59．A．kept out　　　　　　　 B．turned down　　　　 C．held back　　　　　　 D．left behind

58．A．wide　　　　　　　　　 B．similar　　　　　　　　 C．separate　　　　　　　 D．unique

57．A．vocabulary　　　　　 B．culture　　　　　　　　 C．grammar　　　　　　 D．literature

56．A．errors　　　　　　　　 B．situations　　　　　　 C．systems　　　　　　　 D．methods

55．A．Due to　　　　　　　　 B．In addition to　　　 C．Instead of　　　　　　 D．In spite of

54．A．becoming　　　　　　 B．choosing　　　　　　 C．ordering　　　　　　　 D．promoting

(B)

One topic is rarely mentioned in all the talk of improving standards in our schools: the almost complete failure of foreign – language teaching. As a French graduate who has taught for more than twenty – five years, I believe I have some idea of why the failure is so total.　 55　 　the faults already found out in the education system as a whole – such as child – centred learning, the “discovery” method, and the low expectations by teachers of pupils – there have been several serious 　56　 　which have a direct effect on language teaching.

The first is the removal from the curriculum (课程) of the thorough teaching of English 　57　 . Pupils now do not know a verb from a noun, the subject of a sentence from its object, or the difference between the past, present, or future.

Another important error is mixed – ability teaching, or teaching in ability groups so 　58　 　that the most able pupils are 　59　 　and are bored while the least able are lost and 　60　 　bored. Strangely enough, few head teachers seem to be in favour of mixed – ability school football teams.

Progress depends on memory, and pupils start to forget immediately they stop having 　61　 　lessons. This is why many people who attended French lessons at school, even those who got good grades, have forgotten it a few years later.　 62　 　they never need it, they do not practise it.

Most American schools have accepted what is inevitable and 　63　 　modern languages, even Spanish, from the curriculum. Perhaps it is time for Britain to do the same, and stop 　64　 　resources on a subject which few pupils want or need.

53．A．handle　　　　　　　　 B．create　　　　　　　　　 C．affect　　　　　　　　　 D．investigate

52．A．emphasis　　　　　　 B．conflict　　　　　　　 C．power　　　　　　　　 D．pressure

51．A．noisy　　　　　　　　　 B．alone　　　　　　　　　 C．personal　　　　　　　 D．sociable

50．A．pleasing　　　　　　　 B．annoying　　　　　　 C．common　　　　　　 D．valuable