Edward M. Baldwin--Reading Quiz

Read this passage:

The traditional definition of literacy is considered to be the ability to read and write, or the ability to use language–to read, write, listen, and speak. In modern contexts, the word refers to reading and writing at a level adequate for communication, or at a level that enables one to successfully comprehend and communicate in print society, thus literacy plays a role in providing access to power. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization UNESCO has drafted the following definition: "Literacy is the ability to identify, understand, interpret, create, communicate and compute, using printed and written materials associated with varying contexts. Literacy involves a continuum of learning to enable an individual to achieve his or her goals, to develop his or her knowledge and potential, and to participate fully in the wider society."

There is debate about the way in which the term "literacy" can be extended. In the United States, the National Council of Teachers of English and the International Reading Association have added "visually representing" to the list of communicative competencies that are considered to constitute literacy. Similarly, in Scotland, literacy has been defined as: "The ability to read and write and use numeracy, to handle information, to express ideas and opinions, to make decisions and solve problems, as family members, workers, citizens and lifelong learners." These definitions of literacy are not universally embraced. Many scholars speak of literacy in terms of the ability to "read, write, spell, listen, and speak."

In 2003, the National Assessment of Adult Literacy (NAAL), conducted by the US Department of Education, found that fourteen percent of American adults scored below basic level in prose literacy. More than half of these persons did not have a high-school diploma or GED. 39 percent of persons at this level were Hispanic; 20 percent were black; and 37 percent were white. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, "results showed that the average quantitative literacy scores of adults increased 8 points between 1992 and 2003, though average prose and document literacy did not differ significantly from 1992. Among blacks, average prose literacy scores increased by 6 points and average document literacy scores rose by eight points between 1992 and 2003. The average prose scores of Asians/Pacific Islanders increased as well, rising 16 points between 1992 and 2003. The average prose literacy scores of Hispanics fell 18 points from 1992 to 2003, while average document literacy scores decreased by 14 points. Average prose and document literacy scores among whites did not change significantly." Literacy among college graduates declined between 1992 and 2003, with less than one-third of all graduates at the highest “proficient” level in 2003, and less than half of all graduates with advanced degrees at this level.

Now, on either a sheet of paper or in your mind, create a concluding paragraph to this passage. Click here when finished (and not before).