Question

【题目】阅读短文，根据短文内容回答问题．

When it comes to the letter grade on your test or homework, you might notice that there is no letter E. Have you ever thought about why that is so?

In the A, B, C, D and F grading system, the first four letters are typically considered passing grades. An F in this system simply stands for“fail”.The word“fail”happens to start with the letter F, which seems to leave out the letter E. The fact”．Some schools have U grade for“unsatisfactory”,or I grade for “incomplete”.

Even with all this said, we should also point out that E grade actually has been

used pretty commonly throughout the history of letter grades in the US.

The first college in the US to use a letter grading system like the ones we use today is Mount Holyoke College. In 1897,they began to use the following grading scale:

A: 95-100%(excellent) B: 85-94%(good) C: 76-84%(fair)

D: 75%(barely passed) E: below 75%(failed)

We can see the inclusion of E instead of F.

Gradually,the letter grading system became more popular throughout the US. However, many schools decided to drop the E grade and go straight to F.There is no evidence(证据) to really support this,but one possible explanation is that teachers were worried that some students and parents might mistake E for “excellent”.

Why do we have letter grades? Well,part of the reason is that they made grading simpler during a time of great change for schools. As the 20th century began,growing cities and an increase in immigration led to larger school classrooms. Most teachers at that time thought this new letter grading system was an easy,fair and clear way to grade students.

Today,more and more people argue that letter grades don’t fully reflect(反映) student learning。However，as teachers try to improve grading methods,many parents continue to favor the letter grades they got as kids, they are familiar(熟悉) and easy for parents to understand. So while they might not be perfect, the letter grades probably aren’t going away any time soon.

【1】what does an F stand for in the A、B、C、D and F grading system?

【2】when was the letter grading system first used in the US college?

【3】what is one possible explanation for dropping the E grade?

【4】what did most teachers think of the letter grading system in the 20th century?

【5】why do many parents still prefer the letter grades today?

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】It stands for “fail”

【2】In 1897

【3】Teachers were worried that some students and parents might mistake E for “excellent”

【4】They thought this new letter grading system was an easy fair and clear way to grade students

【5】Because the letter grades are familiar and easy for parents to understand

【解析】

短文讲了判定测试或作业的字母等级方法，详细的介绍了字母所代表的含义，及其人们对这种评定方法的看法等。

【1】细节理解题。根据第二段句子 In the A, B, C, D and F grading system, the first four letters are typically considered passing grades. An F in this system simply stands for “fail”. 在A、B、C、D和F评分系统中，前四个字母通常被认为是及格分数。这个系统中的F仅仅表示"失败"。可知F表示“失败”。故答案为An F in this system stands for “fail”.

【2】细节理解题。根据第四段句子The first college in the US to use a letter grading system like the ones we use today is Mount Holyoke College. In 1897, they began to use the following grading scale. 美国第一个使用字母评分系统的大学是Mount Holyoke College. 1897年，他们开始使用以下等级量表。可知在1897年。故答案为In 1897年。

【3】细节理解题。根据倒数第三段句子 However, really support this, but one possible explanation is that teachers were worried that some students and parents might mistake E for “excellent”. 然而，许多学校决定放弃E级，直接进入F。真的没有证据支持这一点，但一个可能的解释是，老师担心一些学生和家长可能误认为E为“优秀”。可知老师担心一些学生和家长可能误认为E为“优秀”。故答案为Teachers were worried that some students and parents might mistake E for “excellent”.

【4】细节理解题。根据倒数第二段句子Most teachers at that time thought this new letter grading system was an easy, fair and clear way to grade students. 当时的大多数老师认为这种新的字母评分系统是一种简单、公平、清晰的给学生打分的方式。可知当时的大多数老师认为这种新的字母评分系统是一种简单、公平、清晰的给学生打分的方式。故答案为Most teachers at that time thought this new letter grading system was an easy，fair and clear way to grade students.

【5】细节理解题。根据最后一段句子However, as teachers try to improve grading methods, many parents continue to favor the letter grades they got as kids, they are familiar（熟悉）and easy for parents to understand. So while they might not be perfect, the letter grades probably aren't going away any time soon. 然而，当教师试图改进评分方法时，许多家长仍然喜欢孩子们得到的字母等级，他们对父母来说很熟悉，也很容易理解。因此，尽管他们可能不是完美的，但字母等级不会很快就消失。可知它们是父母所熟悉和容易理解的。故答案为They are familiar and easy for parents to understand.

做题时首先对原文材料迅速浏览，掌握全文的主旨大意。其次，细读题材，各个击破。掌握全文的大意之后，细细阅读材料后的问题，弄清每题要求后，带着问题，再回到原文中去寻找、捕获有关信息。