Reading comprehension: Multiple matching
Hinweise zur Aufgabenform „multiple matching“
Multiple-matching-Aufgaben sind Zuordnungsaufgaben. Dabei wird die Fähigkeit eines Lesers getestet, im Hinblick auf Inhalt, Vokabular und Struktur eines Textes logisch richtige Verbindungen zu erstellen.
Im Rahmen der „reading comprehension“ gibt es für Zuordnungaufgaben unterschiedliche Möglichkeiten. Eine Variante zielt darauf ab, Fragen und Antworten eines Interviews zuordnen zu lassen. Eine andere Möglichkeit, Textverständnis mit Hilfe von Multiple-matching-Aufgaben zu prüfen, besteht darin, Personen, die in einem Text vorkommen und bestimmte Positionen oder Ideen vertreten, ein Zitat zuordnen zu lassen, das deren Standpunkt wiedergibt. Weiterhin können Überschriften, die die Hauptidee eines Absatzes zusammenfassen, den entsprechenden Abschnitten eines Textes zugeordnet werden. Oder ein Text enthält Lücken, die durch eine Reihe von vorgegebenen isolierten Sätzen oder Satzteilen vervollständig werden müssen, sodass ein sinnvoller Zusammenhang entsteht.
Bei der Mehrzahl von Zuordnungsaufgaben sind mehr Optionen vorgegeben, als benötigt werden. D.h., dass z.B. für die Vervollständigung von acht Lücken in einem Text zehn Sätze zur Auswahl stehen.
Text: Student voices: Why don’t we vote?
A Courtney Beuerlein, a high school student in Waco (Texas):
„Welcome to Dowersville, Texas. Yesterday was Election Day in Dowersville and our federal representative to Congress was elected by a majoritiy of one vote. Today, Adam Dowager, the new representative, called a press conference to discuss his plans and goals as our representative. Mr. Dowager announced that he would push to cut financial aid to college students by seventy-five percent. Now, Dowersville is home to Dowersville State college, which would lose almost half of its enrollment under Mr. Dowager’s plan. How did this happen? Well, Dowersville has almost one hundred thousand people between the ages of eighteen and twenty-five, yet only ten thousand were registered to vote and of those registered only 337 actually voted.“
B Cody J.Terro, a college student from Camarillo (Texas):
„The first change that should be made to the electoral system is to proclaim Election Day a national holiday. This would encourage young people to vote in elections by providing a day off from their busy schedules and allowing them to participate in our democracy’s most important political process. A workable solution would be to move Election Day to the second Tuesday of November and combine it with Veterans‘ Day, traditionally celebrated on November 11. This would send a powerful signal to the citizens of our country about the importance of voting. And what better way to honor those who fought for our freedom and democratic rights for Americans to exercise their suffrage rights on what could become known as ‚Veterans‘ Democracy Day‘?“
C Stephanie Simmons, a college student from Kensington (New Hampshire):
„It may be sad to some people that young people do not think voting important enough to spend a Saturday morning at the Town Hall, registering to vote. Speaking for myself, as well as many others who fell the same as I do, it is not that we are apathetic, or stupid, or hate politics. I feel very strongly that voting is absolutely necessary for the continued success of democracy. However, I just want to walk up to the table, get my ballot, and vote. If you clear the barriers, more people, and especially young people, will vote.“
D Jessica L. Yuen, a student from San Jose (California):
„If the goal is to increase political participation, the solution seems simple. In Australia, voting is absolutely mandatory. If Australian citizens do not vote, they are fined. This seems like a practical law to uphold. All citizens should be held accountable for what occurs within their country. If they do not vote, who will? Young people are especially responsible since one day they will be the ones leading the same country and making important decisions.“
E Amanda McAdoo, a high school student from Detroit (Michigan):
„Lowering the voting age to at least 16 presents itself as an advantage because almost all of the issues which are being voted on have an effect on young people. For example, in the city where I live, there was a vote on whether or not to establish three new casinos in the downtown area. If three new casinos are built for people to attend and try their luck, one can almost guarantee that some of the people who attend have children. If someone gambles away just a bit more than they need to, that means that money needed for groceries or rent and other necessities end up in casino owners‘ pockets. Therefore, the children will suffer. Who says only people 18 and older are affected by these issues?“
F Aura Kenney, a college student from Honolulu (Hawaii):
„I firmly believe that the fact that so many young people don’t vote is a symptom of a lethargic society. Yes, Americans are lazy in some respects. We don’t feel like a nation at one anymore. We are all so into ourselves, everyone is glued to their computer, television, and video games because they make us feel safe. So many people are living life in the fast lane and aren’t seeing the reality of the state of our nation or of the world.“
G Timothy J. Person, a high school student in Middleport (New York):
„I can remember how surprised my U.S. History class was when we were taught about the Electoral College. We could hardly believe that many of the things that we believed to be undemocratic were used in our own presidential elections in this country. The drop in the number of young voters can be attributed to our lack of faith in the voting system that we are being asked to participate in.“
Adapted from the website collegevote.org
Multiple matching
Task: You have just read seven short texts (A – G) in which American students express their opinions on US elections. Decide which of the aspects mentioned below correspond to these texts (A – G). There are two aspects which do not fit any of the texts.