本书在迁移理论、结构建造模型和社会文化理论的框架下，研究了母语在外语阅读中的作用和影响，具体包括母语的阅读能力、心理表征建构能力及其在外语阅读中的认知使用等与外语阅读的关系。此外还探讨了心理表征建构的中心抑制机制及工作记忆能力等对外语阅读的影响。

本书从语言和认知心理学的角度，综合定量和定性的方法，研究了外语阅读过程中母语因素的影响及作用。结论表明，阅读技能具有可迁移性。因此，教师在外语阅读教学过程中把课堂时间用于教授读者在母语阅读中已经掌握的策略和方法显得多余和缺乏效率。同时，在外语阅读过程中，适度的母语使用能帮助读者创造一个认知的空间，解决阅读的难题。总体说来，在外语学习过程中，虽然有“阈值效应”的存在，但是读者应该积极地对他们的母语认知资源加以利用。

CHAPTER 1 Introducing the Study / 1

  1.1 Need for the Study / 1

  1.2 Research Questions / 6

  1.3 Significance of the Study / 8

  1.4 Basic Concepts and Constructs / 11

  1.5 Outline of the Book / 15

CHAPTER 2 Research Background / 17

  2.1 Reading and Reading Research / 17

  2.2 A Brief History in L2 Reading Research / 27

  2.3 Previous Research about the Effects of L1 Reading on L2 Reading / 29

  2.4 Previous Research on L1 Cognitive Use in L2 Learning / 44

CHAPTER3 Theoretical PersPectives / 52

  3.1 The Structure Building Framework / 52

  3.2 Vygotsky's Sociocultural Theory / 56

  3.3 Theories of Transfer / 62

CHAPTER 4 Research Design and Methodology:The Test-based and Productoriented Experiments / 69

  4.1 The Effects of L1 Reading Ability on L2 Reading:The Research Design / 69

  4.2 The Transfer of the Building of Mentalrepresentations: The Research Design / 76

CHAPTER 5 Research Design and Methodology:The VPA-based and Process-oriented Experiment / 82

  5.1 Subjects / 83

  5.2 Method / 84

  5.3 Material / 86

  5.4 Data Collecting Procedure / 87

  5.5 Transcribing Verbal Reports / 89

CHAPTER 6 Results and Discussion: The Test-Based and Product-Oriented Experiments / 101

  6.1 Question 1 / 101

  6.2 Question2 / 112

  6.3 Question 3 / 123

  6.4 General Findings / 134

  6.5 Reading Problems or Language Problems / 135

  6.6 Automaticity or Control in L2 Reading / 137

CHAPTER 7 Results and Discussion. The VPA-based and Process-oriented Experiment / 141

  7.1 The Threshold Effect / 141

  7.2 The Role of L1 Cognitive Use in L2 Reading / 146

  7.3 Discussion and Conclusion / 168

CHAPTER 8 Conclusion / 174

  8.1 Findings Based on Test-based and Product-oriented Experiments / 174

  8.2 Findings Based on the VPA-based and Processoriented Experiments / 175

Bibliography / 180