Chapter 1 Introduction 1
1.1 Background:Reformation Context of EFL Testing 2
1.2 Reasons for Assessing Critical Reading Abilities 6
1.3 The Nature of Critical Reading Test(CRT) 11
1.4 The Objectives of the Study 13
1.5 Preview of the Chapters 14
Chapter 2 Literature Review 17
2.1 Definitions of Critical Reading 18
2.2 Critical Readirg Abilities(CRA) 35
2.3 Theoretical Underpinnings for Critical Reading 38
2.4 Three Critical-reading Oriented Tests 49
2.5 Critique on English Reading Test Methods 53
2.6 Elements in Developing Communicative Reading Tests 56
Chapter 3 The Blueprint of an EFL Critical Reaaing Test 67
3.1 Framework of Being Critical in EFL Reading 68
3.2 Taxonomy of EFL Critical Reading Abilities 69
3.3 CRA Test Focus Inventory 73
3.4 Specification for an EFL Critical Reading Test 78
3.5 CRT Prototype Paper 84
Chapter 4 Research Methodology 88
4.1 A Three-stage Research Design Based on the CRA Blueprint 89
4.2 Research Questions 90
4.3 Subjects and Participants 92
4.4 Research Instruments 96
4.5 Research Administration 102
Chapter 5 Data Analysis:Results,Findings and Discussion 109
5.1 Questionnaire Data 111
5.2 Test Score Data 154
5.3 Interview Data 161
5.4 Overall Analysis of the Data 169
Chapter 6 Conclusions,Implications,and Limitations 172
6.1 Necessity and Feasibility of Critical Reading Tests 173
6.2 Answers to the Research Questions 176
6.3 Modification to the CRT Specification 183
6.4 Implications of the Research 184
6.5 Contributions of the Study 190
6.6 Lmitations ofthe Study 192
6.7 Future Research Orientations 193
Appendixes 196