单选题 A parent with a child carrying a musical instrument or a drawing board walking along a Beijing subway platform or street is a familiar sight on weekends. They are on the way to training schools.
Education of their children has become the most important responsibility of parents who were sent to rural areas for "re-education" during the "Cultural Revolution" from 1966 to 1976.
They lost the chance for university education and now hope their children can receive a better education than they did. As a result, these people now in their forties expose their little children to early training so that they can enter a prestigious school.
The parents imagine a road to success: from excellent primary and middle schools to an elite university and then to a good job. On average, they may spend about 100 yuan a month on their children's education.
And what results have these parents obtained?
Most of them feel that the large investment has failed to lead to rapid progress in their children's study. "We seem to be throwing our money away," said one parent.
However, many parents still think that spending more on their children's schooling will result in high scores. These parents have also introduced a "contract system", which offers rewards for good school grades. More than 80% of parents in families in Chengdu have signed contracts with their children, according to the Consumers' Times. The paper notes that the heavy pressure put on children to perform well at school has resulted in a decline in children's health.
The parents' investment in their children also includes hiring tutors. A survey of 250 students in Xuzhou found that 10% of their parents hired tutors. The pay for one tutorial hour is three yuan.
Liberation Daily commented that these parents have too high expectations of their children. According to the article, "They are trying to help the young plants grow by pulling them upwards." They ignore their children's psychology and perhaps will damage the real talents the children possess.
单选题 Parents in their forties want their children to get the best education because
  • A.the parents missed out on their own education when they were young.
  • B.it is their responsibility to help their children.
  • C.their children are cleverer than they were.
  • D.they don't want them to go to the rural areas.
【正确答案】 A
【答案解析】[解析] 文章第三段：They lost the chance for university education and now hope their children can receive a better education than they did。
单选题 In the parents' view, entry to a good university depends upon
  • A.having some early art training.
  • B.attending the best primary and middle schools.
  • C.getting a good job.
  • D.the parents' prestige and position.
【正确答案】 B
【答案解析】[解析] 第四段：The parents imagine a road to success, from excellent primary and middle schools to all elite university and then to a good job。
单选题 The "contract system" is
  • A.a method of university entry.
  • B.a way of encouraging children to work hard.
  • C.an agreement between children and their teachers.
  • D.a way of guaranteeing the young people a good job.
【正确答案】 B
【答案解析】[解析] 第七段：These parents have also introduced a "contract system", which offers rewards for good school grades.由此可知，父母的本意是让孩子努力学习得高分。
单选题 In the Xuzhou survey, how many children have extra private lessons?
  • A.250.
  • B.25.
  • C.10.
  • D.3.
【正确答案】 B
【答案解析】[解析] 文章第八段：A survey of 250 students in Xuzhou found that 10%of their parents hired tutors.徐州做的一份调查表明，10%的父母为孩子请家教。因此250名学生也就是10%的孩子需补课，250×10%=25。
单选题 What is the Chinese newspapers' attitude to the parents described in this article?
  • A.Sympathetic.
  • B.Critical.
  • C.Approving.
  • D.Neutral.
【正确答案】 B
【答案解析】[解析] 报纸对父母的做法持什么态度?第七段最后一行：according to the consumers' times. The paper notes that the heavy pressure put on children to perform well at school has resulted in a decline in children's health.根据《消费时报》报道，父母加于孩子压力，让孩子们在学校里表现出色，这种沉重的压力导致孩子们身体健康下降。最后一段第一行：Liberation Daily commented that these parents have too high expectations of their children. They are trying to help the young plants grow by pulling them upwards. They ignore their children's psychology and perhaps will damage the real talents the children possess.《解放日报》评论说，父母对孩子的期望太高。他们等于是在拔苗助长，忽视孩子的心理健康，可能会破坏孩子们真正的天分。由此可知，报纸对父母的做法是持批判态度的。