabulary knowledge. (Conversely, when testing grammatical knowledge, difficult vocabulary should be avoided to avoid testing vocabulary rather than grammatical knowledge.)Multiple Choice TasksResearch indicates that the best distracters for vocabulary items are either 1) words that have a similar meaning to the correct word but which are inappropriate in context, or 2) words that are contextually related but which do not fit in the context.When choosing the four or five alternatives, care should be taken to choose words that are of a similar level of difficulty. If the correct alternative is much more difficult than any of the other alternatives, the testee might choose it not because he/she knows that it is correct but because all of the others can be eliminated.Alternatives should be the same part of speech as the word in the stem. If one is a different part of speech, that can easily be eliminated as a possible answer.Synonym/Definition ItemsThe simplest multiple choice item has a single word in the stem, with four or five alternatives. Testees choose from among the alternatives the word or the definition that is the closest in meaning to the word in the stem. Alternatively, the definition might be the stem, and the testees choose from four or five words that one that fits the definition. Obviously the definition needs to be simply and clearly written.Picture ItemsThe stem in the previous type of item can be replaced with a picture. The testees choose which of the four or five alternatives matches the picture. Obviously it should be clear what is being depicted in the picture, so that the test is of the meaning of the word, not the testee's ability to interpret the picture. This type of test is appropriate for elementary students.Sentence ItemsAnother option is to test the vocabulary item by putting it in a sentence and having the testees choose the alternative that has the same meaning as a word in the sentence that is underlined, in italics, in bold type, etc. This is a preferred type of multiple choice vocabulary item, since the problem item appears in context and the context helps give the vocabulary word a specific meaning. However, in this case, the testee should not be able to surmise the meaning of the word from the context, unless the intention of the item is to test that skill.Context ItemsAnother type of multiple choice item is one that has a sentence with a blank in it, and the testees choose which of the alternatives fit in the sentence. These items are difficult to write, because it is difficult to provide the right amount of context. If not enough context is provided, the question becomes difficult to answer; if too much context is provided, too much information, grammatical and semantic, is provided.Sometimes such questions involve a grammatical component. For example,Would you please _____ the proposal.a. considerb. thinkc. maked. giveIn this case, "think" (about) is similar to the correct answer, but it does not fit grammatically. While a few of these types of items might be acceptable, too many of them will put too much emphasis on grammar rather than vocabulary.Sometimes vocabulary items test collocations. For example,I _____ my watch to see what time it was.a. looked atb. sawc. watchedd. gazed atIn this case, what is being tested is the knowledge of the collocation "look at my watch." Again, knowing collocations is part of knowing vocabulary, but the test should not be dominated by such items.Set ItemsAnother type of item is one where testees are presented with a set of words. In the case of a recognition type of item, the testees decide which word in the set does not fit with the others; in the case of production type items, the testee indicates what topic ties all of the words together.For example,Circle the word that does not fit.dollaryenpoundmoney(answer = money)Write down the subject that each group of words is related to.bedroomliving roomkitchendining room(subject = house)The difficulty of these items is that they may be interpreted in different ways. In some cases, arguments could be made for excluding different words, depending on the way that the student thinks about them. Also, a student may understand all of the words but not be able to understand what the test maker is trying to get at.Matching ItemsAnother type of item is one in which the testee is presented with a short passage or several unconnected sentences with blanks. The testee chooses from among a list of words that are given (usually more words than blanks) the word which fits in each blank. In these items, it is preferable to have all the words in a set the same part of speech, the same tense in the case of verbs, etc., so that students need to choose what fits in the blank based on meaning, not grammar. The purpose of having extra words is so that the testees cannot answer the last item by having eliminated all other possibilities. On the other hand, the more items there are, the more likelihood that two items could conceivably fit in the same blank.A variation of this type of items is one in which the testee is given a reading passage and a list of words and is instructed to find synonyms in the passage for each word in the list.Completion ItemsCompletion items are similar to those described above, except that testees are not given words from which to choose. They must supply the words for the blanks. The problem with this type of item is that it is very difficult to write items for which there is one and only one answer.Word Formation ItemsAnother type of item tests not the testees' knowledge of the meaning of words but their knowledge of word forms. In this case, testees are given a sentence or paragraph, and they are instructed to fill in blanks with the correct forms of the words that they are given. (A variation on this is to write multiple choice items, in which the stem is a sentence with a blank, and testees choose from among four forms of the same word.) For example,Write the correct form of the word in capital letters in the blank.HONESTDarren says he didn't cheat, but I _________ don't know what to think.Guessing Meaning from ContextAnother vocabulary-related skill to test is the ability to guess the meaning of an unknown item from context. In testing this skill, students are usually presented with a word that they would be unlikely to know and are asked to figure out what it means. Among the clues from the context are:1) a synonym in another clause, for example, "Your explanation doesn't need to be so convoluted. Such complex explanations just confuse people."2) an antonym or contrasted word in another clause, for example, "May was indignant about the problem, and I had to calm her down."3) a cause or effect of the word in question, for example, "Pollution from that factory is contaminating the local farmers' fields."4) an illustration of the word in question, for example, "Jeff is so parsimoneous that he won't spend a penny is he doesn't have to."5) the use of an object, for example, "I used a pitter to remove the seeds from the cherries."Testing this skill can be done as a multiple choice item or by requiring the testees to supply a definition. The problem with the latter type of item is that it is very difficult to evaluate the answers, because some are likely to be almost correct but not exactly. It is necessary that the meaning of the target word be very clear from the context, and for this type of item, pretesting is particularly important for that reason.SummaryKnowledge of vocabulary is important to language use, and it is useful to be able to test from various points of view--knowledge of word meanings, knowledge of word forms, and knowledge of how to surmise the meanings of unknown words from the context.。
