2007年专四真题及答案

PAGEPAGE407试题PARTⅠDICTIONListentothefollowingpassage.Altogetherthepassagewillbereadtoyoufourtimes.Duringthefirstreading,whichwillbedoneatnormalspeed,listenandtrytounderstandthemeaning.Forthesecondandthirdreadings,thepassagewillbereadsentencebysentence,orphrasebyphrase,withintervalsof15seconds.Thelastreadingwillbedoneatnormalspeedagainandduringthistimeyoushouldcheckyourwork.Youwillthenbegiven2minutestocheckthroughyourworkoncemore.

PleasewritethewholepassageonANSWERSHEETONE.PARTIILISTENINGCOMPREHENSION[20MIN]

InSectionsABandCyouwillheareverythingONCEONLY.Listencarefullyandthenanswerthequestionsthatfollow.MarkthecorrectanswertoeachquestiononAnswerSheetTwo.

SECTIONACONVERSATIONS

Inthissectionyouwillhearseveralconversations.Listentotheconversationscarefullyandthenanswerthequestionsthatfollow.

Questions1to3arebasedonthefollowingconversation.Attheendoftheconversation,youwillbegiven15secondstoanswerthequestions.Now,listentotheconversation.

1.WhichofthefollowingisNOTneededfortheLostPropertyForm?A.NameB.NationalityC.AddressD.Phonenumber2.FromtheconversationweknowthatMarkAdamscomesfromA.EssexB.EdinburghC.LondonD.TheUS.3.WhatwillMarkAdamsdothedayaftertomorrow?A.TocometotheofficeagainB.TowaitforthephonecallC.TocalltheofficeD.TowritetotheofficeQuestions4to7arebasedonthefollowingconversation.Attheendoftheconversation,youwillbegiven20secondstoanswerthequestions.Now,listentotheconversation.4.MembersoftheclubarerequiredtoA.registerwhentheyarrive.B.bringuptothreeguests.C.registertheirguests.D.showmembershipcardsonarrival.5.WhichofthefollowingdetailsaboutthechangingroomsisNOTcorrect?A.ThereisachangefortheuseofthelockerB.Showersareinstalledinthechangingrooms.C.LockersarelocatedinthechangingroomsD.Lockersareusedtostorepersonalbelongings.6.Accordingtotheclub’srules,memberscanplayA.for30minutesonly.B.foronehouronly.C.withinthebookedtimeonly.D.longerthanthebookedtime.7.WhichofthefollowingdetailsisNOTcorrect?A.Playerscaneatintheclubroom.B.Playershavetoleavetheclubbyteno’clock.C.Thecourtsareclosedearlierthantheclubroom.D.Playerscanuseboththeclubroomandthecourts.Questions8to10arebasedonthefollowingconversation.Attheendoftheconversation,youwillbegiven15secondstoanswerthequestions.Now,listentotheconversation.8.AttheuniversityMr.RobinsonspecializedinA.mathsB.physicsC.watermanagementD.geography9.Mr.RobinsonworkedfortheIndianGovernmentbecauseofA.universitylinks.B.governmentagreements.C.companyprojects.D.degreereuirements.10.AfterMr.RobinsonreturnedfromIndia,heA.changedjobsseveraltimes.B.wenttoliveinManchester.C.didsimilarworkasinIndia.D.becameheadofaresearchteam.SECTIONBPASSAGES

Inthissection,youwillhearseveralpassages.Listentothepassagescarefullyandthen

answerthequestionsthatfollow.

