ANITA CHAYANI LAY Pengarang ELISNA HUAN Dosen Pembimbing 2 Jhon Wem Haan - 19630222 198803 1 002 Dosen Pembimbing 1 Elisna Huan Penguji 2 Johnson W. Haan Penguji 1 Marcelianus Akoli Ketua Penguji

This research aimed at finding out difficulties of descriptive text reading comprehension faced by ninth-grade students of SMPN 2 Sabu Timur and knowing causes of difficulties in descriptive text reading comprehension faced by ninth-grade students at SMPN 2 Sabu Timur. The method was used by the researcher was descriptive qualitative design and the data source of this research was 25 ninth-grade students in class A of SMPN 2 Sabu Timur. The test-like assignment and semi-structured interview were used as the instruments of this research. The researcher analyzed the data by using descriptive qualitative techniques (identification, description, and conclusion). The result shows that students faced difficulties in all aspects of descriptive text reading comprehension. The most difficult aspect was understanding vocabulary with the total number was 68 incorrect answers out of 75 answers (90.6%). Then, difficulty in making inference with the total number was 59 incorrect answers out of 75 answers (78.6%). Next was determining main idea with the total number was 54 incorrect answers out of 75 answers (72%). The last difficult aspects faced by students were finding detailed information with the total number was 52 incorrect answers out of 75 answers (69.3%) and locating reference with the total number was 52 incorrect answers out of 75 answers (69.3%). Besides, the researcher also found causes of difficulties in descriptive text reading comprehension faced by ninth-grade students at SMPN 2 Sabu Timur, they were students who do not have interest and motivation, students who have low prior knowledge, students have lack of vocabulary, students didn’t know reading comprehension strategies and unsupportive environment (home and school environment). Key words: Difficulties, Reading, Descriptive Text.