Most American students go to traditional public schools. There are about 88,000 public schools all over the US. Some students attend about 3000 independent public schools called charter schools.
Charter schools are self-governing. Private companies operate some charter schools. They are similar in some ways to traditional public schools. They receive tax money just as other public schools do. Charter schools must prove to local or state governments that their students are learning. These governments provide the schools with the agreement called a charter that permits them to operate.
Charter schools are different because they do not have to obey most laws governing traditional public schools. Local, state or federal governments cannot tell them what to teach. Each school can choose its own goals and decide the ways it wants to reach them. Class size is usually smaller than in traditional public schools.
The Bush Administration strongly supports charter schools as a way to re-organize public schools that are failing to educate students. But some education agencies and unions oppose charter schools. One teachers’ union has just made public the results of the first national study comparing the progress of students in traditional schools and charter schools.
The American Federation of Teachers criticized the government’s delay in releasing the results of the study, which is called the National Assessment of Educational Progress. Union education experts say the study shows that charter school students performed worse on math and reading tests than students in regular public schools.
Some experts say the study is not a fair look at charter schools because students in those schools have more problems than students in traditional schools. Other education experts say the study results should make charter school officials demand improved student progress.
1.If a private company wants to operate a charter school, it must .
A．try new methods of teaching B．prove its management ability
C．obey the local and state laws D．get the government’s permission
2.Charter schools are independent because .
A．they make greater progress B．their class size is smaller
C．they enjoy more freedom D．they oppose traditional ways
3.What’s the government’s attitude toward charter schools?
A．Doubtful. B．Supportive. C．Subjective. D．Optimistic.
4.What can we learn from the text?
A．More students choose to attend charter schools.
B．Charter schools are better than traditional schools.
C．Students in charter schools are well educated.
D．People have different opinions about charter schools.
5.It can be inferred from the text that .
A．charter schools are part of the education system
B．one-on-one attention should be paid to students
C．the number of charter schools will be limited
D．charter schools are all privately financed
It was a cold winter’s night when I stopped for gas on my way home from work. I was tired and had a slight 36 .
I worked in a 37 doctor’s office and this was one of those days when the unexpected happened, making the schedule run 38 than usual. It seemed I was going to be late 39 home and my husband, being the 40 person, would be ready to pronounce me late once again. Maybe 41 I hurried, I could still make it home.
I was heading inside to 42 for my gas when I noticed an older couple at the counter. I heard them asking for 43 to the local hospital. It was the same hospital that I had just 44 a few minutes ago.
The young man at the counter was trying to be 45 in explaining how to get there, with two other people making 46 . One of them was 47 trying to give them a whole different route back. It was then that I walked over to the couple and said, “Would you like to follow me to the 48 ?”
A look of 49 crossed the woman’s face.
“I’m going right by there,” I said, which wasn’t a(an) 50 since I had just made up my mind to do 51 that.
I got in my car and began the journey back. I was trying to watch to be sure they were right 52 me. It took only fifteen minutes to get there as rush hour traffic was beginning to 53 . I felt better than I had all day and my headache was nearly gone.
Later, as I arrived home, my husband 54 , “So you aren’t ever late any more.”
I said, “Sometimes it’s 55 to be late.”
1.A. break B. fever C. cold D. headache
2. A. foreign B. common C. busy D. noisy
3.A. earlier B. later C. easier D. simpler
4. A. getting B. cooking C. calling D. working
5. A. tough B. punctual C. generous D. careful
6.A. as B. since C. while D. if
7.A. pay B. change C. wait D. search
8.A. opinions B. trouble C. directions D. money
9.A. reached B. visited C. called D. left
10.A. skilled B. helpful C. experienced D. active
11.A. comments B. promises C. jokes D. offers
12. A. only B. still C. even D. ever
13.A. station B. office C. hospital D. hotel
14.A. panic B. relief C. sadness D. peace
15.A. duty B. fact C. reason D. lie
16.A. partly B. properly C. exactly D. perfectly
17.A. across B. before C. beside D. behind
18.A. go up B. die down C. speed up D. turn down
19.A. teased B. shouted C. burst D. laughed
20.A. possible B. usual C. good D. safe
----I can’t thank you more for the present you sent me the other day.
----____________.
A. With pleasure B. No, thanks C. Please don’t say so D. You are welcome
Do you remember those days _______ we spent together along the seashore very happily?
A. when B. where C. which D. what
For _______information about present national boundaries, we’d better refer to an up-to-date map.
A. practical B. frequent C. reliable D. beneficial
When you are in trouble, you may _______ your teacher and classmates for help.
A. turn away B. turn around C．turn back D. turn to
