UNIT 1,
EXERCISE 1


Introduction


     To demonstrate the mutable nature of readability, this exercise presents pairs of texts (some shorter, some longer) that you should read while monitoring your own reactions to their difficulty. 

     Each pair of texts will not necessarily be on the same topic.  They are juxtaposed to illustrate one particular issue about what makes a text readable. 

     After you read the two texts in each pair, you will be asked to decide which, in each pair is "more readable," in your opinion. 
  
     Note that you are not being asked to judge each pair of texts in terms of which one may be easier to translate.  Instead, ask yourself which text is easier to read for overall comprehension: that is, which one makes the most immediate sense to you, which one has a message that is more easily summarizable, or which communicates information most clearly. 

PAIR 1:  LONG VERSUS SHORT TEXTS 

PAIR 2:  TEXTS ORGANIZED AROUND CONCRETES VERSUS TEXTS ORGANIZED AROUND ABSTRACTS 

PAIR 3:  TEXTS ON FAMILIAR / INTERESTING TOPICS VERSUS TEXTS ON UNFAMILIAR TOPICS 

PAIRS 4-6:  TEXTS THAT SUIT THE AUDIENCE 

 EXERCISE 2