Abstract: The research used a 2×3 mixed design to investigate the effect of illustrations with different backgrounds in the new mathematic textbook through Model 3200R Eye Movement Monitoring System made in American applied science laboratory. Its results according to the indexes of reading comprehension and eye-movements showed that: Primary school students had a better comprehension on illustrations with backgrounds than illustrations without backgrounds whatever the reading material was easy or not; The complex backgrounds of illustrations improved the students’ comprehension on difficult mathematic problems and simple backgrounds of illustrations helped students to solve easy mathematic problems; The results of eye movements indicated that the effects of the illustrations in the new mathematic textbook is quite good

Key words: textbook, effect of illustration, features of eye movements