Questions11to13arebasedonthefollowingpassage.,4ttheendofthepassage,youwillbegiven15secondstoanswerthequestions.Now,listentothepassage.11.Accordingtothetalk,theownerofabikehastoA.registerhisbikeimmediatelyB.puthisbikeonalistatonceC.haveitstampedwithanumberD.reporttothepolicestation12.ThespeakerinthetalkrecommendsA.twolocksforallexpensivebikes.B.agoodlockforanexpensivebike.C.cheaplocksforcheapbikes.D.goodlocksforcheapbikes.13.Whatisthemainideaofthetalk?A.Howtohavethebikestamped.B.Howtoprotectyourbike.C.Howtobuygoodlocks.D.Howtoreportyourlostbiketothepolice.Questions14to17arebasedonthefollowingpassage.Attheendofthepassage,youwillbegiven20secondstoanswerthequestions.Now,listentothepassage.14.Whichcourse(s)runsorrunforonehoureachtime?A.Conversationclass.B.WritingSkillsclass.C.ExaminationSkillsclass.D.Allofthethreecourses.15.Whichcourse(s)doesordoNOTrequireenrolmentbeforehand?A.Conversationclass.B.WritingSkillsclass.C.ExaminationSkillsclass.D.Allofthethreecourses.16.Whichcourse(s)is(are)designedespeciallyforstudentsofeconomicsandsocialsciences?A.Conversationclass.B.WritingSkillsclass.C.ExaminationSkillsclass.D.Allifthethreecourses.17.Whichcourse(s)is(are)theshortest?A.Conversationclass.B.WritingskillsclassC.ExaminationSkillsclass.D.Alllanguagecourses.Questions18to20arebasedonthefollowingpassage.Attheendofthepassage,youwillbegiven15secondstoanswerthequestions.Now,listentothepassage.18.HowoldwasLeonardodaVinciwhenhemovedtoMilan?A.Religiousviolence.B.Refugeeissues.C.Aferrydisaster.D.Arescueoperation30.Theferryboatwasdesignedtocarry______passengers.A.198B.200C.290D.500

PARTIII

CLOSE[15MIN]Decidewhichofthechoicesgivenbelowwouldbestcompletethepassageifinsertedinthecorrespondingblanks.Markthebestchoiceforeachblankonyouranswersheet.

UntilItookDrOffutt’sclassinDeMathaHighschool,Iwasanunderachievingstudent,butIleftthatclass(31)_______nevertounderachieveagain.Henotonly

Taughtmetothink,heconvincedme,(32)________byexampleaswordsthatitwasmymoral(33)_______todosoandtoserveothers.(34)_____ofuscouldknowhowourrelationshipwould(35)_______overtheyears.WhenIcamebacktoDeMathato

teachEnglish,IworkedforDrOffutt,thedepartmentchair.Mydiscussionswithhimwerelikegraduateseminarsinadolescent(36)______,classroommanagementandschoolleadership.

Afterseveralyears,Iwas(37)_______departmentchair,andourrelationship(38)________again.Ithoughtthatitmightbe(39)______chairingthedepartment,sinceallofmy(40)______Englishteacherswere(41)_______there,butDr.Offuttsupportedme

(42)_______.Heknewwhentogivemeadvice(43)_______curriculum,textspersonnel,andwhentoletme(44)______myowncourse.In1997,Ineededhis(45)______aboutleavingDeMathatobecomeprincipalatanotherschool.(46)_______hehadaskedmetostayatDeMatha,Imighthave.(47)_______,heencouragedmetoseizetheopportunity.Fiveyearsago,IbecametheprincipalofDeMatha.(48)________,DrOffuttwasthereforme,lettingmeknowthatIcould(49)_______him.Ihavelearnedfromhimthatgreatteachershaveaninexhaustible(50)________oflessonstoteach.

31.A.concernedB.worriedC.determinedD.decided

32.A.asmuchB.muchasC.assuchD.suchas

33.A.workB.jobC.dutyD.obligation

34.A.BothB.NeitherC.EitherD.Each35.A.evolveB.stayC.remainD.turn36.A.processB.procedureC.developmentD.movement

37.A.calledB.namedC.askedD.invited

38.A.movedB.alteredC.wentD.shifted39.A.awkwardB.uneasyC.unnaturalD.insensitive

40.A.olderB.experiencedC.formerD./

41.A.

