Question

    Pre-school teacher Rosa Ramirez has a special way of asking her students to line up for playtime outside. “Pueden pararse si llevan puesto algo de color amarillo, como una abeja,” she tells them. In English, Ramirez would say, “You can stand up if you are wearing yellow—like a bee.” But this is the half of the school day in which she teaches completely in Spanish.

Students are not confused by her language choice. Most of the four-year-olds wearing yellow stand up as instructed. The pre-school bilingual program at Gates Street Early Education Center in Lincoln Heights is part of a growing number of bilingual education models in California and across the country. Many of them are designed to serve students from Spanish-speaking families, as well as students from other cultures, under growing evidence that learning two languages can help people from all backgrounds become stronger students.

About 3.8 million students in U.S. schools are native Spanish speakers who are not good at English. They make up a large part of about five million students nationwide identified as English language learners. English language learners are the fastest-growing population in schools and the lowest-performing, as judged by achievement tests and graduation rates. Sixty-seven percent of students with limited English skills graduated from high school after four years in 2016, compared with 84% of all students.

Language experts recommend how to improve the situation: more high-quality, long-term bilingual programs can close the achievement gap between English learners and native English Speakers after five to six years, according to research.

The programs can be hard to put into practice. Problems include a debate over the best way to teach English learners, shortages of bilingual teachers, and even the fact that bilingual programs often grow fastest in areas where upper-income parents ask for them. That’s good for children who participate, but it worries people who want to see language-minority students have equal access.

“If we can make children feel more ready and more accepted, then we’ve gone a long way to making them ready to learn, ” says Tara Fortune, an expert in children education.

1.How do the pre-school children react after hearing Rosa Ramirez's words?

A.They all stand up and try to catch bees.

B.Most children in yellow stand up as she asks.

C.They are all happy to wear new yellow clothes.

D.A large number of the children are confused.

2.What is the purpose of bilingual education models in America?

A.To help students from other cultures study.

B.To help students learn as many languages as they can.

C.To make English popular among students abroad.

D.To make students from other backgrounds physically stronger.

3.What is the situation of students who are native Spanish speakers, according to the passage?

A.They make up a small share of English language learners.

B.Sixteen percent of them fail to graduate every year on average.

C.They perform relatively poorly in studies.

D.84% of them can graduate with good scores.

4.What is the bilingual program like?

A.It is not accepted by rich families from other cultures.

B.It is not a good thing if it lasts for the whole life of students.

C.It is common in schools with students from different backgrounds.

D.It is hard to introduce especially with language-minority students.

Answer

1.B

2.A

3.C

4.D

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。文章主要介绍了美国计划实施双语教育模式，说明了这一模式的目的是为了帮助来自其他文化的学生学习。同时介绍了美国目前母语为西班牙语的学生在学习中的表现，以及这项计划实施还存在的问题。

1.

细节理解题。根据第二段中Most of the four-year-olds wearing yellow stand up as instructed.可知大多数穿黄色衣服的四岁孩子都按照指示站了起来。由此可知，学龄前儿童听到Rosa Ramirez的话后，大多数穿黄色衣服的孩子都站了起来。故选B。

2.

推理判断题。根据第二段中Many of them are designed to serve students from Spanish-speaking families, as well as students from other cultures, under growing evidence that learning two languages can help people from all backgrounds become stronger students.可知越来越多的证据表明，学习两种语言可以帮助来自不同背景的人成为更优秀的学生，其中许多课程是为来自西班牙语家庭和其他文化背景的学生设计的。由此可推知，美国双语教育模式的目的是帮助来自其他文化的学生学习。故选A。

3.

推理判断题。根据第三段中About 3.8 million students in U.S. schools are native Spanish speakers who are not good at English. They make up a large part of about five million students nationwide identified as English language learners. English language learners are the fastest-growing population in schools and the lowest-performing, as judged by achievement tests and graduation rates.可知美国学校中约有380万学生的母语是西班牙语，但他们的英语水平不高。在全美约500万被认定为英语学习者的学生中，他们占了很大一部分。从成绩测试和毕业率来看，英语学习者是学校中增长最快的群体，也是成绩最低的群体。由此可推知，母语为西班牙语的学生在学习中表现相对较差。故选C。

4.

细节理解题。根据倒数第二段中The programs can be hard to put into practice.(这些计划可能很难付诸实践)和That’s good for children who participate, but it worries people who want to see language-minority students have equal access.(这对参与的孩子来说是好事，但它让那些希望看到语言少数族裔学生有平等机会的人感到担忧)可知由此可知，双语课程很难引入，尤其是对语言少数民族的学生。故选D。