Adopt Sentence Completion Test To Enhance Language Competence Of High School Students

The English Test of the College Entrance Examination in Hubei Province adopted Sentence Completion in 2007 for the first time. Being a creative testing pattern, it accordingly has attracted numerous English teachers and learners' attention. The present thesis does focus on the newly-used Sentence Completion item, probing deeply into the combination of the new item and the language competence of senior high school students. Meanwhile, some new puzzles arise and the study endeavors to seek some solutions.The goals of the study are: (1) to analyze the theoretical basis and characteristics of the Sentence Completion item;(2) to illustrate the existing problems of the Sentence Completion test and account for the situation and reasons; (3) to discuss the approach to advancing the language competence of high school students by conducting a series of teaching experiments;(4) to throw light on the washback of the the Sentence Completion item, promoting a new round of English curricular reform in high schools.In order to multianalyze the current Sentence Completion teaching and learning in high schools, the author of the thesis has carried out a survey on the Sentence Completion item and the language competence of senior high school students. 157 students of Grade Three from No.5 Senior High School, Xiangfan City, Hubei Province and 50 senior high school English teachers have participated in the survey on the issue. In addition, the author has performed a four-month teaching experiment, aiming to solve problems of the Sentence Completion testing and improve the students' synthetic language competence.In conclusion, the study indicates that the Sentence Completion item can test the synthetic language competence of high students effectively and have a positive influence of the English teaching and learning in high schools. The author also hopes that the research can not only help teachers have a better understanding of the new test, but also inspire the English teachers to explore more suggestive teaching activities to enhance the English teaching and learning reform.