/B.stillC.evenD.already

42.A.throughB.throughoutC.atthebeginning

D.alltheway

43.A.forB.atC.over

D.about

44.A.chartB.headC.describeD.manage

45.A.opinionB.requestC.permissionD.order46.A.EvenifB.AlthoughC.IfD.When

47.A.NaturallyB.InsteadC.ConsequentlyD.Still

48.A.OnceagainB.RepeatedlyC.UnusallyD.Unexpectedly49.A.countinB.countdownC.countout

D.counton50.A.stockB.bankC.wealth

D.store

PARTIV

GRAMMER&VOCABULARY[15MIN]

Therearethirtysentencesinthissection.BeneatheachsentencetherearefourwordsorphrasesmarkedA,B,CandD.Chooseonewordorphrasethatbestcompletesthesentences.

51.Thereareasgoodfishinthesea_____evercameoutofit.

A.thanB.like

C.as

D.so

52.AllthePresident’sMen______oneoftheimportantbooksforhistorianswhostudytheWatergateScandal.

A.remainB.remainsC.remained

D.isremaining

53.“You______borrowmynotesprovidedyoutakecareofthem,”Itoldmyfriend.

A.couldB.shouldC.must

D.can

54.Ifonlythepatient______adifferenttreatmentinsteadofusingtheantibiotics,hemightstillbealivenow.

A.hadreceivedB.received

C.shouldreceive

D.werereceiving

55.Lindawas_____theexperimentamonthago,butshechangedhermindatthelastminute.

A.

tostart

B.tohavestartedC.tobestartingD.tohavebeenstarting

56.She_____fiftyorsowhenIfirstmetherattheconference.

A.mustbe

B.hadbeen

C.couldbe

D.musthavebeen

57.Itisnot______muchthelanguageasthebackgroundthatmakesthebookdifficulttounderstand.

A.that

B.as

C.so

D.very

58.Thecommintteehasanticipatedtheproblemsthat________intheroadconstructionproject.

A.arise

B.willarise

C.arose

D.havearisen

59.Thestudentsaidtherewereafewpointsintheessayhe_______impossibletocomprehend.

A.hadfound

B.finds

C.hasfound

D.wouldfind

60.Hewouldhavefinishedhiscollegeeducation,buthe_______toquitandfindajobtosupporthisfamily.

A.hadhad

B.has

C.had

D.wouldhave

61.Theresearchrequiresmoremoneythan________.

A.havebeenputin

B.hasbeenputin

C.beingputin

D.tobeputin

62.Overpopulationposesaterriblethreattothehumanrace.Yetitisprobably________athreattothehumanracethanenviromentaldestruction.

A.nomore

B.notmore

C.evenmore

D.muchmore

63.Itisnotuncommonforthere_______problemsofcommunicationbetweentheoldandtheyoung.

A.being

B.wouldbe

C.be

D.tobe

64.________atinhisway,thesituationdoesnotseemsodesperate.

A.Looking

B.looked

C.Beinglooked

D.tolook

65.ItisabsolutelyessentialthatWilliam________hisstudyinspiteofsomelearningdifficulties.

A.willcontinueB.continued

C.continue

D.continues

66.Thepaintingheboughtatthestreetmarkettheotherdaywasa_______forgery.

A.man-made

B.natural

C.crude

D.real

67.She’salwaysbeenkindtome–Ican’tjustturn______onhernowthatsheneedsmyhelp.

A.myback

B.myhead

C.myeye

D.shoulder

68.Thebarintheclubisforthe______useofitsmembers.

A.extensive

B.exclusive

C.inclusive

D.comprehensive

69.Thetutitionfeesare______tostudentscomingfromlow-incomefamilies.

A.approachableB.payable

C.reachable

D.affordable

70.Themedicalexpertswarnedtheauthoritiesofthedangerofdiseasesinthe_______oftheearthquake.

A.consequenceB.aftermath

C.results

D.effect

71.Thissortofrudebehaviourinpublichardly______apersoninyourposition.

A.becomes

B.fits

C.supports

D.improves

72.Imustleavenow._______,ifyouwantthatbookI’llbringitnexttime.

A.AccidentallyB.Incidentally

C.Eventually

D.Naturally

73.Afteralongdelay,she______replyingtomye-mail.

A.gotawaywithB.gotbackat

C.gotbyD.gotroundto

74.Personalcomputersarenolongersomethingbeyondtheordinarypeople;theyare________availablethesedays.

