Question

BOURNEMOOUTH, England-lazy parents who refuse to force their truant(逃学的) children to attend school could face heavier fines under new measures announced by the British Government.

Fines would be more than double from 1,000 to 2,500 pounds (US $ 1,640 to 4,100) per parent per child --- or, 5,000 per couple, Education Secretary Davis Blunkett told the Labour Party conference in Bournemouth.

Failure to ensure full attendance could become an arrestable offence, ensuring that parents who break the law would need to attend court and not just be fined in their absence.

At the moment, 80 per cent of parents prosecuted (告发) by local education officials do not show up at the court hearing. It is said that 60 such prosecutions are undertaken each year by the officials, in an effort to deal with the trend that has seen 16 million half-day sessions at school missed yearly, according to figures provided by the Department of Education.

Blunkett called for a “partnership” between parents, school and communities (a group of people living together).

But the plan did not get support from all.

Liberal Democrat Education spokesman Don Foster said the plan was “a further example of the government announcing simplistic solutions to complex problems.”

“Many truant school children are already beyond the control of parents. Such parents need help, not fines,” he explained.

Margaret Morrisey, a spokesman for National Confederation of Parent Teacher Association, also said heavier fines for lazy parents was not the answer to truancy.

“Careful parents accept their part in ensuring their children get to school and sometimes it is difficult for them to control whether they stay there.”

As for the others, “Fining them more will not change the situation,” she said.

1．It is clear that pupils’ absence from school without any reasons ________.

       A．is very reasonable in England

       B．is against the law in England

       C．is nothing serious in England

       D．attracts parents’ attention in England

2．The reason that the British government raised fines is that _________.

       A．it is the best way to solve the problem

       B．the pupils’ parents are too careless

       C．the number of truant children is large

       D．the teachers required the government to do so

3．According to Don Foster’s opinion, heavier fines on parents are _________.

       A．reasonable           B．unreasonable        C．too strict             D．foolish

4．Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?

       A．It is school’s duty to ensure children’s full attendance.

       B．It is parents’ duty to ensure the children’s full attendance.

       C．The Government plays the most important part in teaching children.

       D．Teaching children needs help from parents and communities.

Answer 1

BCBD