Question

    A substitute teacher crunch has forced Chicago area school districts to raise sub pay, to use parents as subs and even to seek out teachers from moonlighting police and fire department ranks. The crunch also means good subs are getting harder to find, some say. “It’s not only a quantity problem but a quality problem,” said Barbara Radner, director of DePaul University’s Center for Urban Education, which serves as expert partner to 31 academically troubled Chicago public schools. “We’re getting to the bottom of the talent pool and it’s empty,” she said. And a bad sub, Radner explained, can move a class backward by confusing students.

Radner said Chicago’s sub shortage is at “crisis” levels and the worst she’s seen in 15 years, although city school officials say West Side schools seem to be affected the most. Using the Chicago system’s substitute teacher center is like engaging in “Russian roulette”, Radner said. “Every sixth sub you get could be a total blowup.” Increasingly, she said, principals in schools she works with say they can’t get subs, or the subs they get leave midday because they can’t handle the job. Chicago school officials are recruiting police officers and firefighters to sub in high-crime areas that some subs refuse to enter. A sub recruitment push is also planned on college campuses - among graduate and doctoral students who may find the part-time work attractive, Schools Chief Executive Officer Paul Vallas said.

Teachers often leave detailed lesson plans for subs if they know in advance they will be off, and keep “emergency plans” on file for unexpected absences, such as an illness. But Radner said emergency plans can amount to “a recipe for baby-sitter.” Carolyn Martin said her daughter’s last sub at Bolingbrook’s Tibbott Elementary in Valley View District 365 was so unpleasant that she may demand to sit in the classroom next time there’s a problem sub. “The last time they had a sub, the substitute teacher had to call the principal into the room,” Martin said, “This is a third-grade classroom, and the lady couldn’t even handle it”.

Demand for subs is high because of several factors, school officials say. For starters, those who hold sub certificate may not be using them because they have found better-paying jobs in today’s booming economy. Six or seven years age, Schaumburg District 54 Associate Supt. Kenneth Cull said, “I used to have 30 real estate agents sign up for sub work because they had college degrees and business was slow. I don’t have that anymore.” Sub pools have been further consumed by several waves of early teacher retirements and increased student enrollments — both of which have meant more subs are being hired as full-time teachers.

1.What is troubling the Chicago school districts?

A.People in unrelated areas find jobs in school teaching.

B.Quality of regular and sub teachers needs improving.

C.Students suffer greatly from unprofessional teachers.

D.Chicago area is in bad need of qualified sub teachers.

2.From the second paragraph, we learn____.

A.the sub crunches before were not as bad as the present ones

B.many principals quit their jobs as they can’ t handle the situation

C.police officers are sent to the high-crime areas to keep order

D.six out of ten substitute teachers come from college campuses

3.According to Radner, the emergency plans____.

A.are most effective in mending the situation B.are detested by most parents

C.are resisted by most students D.do not efficiently meet the situation

4.Which of the following is NOT a factor that leads to the shortage of qualified subs?

A.Many certified teachers quit their teaching positions for other professions.

B.Sound economic situation attracts many candidates from teaching positions.

C.There are more students admitted to schools than ever before.

D.Many teachers retire earlier from their positions than they should.

Answer

1.D

2.A

3.D

4.A

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。文章讲述了芝加哥出现了代课老师危机这一现象，好的代课老师难找，并阐述了代课老师出现危机的原因。

1.细节理解题。由第一段的The crunch also means good subs are getting harder to find, some say. “It’s not only a quantity problem but a quality problem,”可知，一些人说，危机还意味着好潜艇越来越难找。“这不仅是数量问题，也是质量问题，”由此可知，芝加哥校区缺乏优质代课老师。故选D项。

2.推理判断题。由第二段第一句“Radner said Chicago’s sub shortage is at “crisis” levels and the worst she’s seen in 15 years, although city school officials say West Side schools seem to be affected the most.”可知，拉德纳说，芝加哥的潜艇短缺已经到了“危机”的程度，这是她15年来所见过的最严重的短缺，尽管城市学校的官员说，西区的学校似乎受到的影响最大。由此推知，以前的代课老师危机没有现在严重。故选A项。

3.推理判断题。由第三段的But Radner said emergency plans can amount to “a recipe for baby-sitter.”可知，但拉德纳表示，应急计划可以成为“临时保姆的良方”；而且，后面举的例子（代课老师管不住学生，要校长进教室）表明，紧急计划没什么效果。故选D项。

4.细节理解题。由最后一段中For starters, those who hold sub certificate may not be using them because they have found better-paying jobs in today’s booming economy.和Sub pools have been further consumed by several waves of early teacher retirements and increased student enrollments — both of which have meant more subs are being hired as full-time teachers.可知，首先，那些持有二级证书的人可能不会使用它们，因为他们在今天蓬勃发展的经济中找到了薪水更高的工作。几波教师提前退休和学生人数增加进一步消耗了代课教师群体——这两波现象都意味着更多代课教师被聘为全职教师。由此可知，“许多有资格的教师辞去了教师的工作，转行从事其他职业”并不是代课教师短缺原因。故选A项。