A.promptly

B.instantly

C.readily

D.quickly

75.InmyfirstyearattheuniversityIlearntthe_______ofjournalism.

A.basics

B.basic

C.elementary

D.elements

76.Accordingtothenewtaxlaw,anymoneyearnedoverthatlevelistaxedatthe______of59percent

A.ratio

B.percentage

C.proportion

D.rate

77.Thousandsof_______atthestadiumcametotheirfeettopaytributetoanoutstandingperformance.

A.audience

B.participants

C.spectators

D.observers

78.Westoodstill,gazingoutoverthelimitless______ofthedessert.

A.space

B.expanse

C.stretch

D.land

79.Doctoroften______uneasinessinthepeopletheydealwith.

A.smell

B.hear

C.sense

D.tough

80.Marysatatthetable,lookedattheplateand______herlips.

A.smacked

B.opened

C.parted

D.seperatedPARTV

READING

COMPREHENSION[25MIN]

Inthissectiontherearefourpassagesfollowedbyquestionsorunfinishedstatements,eachwithfoursuggestedanswersmarkedA,B,CandD.Choosetheonethatyouthinkisthebestanswer.

TEXTAIfyouliketheideaofstayingwithwithafamily,livinginhousemightbetheanswer.Goodlandladiesthosewhoaresuperbcooksandlaunderers,arefiguresaspopularinfictionasthebadoneswhoterrorizetheirguestsandoverchargethemattheslightestopportunity.Thetruthisprobablysomewherebetweenthetwoextremes.Ifyouarelucky,thefoodwillbeadequate,someofyourlaundrymaybedoneforyouandyouwillhaveareasonableamountofcomfortandcompanionship.Forthelessfortunate,houserulesmayrestrictthefreedomtoinvitefriendstovistit,andsharedcookingandbathroomfacilitiescanbefrustratingandrow-provokingiftidyanduntidyguestsarelivingunderthesameroof.

Thesamedisadvantagescanapplytoflatsharing,withtheaddeddifficultiesthatarisefromdecidingwhopaysforwhat,andinwhatproportion.Onepersonmayspendhoursonthephone,whileanotherrarelymakescalls.Ifyouwantprivacywithaguest,howdoyoupersuadetheotherstogoout;howdoyoupersuadethemtoleaveyouinpeace,especiallyifyouarestudentandwanttostudy?

Conversely,flatsharingcanbecheap,therewillalwaysbesomeonetotalktoandgooutwith,andthechores,intheory,canbeshared.81.Accordingtothepassage,landladiesare________

A.usuallystrict.

B.alwaysmean.

C.adequatelycompetent.

D.verypopularwiththeirguests.

82.Whatistheadditionaldisadvantageofflatsharing?

A.Problemsofsharingandpaying.

B.Differencesinlivinghabits.

C.Sharedcookingandbathroomfacilities.

D.Restrictiontoinvitefriendstovisit.

83.WhatisNOTmentionedasabenefitofflatsharing?

A.Rentisaffordable

B.Thereiscompanionship.

C.Houseworkcanbeshared.

D.Thereispeaceandquiet.

TEXTB(1)Travellingthroughthecountryacoupleofweeksagoonbusiness,IwaslisteningtothetalkofthelateUKwriterDouglasAdams’masterwork“TheHitchhiker’sGuidetotheGalaxy”ontheradioandthought-Iknow,I’llpickupthenexthitchhikersIseeandaskthemwhatthestateofrealhitchingistodayinBritain.

(2)Idroveanddroveonmainroadsandsideroadsforthenextfewdaysandneversawasingleone.

(3)WhenIwasinmyteensand20s,hitchhikingwasamainformoflong-distancetransport.ThekindnessorcuriosityofstrangerstookmealloverEurope,NorthAmerica,AsiaandsouthernAfrica,Someofthelift-giversbecamefriends,manyprovidedhospitalityontheroad.

