Question

【题目】Education is an expensive part of American life. Its size is matched by its variety. Differences in American schools compared with those found in the majority of other countries lie in the fact that education here has long been intended for everyone. Schools are expected to meet the needs of every child, regardless of ability, and also the needs of society itself. This means that public schools offer more than academic subjects. It surprises many people when they come here to find high schools offering such courses as typing, sewing, radio repair, computer programming or driver training, along with traditional academic subjects such as mathematics, history, and languages. Students choose their courses depending on their interests, future goals, and level of ability. The basic goal of American education is to develop every child to the utmost of his or her own possibilities, and to give each one a sense of community.

Schools have traditionally played an important role in creating national unity and “Americanizing” the millions of immigrants who have poured into this country from many different backgrounds and origins. Schools still play a large role in the community, especially in the small towns.

The teaching may seem unfamiliar to many, not only because it is informal, but also because there is not much emphasis on learning facts. Instead, Americans try to teach their children to think for themselves and to develop their own intellectual and creative abilities. Students spend much time learning how to use materials, libraries, statistics, and computers. Americans believe that if children are taught to reason well and to research well, they will be able to find whatever facts they need throughout the rest of their lives. Knowing how to solve problems is considered more important than the accumulation (积累) of facts.

This is America’s answer to the searching question that thoughtful parents all over the world are asking themselves in the fast-moving time, “How can one prepare today’s child for a tomorrow that one can neither predict nor understand?”

【1】The underlined words “reason well” probably means _____.

A. persuade firmly B. list the reasons clearly

C. think logically D. conclude immediately

【2】It is implied in the passage that _____.

A. all high-school students take the same courses

B. every student must take practical ability training courses

C. every public school offers the same academic subjects

D. the subjects every student takes may vary

【3】American schools place great emphasis on the learners’ _____.

A. knowledge B. accumulation of facts

C. creativity D. ability to work with hands

【4】What makes American education different from others’?

A. The large number of schools.

B. The variety of the courses.

C. Its consideration for immigrants.

D. The basic goal of the education.

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】C

【2】D

【3】C

【4】D

【解析】

试题分析：教育是美国人的生活中很重要的一部分，花销也大。其规模宏大，种类多样。与其他大多数国家相比，美国教育的不同在于美国教育是为每一个人设置的，而不只是为享有特权的优等生。学校是要满足每个孩子的需要，不论其能力如何，同时也要满足社会本身的需求。

【1】猜测词义题。根据文中倒数第二段语句Americans believe that if children are taught to reason well and to research well, they will be able to find whatever facts they need throughout the rest of their lives.可知：美国人认为只要孩子具有好的推理能力，好的研究方法，他们就能在以后找到自己所需的具体知识。划线词是推理能力，逻辑思考能力，故选C。

【2】细节理解题。根据文中第一段语句“This means that public schools offer more than academic subjects. It surprises many people when they come here to find high schools offering such courses as typing, sewing, radio repair, computer programming or driver training, along with traditional academic subjects such as mathematics, history, and languages. 理解可知：文中提到学生可以根据自己的兴趣、目标和能力来选择课程。选D。

【3】推理判断题。根据第三段Americans try to teach their children to think for themselves and to develop their own intellectual and creative abilities.得知：A，B，D都只提到教育的某一个方面，但美国教育最强调的是对学生独立解决问题能力的培养。选C。

【4】推理判断题。根据第一段语句The basic goal of American education is to develop every child to the utmost of his or her own possibilities, and to give each one a sense of community.理解可知。给每个学生最充分地发挥自己能力的机会是美国教育的最重要特点。。选D。