9.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 safeguarding 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 (委员会)is seeking to reduce the summer holiday down to 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.
21.The passage is probably written byD.
A.an experienced teacher
B.a working parent
C.an inspired student
D.a city council member
22.The underlined word"they"in the second paragraph refers to"B".
A.environments
B.holidays
C.wages
D.benefits
23.It is suggested in the passage that the summer break be reduced toB.
A.2weeks
B.4.5weeks
C.5weeks
D.6weeks
24.The plans for a shorter summer holiday will help studentsC.
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
25.It can be inferred from the passage thatD.
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.
分析 本文是一篇说明文.假期使我们放松并去一些地方去游玩,使我们释放压力,但是对于一些低收入家庭或靠救济而过活的家庭来说造成很多的经济负担,文章讲述了是否应该缩短学生暑假的问题.主要介绍了英国诺丁汉城市委员会把学生假期缩短至4.5周的计划. 文章提倡在不影响学生学习的前提下减少假期的时间.
解答 21-25 D B B C D
21.D 考查推理判断.根据文章倒数第二段中的"Insetting out its plans for a five-term year,Nottingham City Council (委员会)is seeking to reduce the summer holiday down to fourand a half weeks,with a more balanced five terms of roughly eight weeks,eachfollowed by a two-week break."可知,关于放假的问题是Nottingham CityCouncil探讨的事情,所以这篇文章应该是一名委员会成员写的.故选D.
22.B 考查词义猜测.根据文章第二段中的"But holidays are expensive and,for those on low wages or living on benefits,theyare often unobtainable."可知,前面句子的主语是"holidays",代词"they"应该指"holidays".故选B.
23.B 考查细节理解.根据文章倒数第二段中的"Insetting out its plans for a five-term year,Nottingham City Council (委员会)is seeking to reduce the summer holiday down to fourand a half weeks,with a more balanced five terms of roughly eight weeks,eachfollowed by a two-week break."可知,假期降到4.5周.故选B.
24.C 考查细节理解.根据文章倒数第三段中的"The lack of free school meals for six weeks can result in pressure on a family budgetand an inability to afford the inspiring experiences that help children tocontinue their learning."可知,没有了学校的免费食物,家庭预算吃紧,孩子们也难以在积极地指导下继续学习,因此D正确,故选C.
25.D 考查推理判断.根据文章最后一段中的"We acknowledge that this change may be difficult for some school staff,particularly whose own children are educated in other authorities.However,thismust be weighed against the benefits for city children for whom we all have thegreatest duty of care."可知,对于减少假期的时间学校的一些教职工是不支持的.故选D.
点评 解答细节理解题时,一个常用的方法就是运用定位法,即根据题干和选项中的关键词从原文中找到相关的句子,与选项进行比较从而确定答案;推理判断题既要求学生透过文章表面文字信息推测文章隐含意思,又要求学生对作者的态度、意图及文章细节的发展作正确的推理判断,力求从作者的角度去考虑,不要固守自己的看法或观点.