Question

Education is not an end, but a means to an end. In other words, we do not educate children only for the purpose of educating them. Our purpose is to fit them for life.

In some modern countries it has for some time been fashionable to think that by free education for all — one can solve all the problems of society and build a perfect nation. But we can already see that free education for all is not enough; we find in such countries a far larger number of people with university degree; they refuse to do what they think “low” work; and, in fact, work with hands is thought to be dirty and shameful in such countries. But we have only to think a moment to understand that the work of a completely uneducated farmer is far more important than that of a professor; we can live without education, but we die if we have no food. If no one cleaned our streets and took the rubbish away from our houses, we should get terrible diseases in our town.

In fact, when we say that all of us must be educated to fit us for life, it means that we must be educated in such a way that, firstly, each of us can do whatever work suited to his brains and ability and, secondly, that we can realize that all jobs are necessary to society, and that is very bad to be ashamed of one’s work. Only such a type of education can be considered valuable to society.

1.The writer of the passage thinks that _______.

A. education can settle most of the world’s problems

B. free education for all probably leads to a perfect world

C. free education won’t help to solve problems

D. all the social problems can’t be solved by education

2.The writer wants to prove that _______.

A. our society needs all kinds of jobs

B. our society needs free education for all

C. a farmer is more important than a professor

D. work with hands is the most important

3.The passage tells us about _______ of the education.

A. the means              B. the system (系统)           C. the value                D. the type (类型)

Answer

1.D

2.A

3.C

【解析】

试题分析：我们教育孩子不仅仅是为了教育他们的目的。我们的目的是让他们适应生活。免费教育不能解决一切社会问题。我们必须接受这样的教育，首先，我们每个人都可以做任何工作适合他的头脑和能力，其次，我们能够认识到，所有的工作都是社会的需要。只有这样的教育才能被认为是对社会有价值的。

1.推理判断题。根据第一、二段可知：教育不是目的，而是达到目的的一种手段。我们的目的是让他们适应生活；免费教育不能解决一切社会问题。故选 D（教育不能解决所有的社会问题。）。

2.推理判断题。根据第二段可知：生活需要教授，更需要清洁工。所有的工作都是社会的需要。选A（我们的社会需要各种各样的工作。）。

3.主题归纳题。根据最后一段可知，教育是让人们可以做适合他的头脑和能力的工作 。所以选C（教育的价值）。

考点：教育类短文阅读。