Question

With the popularity of Harry Potter novels, the number of children applying to boarding schools has risen, many of them hoping to find their own version of Hogwarts. However, others have interpreted this trend as a reaction to longer working hours and the break up of more marriages. The boarding schools of fiction are presented as one long midnight feast with pillow fights making firm friendships. However, some people say the reality is children having more homesickness and a lack of individual attention. Modern boarding schools have done much to get rid of the image of the mass dormitories with 40 or more beds in one room, some going as far as providing private rooms with bathrooms. Similarly, they make great announcements for their academic advantage, particularly in light of the increase in exams, homework and university entrance requirements facing children wishing to succeed in the modern world.

Alongside these more conventional schools, two types of boarding schools have also become more popular recently. Sports academies and stage schools seek to cater for children with particular interests and talents, while so-called troubled-teens have been able to turn to a range of religious or wilderness schools to solve their problematic behavior.

Boarding schools allow children a safe space in which to accomplish greater control and independence over their daily lives. Teachers and staff can look after and support but they are unlikely to be over-protective. This can be a great preparation for university or for working away from home in later life as it provides an intermediate step between childhood and full independence.

However, parents are a child’s most natural support and best role models to learn from. If they are separated from them for long periods of time, this may damage their relationship and leave the child feeling anxious or alone. Schools are unlikely to be able to copy the detailed knowledge of each individual child that a parent has and therefore cannot be as effective in supporting the child.

To sum up, boarding schools have both their advantages and disadvantages, so it is up to you to decide whether to send your children to boarding schools or not.

1.What do we know from the passage? 

A．More and more children go and visit Hogwarts on their own.

B．Pillow fights in boarding schools make firm friendships in reality.

C．More children want to go to boarding schools because of Harry Potter novels.

D．There aren’t special schools for the particularly talented children.

2.What kind of schools may be the most suitable for the so-called troubled-teens?

A．sports academies                       B．Wilderness schools

C．Conventional schools                    D．Stage schools

3.We learn from Paragraph 4 that __________. 

A．teachers of boarding schools are the best examples for children to learn from

B．children can be more independent if they are separated from their parents

C．parents know their children better than teachers of boarding schools

D．schools are much more effective than parents in supporting children

4.What is the author’s opinion of boarding schools?  

A．Neutral （中立的） B．Negative          C．Positive           D．Critical

 

Answer 1

【答案】

1.C

2.B

3.C

4.A

【解析】

试题分析：本文作者分析了两种寄宿学校，和寄宿学校的优缺点，一方面可以培养孩子的独立性，但另一方面因为离开父母，不利于孩子的发展。

1.细节理解题。 根据第一段 With the popularity of Harry Potter novels, the number of children applying to boarding schools has risen, 可知选C。

2.细节理解题。 根据第二段 while so-called troubled-teens have been able to turn to a range of religious or wilderness schools to solve their problematic behavior. 可知选B。

3. 推理判断题 根据第四段Schools are unlikely to be able to copy the detailed knowledge of each individual child that a parent has and therefore cannot be as effective in supporting the child.可推断选C。

4.作者态度题。 根据最后一段To sum up, boarding schools have both their advantages and disadvantages 可判断，作者的态度是中立的。 选A。

考点：考查教育类短文

点评：本文主旨鲜明,很容易在文中找到答案。做题时要注意文章的首段和每一段的首句或尾句，因为它们往往就是文章的主题句。阅读中要注意要点之间的关系。然后带着问题，再读全文，找出答题所需要的依据，完成阅读任务。作者态度题的考查需要考生从作者的语气中体会作者的真实想法。