原田英語の時事英語ジュニア|英語ニュース ワークシート(高校生レベル)
Class ____ No. ____ Name ____________________
読解力とつながる2つの力は?5万件のデータでわかった「語いと知識」「音を聞き分ける力」
Word Knowledge and Sound Skills Best Predict Reading, Analysis Finds
1Two abilities that rarely get much attention were the strongest predictors of reading performance in a large analysis led by researchers at Texas A&M University. The first is comprehension-knowledge, which covers a child's vocabulary and the background knowledge the child has gathered about the world. The second is auditory processing, the skill of picking out and separating each sound in a spoken word.
2The study was led by associate professor Daniel Hajovsky. It was published in the Journal of Intelligence. Researchers from the University of Kansas, St. John's University, Montclair State University and Temple University also took part. Rather than giving students new tests, the team combined 50,000 correlations from 137 sets of ability and achievement tests into one statistical model.
3No other skill in the analysis predicted reading as reliably as these two. The ability to process what the eyes see had almost no link to reading. General intelligence was linked to reading, but Hajovsky said it was less dominant than some earlier analyses had found. Memory, reasoning and processing speed had smaller, supporting roles.
4The study looked at links between skills and reading, not at what happens when a skill is trained. The findings could help teachers find out why a particular child is struggling. Hajovsky said trouble with reading does not show that a child is less able. Instead, it often means a single skill needs more work. Hajovsky said schools and families help most when they build reading skills step by step.
Words 単語
| predictorsB2 | 名 | 予測するもの、予測の手がかり(predictor の複数形)things that help tell what will happen |
| performanceA2 | 名 | 成績、できばえhow well someone does something |
| vocabularyA2 | 名 | 語い、知っている単語all the words a person knows |
| combinedB1 | 動 | 組み合わせた、まとめた(combine の過去形)put two or more things together |
| achievementB1 | 名 | 学力、達成what someone has learned or done well |
| dominant外 | 形 | 最も影響の大きい、支配的なstronger or more important than others |
| strugglingB1 | 動 | 苦労している(struggle の ing 形)trying hard but finding something difficult |
| separatingA2 | 動 | 分けること(separate の ing 形)making things go apart from each other |
| analysisB1 | 名 | 分析studying something closely to understand it |
| trainedA1 | 動 | きたえられる(train の過去分詞)made better at something by practice |
単語のレベル:CEFR-J(『CEFR-J Wordlist Version 1.6』 東京外国語大学投野由紀夫研究室. (URL: https://www.cefr-j.org/download.html より 2026年8月ダウンロード))
1. Reading Quiz 本文の内容に合うものを選ぼう
What is comprehension-knowledge?
A. The speed of reading out loudB. The ability to see shapesC. A child's vocabulary and background knowledge about the worldD. The ability to remember numbers
How did the team study reading?
A. They combined 50,000 correlations from 137 sets of tests.B. They tested 137 students in Texas.C. They asked teachers to fill out a survey.D. They watched children read for a year.
What did the study find about the ability to process what the eyes see?
A. It was the strongest predictor.B. It mattered more than knowing words.C. It was linked only to memory.D. It had almost no link to reading.
Which of these played a supporting role?
A. Auditory processingB. Processing speedC. Comprehension-knowledgeD. Visual processing
What did the study not look at?
A. What happens when a skill is trainedB. Links between skills and readingC. General intelligenceD. Processing speed
2. True or False 正しければ T、違っていれば F
( ) The study was published in the Journal of Intelligence.
( ) Researchers from only one university worked on the study.
( ) Hajovsky said general intelligence was more dominant than earlier analyses had found.
( ) The findings could help teachers understand why a child is struggling.
3. Fill in the Blanks 下の語から選んで空らんをうめよう(形を変えずに)
strugglingvocabularyseparatingpredictorscombineddominant
Rather than giving students new tests, the team _____ 50,000 correlations from 137 sets of ability and achievement tests into one statistical model.
The findings could help teachers find out why a particular child is _____.
