Question

【題目】Parents in Spain are being urged to go on a weekend homework strike this month in protest against the unacceptable amount of after-school tasks their children are given.The homework load of Spanish children has long been a sore point with some parents,who argue that the burden is too great,places too much pressure on pupils and eats into family time.

According to a study by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD),Spanish 15-year-olds have 6.5 hours of homework a Week compared with an average of 4.9 across the 38 OECD countries. The Spanish Confederation of Associations of Mothers and Fathers of Students (Ceapa) is calling on parents whose children attend Spanish state schools to boycott weekend homework in November.

"We've lost a bit of common sense in this country when it comes to talking about education and we've got a system in which boys' and girls' free time has disappeared",said Jos Luis Pazos,president of Ceapa."Schools are passing on tasks to families that they shouldn't be.It starts with children from the ages of three to six doing half an hour's homework every day.For us,that's an unacceptable situation".

Pazos said Ceapa disagreed with the belief that children should endure huge amounts of homework in the hope that it would ensure them a better future.They should be.happy when they're little and that life isn't just about someone telling you that you have to suffer inexplicably（難以理解地）.The model needs to change because society has changed.

Schoolchildren have to fit their homework around the school day,which varies from region to region and school to school,but starts early from around 8 am or 9 am and finishes anywhere between 2 pm and 5 pm.However,schools are increasingly using an 8 am-2 pm timetable to save money and in the face of evidence that suggests the longer hours do not yield better results.

A spokesman for the education department of Madrid said homework was a matter for individual schools rather than regional governments.They're the ones who know best what the need is in each case.

【1】Why are parents in Spain being called on to go on a strike?

A. To stop school violence.

B. To ask for longer school time.

C. To say no to heavy homework load.

D. To request equal education for their kids.

【2】Which of the following would Ceapa agree to?

A. Longer school hours will ensure better grades.

B. Happiness is the most important thing for a child.

C. Huge amounts of homework means a better future.

D. The 8 am-2 pm timetable is suitable for most children.

【3】Which of the following should be responsible for students' homework according to the spokesman?

A. Ceapa. B. The OECD.

C. Regional governments. D. Each individual school.

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】C

【2】B

【3】D

【解析】本文從西班牙父母抗議孩子們的課后作業(yè)負擔太重這個事件，來引出并講述西班牙教育的現(xiàn)狀及問題。西班牙的一個聯(lián)合會認為孩子應該度過一個幸福的童年，教育部負責人認為，家庭作業(yè)是私立學校的事而不是地方政府所負責。

【1】C．細節(jié)理解題。根據文章第一段“Parents in Spain are being urged to go on a weekend homework strike this month in protest against the unacceptable amount of after-school tasks their children are given”可知，西班牙的父母認為孩子的課后負擔太重，因此提出抗議。故選C。

【2】B．細節(jié)理解題。根據文章第四段“Pazos said Ceapa disagreed with the belief that children should endure huge amounts of homework in the hope that it would ensure them a better future.They should be.happy when they're little”可知，Ceapa認為，孩子們在小時候應該幸福開心的生活。故選B。

【3】D．細節(jié)理解題。根據文章最后一段“A spokesman for the education department of Madrid said homework was a matter for individual schools rather than regional governments”可知，這位發(fā)言人認為，家庭作業(yè)是私立學校的事而不是地方政府的事。故選D。