Question

A new report says only about half of all students in the main school systems of America’s largest cities finish high school.The report notes higher rates of graduation—more than seventy percent—in areas surrounding the cities.

The Editorial Projects in Education Research Center prepared the report.

Researchers studied high school graduation rates from the two thousand three，two thousand four school year.They also identified the nation’s fifty largest cities.The largest，New York City，had a population of more than eight million.The smallest city was Wichita，Kansas.It had about three hundred sixty thousand people.

Researchers used a system of measurement called the growing promotion index to find graduation rates.School officials in many of the cities studied say the resulting numbers were too low.That is because different areas use different methods to find graduation rates.Critics say many methods do not give a true picture of the number of students who leave high school before finishing.

Other studies have put the national graduation rate at about seventy percent.But experts agree that too many students are not completing high school.They estimate the number at more than one million each year.

The report was prepared for America’s Promise Alliance.The private group aims to help children receive services they need to succeed.

General Colin Powell was chairman of America’s Promise Alliance when it was formed in nineteen ninety­seven.He attended the press conference Tuesday where the report was released.He said studies have shown that the United States must do more to educate the leaders and work force of the future.

Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings also spoke.She said the government will propose that states use the same methods when reporting graduation rates.Alliance officials also announced the start of a nationwide campaign to improve graduation rates.It is to include a series of meetings to be held in every state over the next two years.The meetings will bring together elected leaders，business owners，students，parents and education officials.They will develop plans to increase the number of Americans who finish high school.

68．From the first paragraph，we can know________.

A．Most of the students in America don’t like to finish high school

B．Most of the students in areas surrounding the cities are willing to finish high school

C．American people don’t care about the education of their children

D．High schools in American aren’t good places to study in

69．Experts agree that the national graduation rate is lower than______.

A．70%                                                  B．80% 

C．50%                                                  D．40%

70．Which of following statements is TRUE?

A．America’s Promise Alliance prepared the new report for the Editorial Projects.

B．The resulting numbers of the new report are different from other studies.

C．General Colin Powell is chairman of America’s Promise Alliance.

D．Margaret Spellings didn’t attend the press conference Tuesday.

Answer 1

68．B　推理判断题。文章的第一段所给的两个数字，一是美国大城市的学生高中毕业率仅为50%，在他们周边地区的高中毕业率是70%多，从此我们可以得出周边地区的学生愿意读完高中的结论，因此B项正确。A说大多数美国学生不喜欢读完高中，与数字不符；C，D的说法从第一段中不能看出，是片面的说法。

69．A　推理判断题。根据文章的第四段的理解可知由其他报告说全国的高中生毕业率大约在70%左右，但是专家们却认为太多的学生没有完成高中学业，因此我们可以推断专家所认为的高中毕业率会低于70%。

70．B　细节理解题。根据文章的第六段的第一句可知A错误；由文章开始知道这个新报告说高中毕业率是50%，由第四段的第一句可知其他的报告说的数字是大约70%，所以是不同的，因此B正确；由倒数第二段的第一句可知他现在不是主席了所以C错误；由最后一段第一句可知他出席了记者招待会，所以D错误。