阅读理解

Is education compulsory after age 16？

　　Under the present law, the school leaving age is 16．after 2013 the education leaving age will rise to 17．And from 2015 it will rise again, to 18．

　　The government is raising the leaving age because research shows that young people who carry on learning or training until the age of 18 earn more money, are likely to be healthier and less likely to be in trouble with the police．

　　So although at the moment your child can leave education once they’re 16, it’s worth thinking carefully about the benefits of carrying on．

　　What options are available after 16?

　　Education after16 doesn’t just mean staying at school full-time：your child can stay at school, go to college, or take up an apprenticeship or a part-time training course．They can earn money and learn new skills at the same time if they want to．

　　The main qualifications available are：

　　Diplomas：providing the background for a range of careers

　　Vocational qualifications：

　　for young people who already know what career they want to follow and need training for specific jobs

　　A levels：

　　offered as specific mainly academic subjects

　　International Baccalaureate：offering a wider range of subjects than A levels

What financial help is available？

　　If your child continues in education after 16 and your household income is less than ￡30,810 a year, your child should be eligible for up to ￡30 a week to help with their costs．It won’t affect any benefits you get as an individual or as a family, and the money will be paid directly into your child’s bank account．This money is known as Education Maintenance Allowance(EMA)．

阅读理解

　　Oh, boy! Time for a game now．oldest brother is the seeker so k have to hide extra good because he’s smart and will find me quickly．But where? Behind the garage won’t work．The barn is too easy．Wait, I know．The door leading under the porch is perfect．No one would look for me under there．

　　It smells unpleasant under this porch．Wish I had picked another place to hide．Smelly cats! Too late now, I can hear brother seeking everyone out．I’ll just sit here quiet as a mouse．Hah hah hah! I can hear you out by the barn! You’ll never find me over there!

　　It’s been a while and he hasn’t found me yet．What’s that I hear? Now all my brothers are looking for me．They’ve all been caught, but not me．They’ll never trick me into coming out to catch me．Wait, is that Dad I hear calling my name? Oh no, now I hear someone going to call Grandpa to help look for me．I’m not coming out now because I’m in really big trouble．

　　What to do? If I come out and say I heard them calling me, I’ll be in big trouble．Think, think! How do I get out of trouble? I know what to do! I’ll tell them I fell asleep while waiting．Is that Grandpa’s voice? Heh heh heh! Now’s my chance．I’ll crawl out slowly and rub my eyes．Now that I see Grandpa go towards me quickly, I say．“I feel asleep．”

　　“Oh! You had us all worried!” says Grandpa．“You little devil, I’m just glad you’re all right, but next time try not to fall asleep and scare us like that, okay?” says Dad．Whew! I pulled it off(成功)．Now to keep my mouth shut．And I did, for over 42 years．Once in a while, a kid pulls the wool over people’s eyes．So that’s one of my little secrets I’ve never revealed before．Don’t tell anyone now!