Question

【题目】Read the passage and answer the following questions. （回答问题）：

When it comes to the letter grade on your test or homework, you might notice that there is no letter (字母) E. Have you ever thought about why that is so?

In the A, B, C, D and F grading system, the first four letters are considered passing grades. An F in this system simply stands for “fail”. The word “fail” happens to start with the letter F, which seems to leave out the letter E. However, E grade actually has been used pretty commonly throughout the history of letter grades in the US.

The first college in the US to use a letter grading system like the ones we use today is Mount Holyoke College. In 1897, they began to use the following grading scale:

A: 95-100% (excellent) B: 85-94% (good) C: 76-84% (fair)

D: 75% (barely passed) E: below 75% (failed)

We can see the E grade instead of F grade.

Gradually, the letter grading system became more popular throughout the US. Later, many schools decided to change the E grade and into the F grade. There is no evidence (证据) to really support this, but one possible explanation is that teachers were worried that some students and parents might mistake E for “excellent”.

Why do we have letter grades? Well, part of the reason is that they made grading simpler. As the 20th century began, school classrooms became bigger. Most teachers at that time thought this new letter grading system was an easy, fair and clear way to grade students.

Today, more and more people argue that letter grades don’t fully reflect (反映) student learning. However, as teachers try to improve grading methods, many parents still prefer the letter grades because they are familiar and easy for parents to understand. Although they might not be perfect, the letter grades probably aren’t going away any time soon.

【1】It there a letter E in the grading system now?

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【2】What does an F stand for in the A.B.C.D and F grading system?

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【3】When was the letter grading system first used in the US college?

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【4】What is the one of the possible reasons for changing the E grade and into the F grade?

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【5】How did most teachers like the letter grading system in the 20th century?

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【6】Do you want to get letter grades or number scores on your test or homework? Why?

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Answer 1

【答案】

【1】No, there isn’t.

【2】It stands for “fail”.

【3】In 1897.

【4】Teachers were worried that some students and parents might mistake E for “excellent”.

【5】They thought it was an easy, fair and clear way to grade students.

【6】I want to get letter grades. Because they are easy for my parents to understand. /

I want to get number scores. Because they can fully reflect my learning.

I want to get neither. Because neither of them is perfect. I want to make them better.

【解析】

本文主要讲了判定测试或作业的字母等级方法，详细地介绍了字母代表的含义，以及人们对这种判定方法的看法等。

【1】题干问：现在评分系统里有E吗？根据文中“When it comes to the letter grade on your test or homework, you might notice that there is no letter E.”可知，现在评分系统里没有E，故填No, there isn't.

【2】题干问：F在A.B.C.D和F评分系统里代表什么？根据文中“An F in this system simply stands for ‘fail’.”可知，F代表不及格，故填It stands for “fail”.

【3】题干问：美国大学什么时候开始使用字母评分系统？根据文中“In 1897, they began to use the following grading scale.”可知，是在1897年，故填In 1897.

【4】题干问：把E级改为F级什么是可能的原因之一？根据文中“but one possible explanation is that teachers were worried that some students and parents might mistake E for ‘excellent’.”可知老师们担心一些学生和家长会把E误认为“优秀”，故填Teachers were worried that some students and parents might mistake E for “excellent”.

【5】题干问：大多数老师觉得20世纪的字母评分系统怎么样？根据文中“Most teachers at that time thought this new letter grading system was an easy, fair and clear way to grade students.”可知，大多数老师认为这种新的字母评分系统是一种简单、公平、清晰的学生评分方法，故填They thought it was an easy, fair and clear way to grade students.

【6】题干问：你想在考试或家庭作业中得到字母分数还是数字分数？本题属于开放性试题，言之有理即可。参考答案：I want to get letter grades. Because they are easy for my parents to understand. / I want to get number scores. Because they can fully reflect my learning./ I want to get neither. Because neither of them is perfect. I want to make them better.

做题时首先对原文材料迅速浏览，掌握全文的主旨大意。其次，细读题材，各个击破。掌握全文的大意之后，细读材料后的问题，弄清每题要求后带着问题再回到原文中去寻找，捕获有关信息。