Abstract:Reading comprehension is an important part in second language learning. This paper is a survey that aims to investigate the application of schema (schemata) and schema theory in English reading comprehension for the third-year middle school students in their text reading and reading in exercise. Theories related to reading, mainly, schema and schema theory, and some related researches are adopted in this research. Data discussed in this paper were collected from a questionnaire and interviews. The findings of the study provided evidence that the participants had an awareness of using their prior knowledge to comprehend the text and the reading materials in exercise. The paper also offers some constructive suggestions to facilitate schema building to improve the reading competence of the students and expand their background knowledge. 

Keywords: reading; background knowledge; schema (schemata) 

摘要:阅读理解是第二语言学习的一个重要组成部分。这篇文章主要调查初三年级学生在读课文及做练习时是否运用图式及图式理论。因此，文中所采用的理论均为阅读理论，即图式、图式理论及其图式与图式理论的相关研究。文中的数据来源于问卷调查及访谈这两种调查工具。研究表明：参与此次研究的学生及老师拥有用已有知识理解文章的意识。为了提高学生的阅读能力及拓展知识面，本文还提供了一些建设性的使读者易于构建图式的建议。

关键词：阅读，背景知识，图式