V2 Reading Comprehension Pilot Study

Participant Information and Consent

A Study of Reading and Understanding Short Texts

You are invited to take part in a research study on how people understand written texts.

If you agree to participate, you will complete a short online survey in which you read several brief texts and answer questions about them. You will also rate how well you think you understood each text. The survey will take approximately 10–15 minutes to complete.

Your participation is voluntary, and you may stop at any time before submitting your responses. The survey is anonymous, and no identifying information will be collected. Because the data is anonymous, it will not be possible to withdraw your responses after submission.

This study is conducted as part of a doctoral research project at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University. If you have any questions, please contact:

Elizabeth A. Mitchell

WeChat ID: LizMitchell21

Email: Elizabeth.Mitchell@student.xjtlu.edu.cn

1. Please confirm your agreement with all of the following statements:

I have read and understood the information aboveI understand that my participation is voluntaryI understand that my data is anonymous and cannot be withdrawn after submissionI agree to take part in this study

Instructions

In this study, you will read three short texts and answer questions about each one. After each text, you will rate your understanding, evaluate its clarity and ease of reading, and answer five questions about its content.

Please read each text carefully and answer all questions based only on what you have just read.

Do not use translation tools, AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, DeepSeek), or search engines at any point while completing the survey. The task is designed to measure your immediate understanding of the texts.

There are no right or wrong answers for the rating questions. Please respond as honestly as possible.

Please complete the survey in one sitting without interruption.

*Important: Once you move past a text, you will not be able to return to it.

Background Information

2. What is your age range?

18–2425–3435–4445–5455+

3. What is your highest level of education completed?

High school or belowUndergraduate degreeMaster’s degreeDoctoral degreeOther

4. How would you rate your English reading ability?

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

5. How confident are you in reading and understanding academic or informational texts in English?

Not confident at allSlightly confidentModerately confidentVery confidentExtremely confident

Text 1: How Indigo Dye Works

6. Before reading, how familiar are you with how indigo dye works?

Not at all familiarSlightly familiarModerately familiarVery familiarExtremely familiar

Text 1: How Indigo Dye Works

Indigo dye does not dissolve in water in its normal form, so it must be changed into a soluble form to enter fabric. When exposed to air, it returns to its blue form and becomes fixed in the fibers.

7. How well do you think you understood the text?

Very poorlyPoorlyModeratelyWellVery well

8. How clear was the text?

Very unclearUnclearNeither clear nor unclearClearVery clear

9. How mentally effortful was it to read this text?

Very low effortLow effortModerate effortHigh effortVery high effort

10. What is unusual about indigo dye in its normal form?

It changes color in sunlightIt does not dissolve in waterIt only works on synthetic fabricIt fades quickly after use

11. What must happen before indigo dye can enter the fabric?

It must be heated to activate itIt must be changed into a soluble formIt must be combined with another substanceIt must be exposed to air

12. What happens when the dyed fabric is exposed to air?

The dye fades over timeThe dye becomes less stableThe dye returns to its blue formThe dye spreads across the fabric

13. Why does the dye stay in the fabric after exposure to air?

It becomes fixed as it driesIt becomes insoluble againIt bonds with heat in the fibersIt forms a protective coating

14. Which sequence best describes how indigo dye works?

Changes form → enters fabric → exposed to air → becomes fixedHeated → applied → dried → sealedMixed → absorbed → spreads through fibersDissolves → enters fabric → remains stable

Text 2: How GPS Determines Location

15. Before reading, how familiar are you with how GPS determines location

Not at all familiarSlightly familiarModerately familiarVery familiarExtremely familiar

Text 2: How GPS Determines Location

The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a navigation system that allows a receiver, such as a smartphone, to determine its location on Earth. It works by using a network of satellites that orbit the planet. Each satellite continuously sends signals containing information about its position and the time the signal was transmitted.

A GPS receiver picks up signals from multiple satellites and calculates how long each signal took to arrive. Because signals travel at a known speed, the receiver can estimate its distance from each satellite. By combining distance measurements from at least four satellites, the receiver can determine its exact position in three-dimensional space.
This process, known as trilateration, allows GPS devices to provide accurate location information almost anywhere on Earth.

16. How well do you think you understood the text?

Very poorlyPoorlyModeratelyWellVery well

17. How clear was the text?

Very unclearUnclearNeither clear nor unclearClearVery clear

18. How mentally effortful was it to read this text?

Very low effortLow effortModerate effortHigh effortVery high effort

19. What does a GPS receiver use to determine its location?

Signals from multiple satellitesSignals from nearby devicesSignals from ground-based systemsSignals stored from previous locations

20. What does the receiver measure to estimate its distance from satellites?

Signal strengthSignal colorSignal travel timeSignal frequency

21. Why does the receiver need signals from multiple satellites?

To increase signal speedTo reduce battery useTo calculate its positionTo store location data

22. How does the receiver determine its position?

By comparing signals with stored map dataBy detecting nearby signal sourcesBy measuring changes in signal strengthBy combining distances from several satellites

23. Which statement best describes how GPS determines location?

It receives signals and compares them with stored location dataIt uses satellite signals to estimate distance and calculate positionIt detects nearby signals to identify locationIt measures signal strength to determine position

Text 3: Noise-Cancelling Headphones

24. Before reading, how familiar are you with noise-cancelling headphones

Not at all familiarSlightly familiarModerately familiarVery familiarExtremely familiar

Text 3: Noise-Cancelling Headphones

Noise-cancelling headphones reduce background noise using active noise control. Microphones detect external sounds, and the headphones produce an opposite sound wave that cancels them out through destructive interference.

This approach is most effective for low-frequency, continuous noises because they are easier to predict and counteract. It is less effective for sudden or irregular sounds, which change too quickly for the system to respond.

Many headphones also reduce noise passively by physically blocking sound, combining both methods to improve overall performance.

25. How well do you think you understood the text?

Very poorlyPoorlyModeratelyWellVery well

26. How clear was the text?

Very unclearUnclearNeither clear nor unclearClearVery clear

27. How mentally effortful was it to read this text?

Very low effortLow effortModerate effortHigh effortVery high effort

28. How do noise-cancelling headphones reduce background noise?

By increasing volumeBy generating an opposite sound waveBy blocking all sound electronicallyBy filtering high-frequency sounds

29. What role do the microphones play in noise-cancelling headphones?

They record musicThey detect external soundsThey amplify internal soundThey block incoming noise

30. Why are noise-cancelling headphones more effective for low-frequency sounds?

They are easier to block physicallyThey are produced more regularly indoorsThey are less noticeable to listenersThey are easier to predict and cancel

31. Why are noise-cancelling headphones less effective for sudden sounds?

The sounds are harder to detect clearlyThe sounds are too soft to measureThe microphones reduce their sensitivityThe microphones stop working

32. Which statement best describes how noise-cancelling headphones work?

They block sound using thick materials onlyThey detect sound and produce an opposite wave to cancel itThey reduce sound by lowering volumeThey convert sound into silence

Thank you for taking part in this study.

Your responses have been recorded.

If you have any questions about the study, you may contact:

Elizabeth A. Mitchell

WeChat ID: LizMitchell 21

Elizabeth.Mitchell24@student.xjtlu.edu.cn

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