(4)Notonlydidyoufindoutmuchmoreaboutacountrythanwhentravelingbytrainorplane,buttherewasthatelementofexcitementaboutwhereyouwouldfinishupthatnight.HitchhikingfeaturedimportantlyinWesternculture.Ithasbooksandsongsaboutit.Sowhathashappenedtoit?

(5)Afewyearsago,Iaskedthesamequestionabouthitchinginacolumnofanewspaper.Hundredsofpeoplefromallovertheworldrespondedwiththeirviewonthestateofhitchhiking.

(6)RuralIrelandwasrecommendedasafriendlyplaceforhitching,aswasQuebec,Canada-“ifyoudon’tmindbeingcriticizedfornotspeakingFrench”.

(7)Butwhilehitchhikingwasclearlystillaliveandwellinsomeplaces,thegeneralfeelingwasthatthroughtoutmuchofthewestitwasdoomed.

(8)Withsomuchnewsaboutcrimeinthemedia,peopleassumedthatanyoneontheopenroadwithoutthemoneyforevenabusticketmustpresentadanger.Butdoweneedtobesowarybothtohitchandtogivealift?

(9)InPolandinthe1960s,accordingtoaPolishwomanwhoe-mailme,＂theauthoritiesintroducedtheHitchhiker’sBooklet.Thebookletcontainedcouponsfordrivers,soeachtimeadriverpickedsomebody,heorshereceivedacoupon.Attheendoftheseason,driverswhohadpickedupthemosthikerswererewardedwithvariousprizes.Everyonewashitchhikingthen”.

(10)Surelythisisagoodideaforsociety.Hitchhikingwouldincreaserespectbybreakingdownbarriersbetweenstrangers.Itwouldhelpfightglobalwarmingbycuttingdownonfuelconsumptionashitchhikerswouldbeusingexistingfuels.Itwouldalsoimproveeducationalstandardsbydeliveringinstantlessonsingeography,history,politicsandsociology.

(11)AcenturybeforeDouglasAdamswrotehis“Hitchhiker’sGuide”,anotheradventurestorywriter,RobertLouisStevenson,gaveusthatwhatshouldbethehitchhiker’smotto:＂Totravelhopefullyisabetterthingthantoarrive.”Whatbettertimethanputtingaholidayweekendintopractice.Eitherputittothetestyourself,orhelpoutsomeonewhoistryingtotravelhopefullywiththumboutstretched.84.Inwhichparagraph(s)doesthewritercommentonhisexperienceofhitchhiking?

A.(3)

B.(4)

C.(3)and(4)

D.(4)and(5)

85.Whatisthecurrentsituationofhitchhiking?

A.Itispopularinsomepartsoftheworld.

B.Itispopularthroughoutthewest.

C.ItispopularonlyintheNorthAmercia.D.It’sstillpopularinPoland.

86.Whatisthewriter’sattitudetowardsthepracticeinPoland?

A.Critical.

B.Unclear.

C.Somewhatfavourable.

D.Stronglyfavourable.

87.ThewriterhasmentionedallthefollowingbenefitsofhitchhikingEXCEPT

A.promotingmutualrespectbetweenstrangers.

B.increasingone’sconfidenceinstrangers.

C.protectingenviroment.

D.enrichingone’sknowledge.

88.＂Eitherputittothetestyourself…”inParagraph(11)means

A.toexperiencethehopefulness.

B.toreadAdams’book.

C.tooffersomeonealift.D.tobeahitchhiker.

TEXTCIamafraidtosleep.Ihavebeenafraidtosleepforthelastfewweeks.Iamsotiredthat,finally,Idosleep,butonlyforafewminutes.Itisnotabaddreamthatwakesme;itistherealiryItookwithmeintosleep.Itrytothinkofsomethingelse.

Immediatelythewomaninthemarketplacecomesintomymind.

IwasonmywaytodinnerlastnightwhenIsawher.Shewassellingskirts.ShemovedwiththesameeaseandlovelinessIoftensawinthewomenofLaos.Herlongblackhairwasasshinyastheblacksilkoftheskirtsshewasselling.Inherhair,sheworethreesilkribbons,blue,green,andwhite.TheyremindedmeofmychildhoodandhowmygirlfriendsandIusedtospendhoursbraidingribbonsintoourhair.

