Passage One One of the strongest reasons for the raising of the school leaving age has been that it will bring us nearer to the ideal of “equal opportunity”. Many people like to think of our present system of schooling as providing plenty of steps up the ladder of success for clever children. It would be good to think that no one who is really bright can fail to become successful when the state system is apparently so thorough. It is obvious, for instance, that many children from less rich homes reach university or do well in other ways. Unfortunately, we now have plenty of evidence that many children of every level of ability do much less well than they could. For instance, during the years of national military service it was possible to test the intelligence of all males aged between 18 and 20. Half of those soldiers who were placed in the two highest ability groups had left schools at 15. It has also been shown that percentage of working class children going to university is almost the same now as it was in 1939. One study of 5,000 children from birth to 21 years old indicated that up to half the bright pupils from working class homes left school when they reached 16 years old. Moreover, there is no difference in intelligence between the sexed, but far more boys than girls stay in education after 16. It is clear form this and much other evidence that many children are still leaving school too early to benefit form the prizes----money, social respectability, and interesting jobs, which higher education gives. It is clear too that the reasons why such children leave have much to do with their social circumstances. Their parents often need the extra money another wage-earner can bring in; they do not value education for itself because their own was probably dull and unhappy. It is not so much that they force their sons and daughters to leave school, rather that they tend to say, “it’s up to you.”
Working class children are felt to be at a disadvantage because _______.
ID：9121-11829 A transformation is occurring that should greatly __1__ living standards in the developing world. Places that __2__ recently were deaf and dumb are rapidly acquiring __3__ telecommunications. Many developing countries are planning to invest vast sums of money __4__ their telecommunications networks to allow them to __5__ with developed countries. They believe this will __6__ foreign and domestic investment. However, how fast these nations should push __7__ is a matter of debate. And some developing countries __8__ experience in weighing costs and choosing between technologies. Vietnam, __9__ particular, though desperate for any phones, requires that all mobile phones be expensive digital models. Still, there is __10__ dispute that communications will be a key factor __11__ the winners from the losers. Over the next decade, China plans to pour some $100 billion into telecommunications equipment. Telecommunications is also a key __12__ Shanghai’s ambition of becoming a top financial center. Shanghai plans to be as electronically advanced __13__ New York. __14__, some other developing countries and areas such as Hungary, Latin America, and Thailand are all hoping to jump into the modern world __15__ means of telecommunication revolution. For countries that have lagged __16__ for so long, the temptation to move ahead in one jump is hard to __17__. And __18__ the mistakes they’ll make, they’ll persist ―__19__ day they can cruise alongside Americans and Western Europeans __20__ the information superhighway. 1 A boost B boast C bloom D boom
ID：9121-12284 ________ quantities of water are being used nowadays with the rapid development of industry and agriculture. A. Excessive B. Extensive C. Extreme D. Exclusive
ID：9121-12881（本题为引用材料试题，请根据材料回答以下问题） The author’s attitude toward standardized tests could be described as _______. A. positive B. critical C. prejudiced D. indifferent.
ID：9121-11825（本题为引用材料试题，请根据材料回答以下问题） According to the author’s understanding, what is Al Gore’s view on global warming? A. It is a reality both people and politicians are unaware of B. It is a phenomenon that causes us many inconveniences C. It is a problem that can be solved once it is recognized D. It is an area we actually have little knowledge about