The second is auditory processing, the skill of picking out and _____ each sound in a spoken word.
Two abilities that rarely get much attention were the strongest _____ of reading performance in a large analysis led by researchers at Texas A&M University.
The first is comprehension-knowledge, which covers a child's _____ and the background knowledge the child has gathered about the world.
General intelligence was linked to reading, but Hajovsky said it was less _____ than some earlier analyses had found.
4. Word Order 語を並べかえて正しい文にしよう
( in / It / the / Journal / Intelligence / of / was / published ) .
( had / speed / supporting / reasoning / processing / smaller, / roles / Memory, / and ) .
( study / associate / The / was / Daniel / Hajovsky / led / professor / by ) .
5. Think and Write 英語で答えてみよう
Some people say reading many books is the best way to build vocabulary. Do you agree? Why or why not?(たくさん本を読むことが語いをふやすいちばんの方法だ、と言う人がいます。賛成ですか。理由も言おう。)
Should schools test each student's reading skills one by one to find their weak points? Give your opinion.(学校は生徒一人一人の読む力を細かく調べて、苦手なところを見つけるべきだと思いますか。意見を言おう。)

Answers 解答
1. (1) C (2) A (3) D (4) B (5) A
2. (1) T (2) F (3) F (4) T
3. (1) combined (2) struggling (3) separating (4) predictors (5) vocabulary (6) dominant
4.
- It was published in the Journal of Intelligence.
- Memory, reasoning and processing speed had smaller, supporting roles.
- The study was led by associate professor Daniel Hajovsky.
全文訳
1テキサスA&M大学の研究者たちが中心となった大規模な分析で、ふだんあまり注目されない2つの力が、読む力を最もよく予測するものだとわかりました。1つ目は「理解・知識の力」で、子どもの語いや、世の中について集めてきた背景知識をさします。2つ目は「聴覚処理の力」で、話された言葉の中の一つ一つの音を聞き取って分ける力のことです。
2研究をひきいたのは、准教授のダニエル・ハジョフスキーさんです。研究は、学術誌「ジャーナル・オブ・インテリジェンス」に掲載されました。カンザス大学、セント・ジョンズ大学、モントクレア州立大学、テンプル大学の研究者も参加しました。チームは生徒に新しいテストをするのではなく、137組の能力テストと学力テストから集めた5万件の相関(数値どうしの関係)を、1つの統計モデルにまとめました。
3分析の中で、この2つほど確かに読む力を予測する力は、ほかにありませんでした。目で見たものを処理する力は、読む力とほとんど関係がありませんでした。全体的な知能は読む力と関係していましたが、ハジョフスキーさんは、以前のいくつかの分析ほど大きな影響ではなかったと話しました。記憶力、推理する力、処理の速さは、それより小さな、わき役の働きをしていました。
4この研究が調べたのは、いろいろな力と読む力の関係で、ある力をきたえたときに何が起きるかではありません。この結果は、ある子どもがなぜ読むのに苦労しているのかを、先生が見つける助けになるかもしれません。ハジョフスキーさんは、読むのが苦手でも、その子の力が低いことを示すわけではないと話しました。多くの場合は、1つの力にもっと取り組む必要があるということだそうです。ハジョフスキーさんは、学校や家庭は、読む力を一歩ずつ育てるときに、いちばん助けになると話しました。
文法ポイント:rather than ~ing(~するのではなく)
rather than のあとに動詞の ing 形を置くと、「~するのではなく(…する)」と、選ばなかったほうを表せる。本文の Rather than giving students new tests, the team combined 50,000 correlations ... は「生徒に新しいテストをするのではなく、チームは5万件の相関をまとめた」。文の頭にも後ろにも置ける。
出典:ScienceDaily(Texas A&M University の発表)、Texas A&M University Stories、EurekAlert!(Texas A&M University の発表) ほか(記事は原田英語の時事英語ジュニアのオリジナル)|https://www.haradaeigo.com/jijieigo-junior/news/2026-11-06-reading-skills-knowledge-sounds/