Idon’tknowthewordfor“ribbons”,soIputmyhandtomyownhairand,withthreefingersagainstmyhead,Ilookedatherribbonsandsaid“Beautiful.”Sheloweredhereyesandsaidnothing.Iwasn’tsureifsheunderstoodme(Idon’tspeakLaotianverywell).

Ilookedbackdownattheskirts.Theyhaddesignsinthem:squaresandtrianglesandcirclesofpinkandgreensilk.Theywereverypretty.Idecidedtobuyoneofthoseskirts,andIbegantobargainwithherovertheprice.ItisthecustomtobargaininAsia.InLaosbargainingisdoneinsoftvoicesandeasymoveswiththesortofquietpeacefulness.

Shesmiled,morewithhereyesthanwithherlips.ShewaspleasedbythefewwordsIwasabletosayinherlanguage,althoughtheyweremostlynumbers,andshesawthatIunderstoodsomethingaboutthesoftplayfulnessofbargaining.Weshookourheadsindisagreementovertheprice;then,immediately,wemadeanotherofferandthenanothershakeofthehead.Shewassopleasedthatunexpectedly,sheacceptedthelastofferImade.Butitwastoosoon.Thepricewastoolow.Shewasbeingtoogenerousandwouldn’tmakeenoughmoney.Imovedquicklyandpickeduptwomoreskirtsandpaidforallthreeatthepriceset;thatwayIwasabletopayherthreetimesasmuchbeforeshehadachancetolowerthepriceforthelargerpurchase.Shesmiledopenlythen,and,forthefirsttimeinmonths,myspiritlifted.Ialmostfelthappy.

Thefeelingstayedwithmewhileshewrappedtheskirtsinanewspaperandhandedthemtome.WhenIleft,though,thefeelingleft,too.Itwasasthoughitstayedbehindinthemarketplace.Ilefttearsinmythroat.Iwantedtocry.Ididn’t,ofcourse.

Ihavelearnedtodefendmyselfagainstwhatishard;withoutknowingit,Ihavealsolearnedtodefendmyselfagainstwhatissoftandwhatshouldbeeasy.

Igetup,lightacandleandwanttolookattheskirts.Theyarestillinthenewspaperthatthewomanwrappedthemin.Iremovethepaper,andraisetheskirtsuptolookatthemagainbeforeIpackthem.Somethingfallstofloor.Ireachdownandfeelsomethingcoolinmyhand.ImoveclosetothecandlelighttoseewhatIhave.Therearefivelongsilkribbonsinmyhand,alldifferentcolours.Thewomaninthemaketplace!Shehasgiventheseribbonstome!

Thereisnodefenseagainstagenerousspirit,andthistimeIcry,andveryhard,asifIcouldmakeupforallthemonthsthatIdidn’tcry.89.Accordingtothewriter,thewomaninthemarketplaceArefusedtospeaktoher.Bwaspleasantandattractive.Cwassellingskirtsribbons.Drecognizedherimmediately.90.WhichofthefollowinginNOTcorret?

A.Thewriterwasnotusedtobargaining.

B.PeopleinAsiaalwaysbargainwhenbuyingthings.

C.BargaininginLaoswasquietandpeaceful.

D.Thewriterwasreadytobargainwiththewoman.

91.Thewriterassumedthatthewomanacceptedthelastoffermainlybecausethewoman

A.thoughtthatthelastofferwasreasonable.

B.thoughtshecouldstillmakemuchmoney.

C.wasgladthatthewriterknewtheirwayofbargaining.

D.wastiredofbargainingwiththewriteranymore.

92.Whydidthewriterfinallydecidetobuythreeskirts?

A.Theskirtswerecheapandpretty.

B.Shelikedthepatternsontheskirts.

C.Shewantedtodosomethingascompensation.

D.Shewasfedupwithfurtherbargainningwiththewoman.

93.Whenthewriterleftthemarketplace,shewantedtocry,butdidnotbecause

A.shehadlearnedtostaycoolandunfeeling.

