About one in twenty adults in the United States cannot read English. A new (26) study shows that adults made little (27) in their reading skills between 1992 and 2003. The National (28) of Adult Literacy is the most important test of how well adult Americans can read. Researchers tested nineteen thousand people over the age of sixteen. The study (29) an adult population of two hundred twenty-two million. Those who took part were tested on how well they could read and understand information used in everyday life. The study found that eleven million adults, or five percent, cannot read English. They could not answer even the (30) written questions. Four million of them most likely cannot speak English either. The study shows that more than forty percent of adults can perform only simple reading activities. For many, even’that can be difficult. Fifty-six percent of adults can perform moderate or complex activities. Moderate can mean finding information in a book. Of that number, thirteen percent can perform complex tasks like comparing two different newspaper (31) Researchers say part of the problem is that many young Americans do not read as much for pleasure anymore. Also, there are greater numbers of non-English speaking (32) Reading skills can directly affect the ability to earn a living. The best readers were found to earn up to twenty-eight thousand dollars a year more than those who (33) simple reading skills. (34) This was true even among people who have completed college. (35) . But levels decreased among Hispanics. Experts say, however, that while many Hispanics are unable to read in English, they may read well in Spanish. Overall, American adults improved the most in answering questions that involved numbers. (36) . The Department of Education says the literacy findings show the need for reforms especially at the high school level.