One of the strongest arguments for the raising of the school leaving age(ROSLA)has been that it will bring us some way nearer to “equality of 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 be missed out when the state system is obviously so complete. It is obvious, for instance, that many children from less wealthy homes reach university or do well in other ways.?

Unfortunately, we now have plenty of proofs 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 male 18-to-20-year-old. Half of those soldiers who were placed in the two highest ability groups had left school at 15.

It has also been shown that the percentage of working class children going to university is almost the same now as it was in 1939.One study of 5000 children from birth to 21 years old shows 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 sexes, but far more boys than girls stay in education after 16.

It is clear from this and many other proofs that many children are still leaving school too early to benefit from 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 background. Their parents often need the extra money another money-earner would bring in; they don't 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 than they tend to say, “It's up to you.”?

It is hoped that ROSLA will give all children _______.?

A. a more enjoyable time at school

B. the same chances in society ?

C. the right to a better school

D. higher scores in intelligence tests?

People would like to think that _______.?

A. equal numbers of poor and wealthy children reach university?

B. those with the least money get the best education?

C. intelligent children are always selected by the system?

D. only really clever children do well?

Working class children are thought to be at a disadvantage because _______.

A. many of the clever ones leave school early?

B. fewer go to university than ever before?

C. more than half leave school when they are 16?

D. fewer boys than girls stay at school after 16?

It is pretty much a one-way street. While it may be common for university researchers to try their luck in the commercial world, there is very little traffic in the opposite direction. Pay has always been the biggest deterrent, as people with families often feel they cannot afford the drop in salary when moving to a university job. For some industrial scientists, however, the attractions of academia (学术界) are more important than any financial considerations.
  Helen Lee took a 70% cut in salary when she moved from a senior post in Abbott Laboratories to a medical department at the University of Cambridge. Her main reason for returning to academia in the middle of her career was to take advantage of the greater freedom to choose research questions.
  The effect of a salary cut is probably less serious for a scientist in the early stages of a career. Guy Grant, now a research associate at the Unilever Centre for Molecular Informatics at the University of Cambridge, spent two years working for a pharmaceutical (制药的) company before returning to university as a post-doctoral(博士后的) researcher. He took a 30% salary cut but felt it worthwhile for the greater intellectual opportunities.
  Higher up the ladder, where a pay cut is usually more significant, the demand for scientists with a wealth of experience in industry is forcing universities to make the transition (转换) to academia more attractive, according to Lee. Industrial scientists tend to receive training that academics do not, such as how to manage budgets and negotiate contracts. They are also well placed to bring something extra to their teaching that will help students get a job when they graduate, says Lee, perhaps experience in manufacturing practice or product development. “Only a small number of undergraduates will continue in an academic career. So someone leaving university who already has the skills needed to work in an industrial lab has far more potential in the job market than someone who has spent all their time on a narrow research project.”
【小题1】By “a one-way street” (Line 1, Para. 1), the author means ______.

A.university researchers know little about the commercial world
B.there is little exchange between industry and academia
C.few industrial scientists would quit to work in a university
D.few university professors are willing to do industrial research
【小题2】The underlined word “deterrent” (Line 3, Para. 1) most probably refers to something that ______.
A.keeps someone from taking action
B.encourages someone to succeed
C.attracts people’s attention
D.brings someone a financial burden
【小题3】What was Helen Lee’s major consideration when she changed her job in the middle of her career?
A.Flexible working hours.  B.Her research interests.
C.Peaceful life on campus.D.Her fame in academia.
【小题4】What contribution can industrial scientists make when they come to teach in a university?
A.Increase its graduates’ competitiveness in the job market.
B.Develop its students’ potential in research.
C.Help to get financial support from industry.
D.Get more students interested in the field of industry.

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