B.shewasafraidofcryinginpublic.

C.shehadlearnedtofacedifficultiesbravely.

D.shehadtoshowinpublicthatshewasstrong.

94.Whydidthewritercryeventuallywhenshelookedattheskirtsagain?

A.shesuddentlyfeltverysad.

B.shelikedtheribbonssomuch.

C.shewasovercomebyemotion.

D.shefeltsorryforthewoman.TEXTD

Thekidsarehangingout.Ipasssmallbandsofstudents,onmywaytoworkthesemornings.Theyhavebecomeafamiliarpartofthesummerlandscape.

Thesekidsarenotoldenoughforjobs.Noraretheyrichenoughforcamp.Theyareschoolchildrenwithoutschool.Thecalendarcalledtheschoolyearranoutonthemafewweeksago.Oncesupervisedbyteachersandprincipals,theynowappeartobe“selfcare”.

Passingthemislikepassingthroughatimezone.Formuchofourhistory,afterall,Americansarrangedtheschoolyeararoundtheneedsofworkandfamily.In19thcenturycities,schoolswereopensevenoreighthoursaday,11monthsayear.InruralAmerica,theyearwasarrangedaroundthegrowingseason.Now,only3percentoffamiliesfollowtheagriculturalmodel,butnearlyallschoolsarescheduledasifourchildrenwenthomeearlytomilkthecowsandtookmonthsofftoworkthecrops.Now,three-quartersofthemothersofschool-agechildrenwork,butthecalendariswrittenasiftheywerehomewaitingfortheschoolbus.

Thesix-hourday,the180-dayschoolyearisregardedassomethingholy.Butwhenparentsworkaneight-hourdayanda240-dayyear,itmeanssomethingdifferent.Itmeansthatmanykidsgohometoemptyhouses.Itmeansthat,inthesummer,theyhangout.

“Wehaveahugemismatchbetweentheschoolcalendarandtherealistiesoffamilylife,”saysDr.ErnestBoyer,headoftheCarnegieFoundationfortheAdvancementofTeaching.

Dr.Boyerisoneofmanywhobelievethataradicalrevisionoftheschoolcalendarisinevitable.＂School,whetherwelikeitornot,iseducational.Italwayshasbeen.”

Hisisnotpopularidea.Schoolsareroutinelyburdenedwiththejobofsolvingalloursocialproblems.Cantheybeaskedtomeettheneedsofourworkandfamilylives?

Itmaybeeasiertopromotealongerschoolyearonitseducationalmeritsand,indeed,theeducationalcaseiscompelling.Despitethecomplaintsandstudiesaboutourkids’lackoflearning,theUnitedStatestillhasashorterschoolyearthananyindustrialnation.InmostofEurope,theschoolyearis220days.InJapan,itis240dayslong.Whileclassroomtimealonedoesn’tproduceawell-educatedchild,learningtakestimeandmorelearningtakesmoretime.Thelongsummersofforgettingtakeatoll.

Theoppositiontoalongerschoolyearcomesfromfamiliesthatwanttoandcanprovideotherexperiencesfortheirchildren.Itcomesfromteachers.Itcomesfromtradition.Andsurelyfromkids.Butthemostimportantpartoftheconflicthasbeenoverthemoney.95.Whichofthefollowingisanopinionoftheauthor’s?

A.＂Thekidsarehangingout.”

B.＂Theyareschoolchildrenwithoutschool.”

C.＂Thesekidsarenotoldenoughforjobs.”

D.“Thecalendarcalledtheschoolyearranoutonthemafewweeksago.”

96.ThecurrentAmericanschoolcalendarwasdevelopedinthe19thcenturyaccordingto

A.thegrowingseasononnation’sform.

B.thelabourdemandsoftheindustrialage.

C.teachers’demandsformorevacationtime.

D.parents’demandsforotherexperiencesfortheirkids.

97.Theauthorthinksthatthecurrentschoolcalendar

A.isstillvalid.

B.isoutofdate.

C.cannotberevised.

D.cannotbedefended.

98.WhywasDr.Boyer’sideaunpopular?

A.Hearguesfortherol