Holidays are really important. Many of us will have childhood memories of summer holidays where we were taken away from home to experience new environments and learn in different ways.
But holidays are expensive and, for those on low wages or living on benefits, they are often unobtainable. Even the cheapest holidays require travel and other additional costs that are difficult for many families to meet.
For working parents, the long summer break can be a very difficult problem for childcare. When an annual leave allowance amounts to only five weeks, there is a need to spread this across the year. Couples can find themselves taking leave in turn in order to care for children who are on holiday. For some ’ this makes even an affordable family holiday difficult.
The schools that I visit in Nottingham are full of experienced staff committed to giving our children a caring and inspiring learning environment. The number of children receiving free school meals is quite large in Nottingham and many schools have breakfast clubs to make sure that children get a healthy start to the day. Most schools undertake programs of group or individual educational support. Schools also have an important role in sofeguaiding children's welfare through the ongoing touch and support with their pupils. During the long summer holidays, much of this is missed.
While teachers are holidaying in the UK, many of their pupils spend the whole six weeks on the street where they live. The lack of free school meals for six weeks can result in pressure on a family budget and an inability to afford the inspiring experiences that help children to continue their learning.
In setting out its plans for a five-term year, Nottingham City Council (委員會)is seeking to reduce the summer holiday down lo four and a half weeks, with a more balanced five terms of roughly eight weeks, each followed by a two-week break. We believe this will give real “down time" for school staff and pupils alike but will be short enough not to cause a real break in learning.
We acknowledge that this change may be difficult for some school staff, particularly whose own children are educated in other authorities. However, this must be weighed against the benefits for city children for whom we all have the greatest duty of care.
小題1: The passage is probably written by   .
A.a(chǎn)n experienced teacherB.a(chǎn) working parent
C.a(chǎn)n inspired studentD.a(chǎn) city council member
小題2:The underlined word "they" in the second paragraph refers to "  ’.
A.environmentsB.holidaysC.wagesD.benefits
小題3:It is suggested in the passage that the summer break be reduced to.
A.2 weeksB.4.5 weeksC.5 weeksD.6 weeks
小題4:The plans for a shorter summer holiday will help students_____ .
A.obtain the cheapest holidays without additional costs
B.get a chance to spend six weeks a term with teachers in school
C.benefit more from the caring and inspiring learning environment
D.have more school days to receive free school meals
小題5:It can be inferred from the passage that   _______.
A.working parents can enjoy a five-week break to care for their children
B.the suggested plans for a five-term school year can hardly be carried out
C.the long summer holiday gives teachers and students real "down time"
D.some school staff will say “ No" to the plans for a shorter summer holiday

小題1:D
小題2:B
小題3:B
小題4:C
小題5:D
減少假期問題——一一議論文類
【文章大意】假期使我們放松并去一些地方去游玩,使我們釋放壓力,但是對于一些低收入家庭或靠救濟而過活的家庭來說造成很多的經(jīng)濟負擔,本文提倡在不影響學生學習的前提下減少假期的時間。
小題1:推理判斷題。根據(jù)倒數(shù)第二段第一句話的口氣可知作者是City Council的一名成員,D項正確。
小題2:詞義猜測題。根據(jù)上文提到的holidays are expensive可知they指的是holidays,本句意為:假期是非常貴的,對于那些低收入或靠救濟來過活的家庭的人來說,假期是獲得不到的。
小題3:細節(jié)理解題。
小題4:細節(jié)理解題。根據(jù)倒數(shù)第二段第一句話Nottingham City Council (委員會)is seeking to reduce the summer holiday down lo four and a half weeks,可知答案。
小題5:推理判斷題。根據(jù)第二段第一句話We acknowledge that this change may be difficult for some school staff, particularly whose own children are educated in other authorities.可知答案為D項,對于減少假期的時間學校的一些教職工是不支持的。
【長難句解析】We acknowledge that this change may be difficult for some school staff, particularly whose own children are educated in other authorities.
我們承認這個改變對于一些教職工尤其是對于家里的孩子在其他機關接受教育的家庭來說是很難接受的,。
首先本句中that引導的是賓語從句,whose引導的定語從句,先行詞為school staff。
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小題2:
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小題3:
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The Weekly Radio Concert
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Ticket Price (RMB): 50, 40, 30 yuan
Ticket State: On Sale Now
Booking Office: No. 272 Fengxian Road
Booking Hotline: 62172426, 62173055
Conductor: Chen Shouchang
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2. Under the Silver Light (Xinjiang folk song)  Arranged by Yang Hua
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Ⅲ. Yamabushi Kagura  (Japan)
Ⅳ. Hora  (Israel / Romania)
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Booking Hotline: 62172426, 62173055
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