Abstract: This study focused on the role that pictures play in expository text reading.The experiments probed into the reading process by using moving window technique.The spatial ability of the subjects is considered a factor influencing reading comprehension.The results manifested that:(a)picture can enhance reading comprehension and accelerate reading speed;(b)picture assists the construction of the referential representation of the object described in the text,improving the comprehension of important concepts and the integration of related information;(c)pictures can help the readers with low spatial ability to comprehend important concepts and integrate related information.

Key words: picture, referential representation, moving window technique