Table of Contents
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Approval Page………………………………………………………………………………………………………. II
Dedication…………………………………………………………………………………………………………… IV
Acknowledgements……………………………………………………………………………………………….. V
Abstract………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. VI
Table of Contents……………………………………………………………………………………………….. VII
List of Tables………………………………………………………………………………………………………… X
List of Figures……………………………………………………………………………………………………… XI
List of Abbreviations…………………………………………………………………………………………… XII
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Chapter one: Introduction
1.1. Preliminaries…………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 3
1.2. Statement of the Problem………………………………………………………………………………….. 7
1.3. Significance of the Study………………………………………………………………………………….. 8
1.4. Research Questions…………………………………………………………………………………………. 10
1.5. Null Hypotheses…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 10
1.6. Limitations of the Study………………………………………………………………………………….. 11
1.7. Definition of the Key Terms…………………………………………………………………………….. 12
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Chapter Two: Review of the Related Literature
2.1. Theoretical Background…………………………………………………………………………………… 17
2.1.1. Reading Comprehension……………………………………………………………………………….. 17
2.1.1.1. Reading Comprehension Definitions……………………………………………………………. 17
2.1.1.2. Bottom-up and Top-down Models of Reading……………………………………………… 18
2.1.1.3. Interactive Model of Reading…………………………………………………………………….. 20
2.1.2. Background Knowledge……………………………………………………………………………….. 20
2.1.2.1. Background Knowledge Definitions……………………………………………………………. 21
2.1.2.2. Background Knowledge and Reading Comprehension………………………………….. 21
2.1.3. Schema and Schema Theory………………………………………………………………………….. 23
2.1.3.1. The Definitions of Schema and Schema Theory……………………………………………. 23
2.1.3.2. Different Types of Schemas……………………………………………………………………….. 26
2.1.4. Culture and Cultural Familiarity…………………………………………………………………….. 27
2.1.4.1. Culture Definitions……………………………………………………………………………………. 28
2.1.4.2. Cultural Knowledge/Familiarity………………………………………………………………….. 29
2.1.5. Cultural Adaptation/Nativization…………………………………………………………………… 32
2.2. Previous Research Findings……………………………………………………………………………… 35
2.2.1. Cultural Knowledge/Familiarity……………………………………………………………………. .35
2.2.2. Cultural Adaptation/Nativization…………………………………………………………………… 43
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Chapter Three: Methodology
3.1. Subjects…………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 55
3.2. Instruments and Materials……………………………………………………………………………….. 55
3.2.1. Quick Placement Test…………………………………………………………………………………… 55
3.2.2. Culturally Familiar Texts………………………………………………………………………………. 55
3.2.3. Foreign Texts………………………………………………………………………………………………. 56
3.2.4. Nativized Texts……………………………………………………………………………………………. 56
3.2.5. Reading Comprehension Tests………………………………………………………………………. 57
3.2.6. Attitude Questionnaire…………………………………………………………………………………. 57
3.3. Design of the Study………………………………………………………………………………………… 57
3.4. Data Collection Procedures……………………………………………………………………………… 58
3.5. Data Analysis…………………………………………………………………………………………………. 60
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Chapter Four: Results
4.1. Overview………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 63
4.2. Quick Placement Test……………………………………………………………………………………… 63
4.3. Research Question 1……………………………………………………………………………………….. 64
4.4. Research Question 2……………………………………………………………………………………….. 65
4.5. Research Question 3……………………………………………………………………………………….. 68
4.6. Research Question 4……………………………………………………………………………………….. 69
4.7. Research Question 5………………………………………………………………………………………….70
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Chapter Five: Discussion, Conclusion, and Implications
5.1. Overview………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 77
5.2. Restatement of the Problem…………………………………………………………………………….. 77
5.3. Summary of the Research Findings…………………………………………………………………… 79
5.4. Discussion……………………………………………………………………………………………………… 79
5.5. Conclusion…………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 85
5.6. Implications of the Study………………………………………………………………………………… 87
5.7. Suggestions for Further Research……………………………………………………………………… 88
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References………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 90
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Appendices……………………………………………………………………………………………………. 107