B One of the strongest arguments for the raising of the school leaving age has been that it will bring us some way nearer to“equality of opportunity”. Many people like to think of our present system of schooling as providing plenty of steps up the ladder of success for clever children. It would be good to think that no one who is really bright can be missed out when the state system is obviously so complete. It is obvious, for instance, that many children from less wealthy families reach university or do well in other ways. Unfortunately we now have plenty of proofs that many children of every level of ability do much less well than they could. For instance, during the years of national military service it was possible to test the intelligence(智力) of all male 18-to-20-year-olds. Half of those soldiers who were placed in the two highest ability groups had left school at 15. It has also been shown that the percentage of working class children going to university is almost the same now as it was in 1939. One study of 5,000 children from birth to 21 years old shows that up to half of the bright pupils from working class families left school when they reached 16 years old. Moreover, there is no difference in intelligence between the ***es, but far more boys than girls stay in education after 16. It is clear from this and many other proofs that many children are still leaving school too early to benefit from the prizes—money, social respectability, and interesting jobs—which higher education gives. It is clear too that the reasons why such children leave have much to do with their social backgrounds. Their parents often need extra money another money-earner would bring in; they don’t value education for itself because their own was probably dull and unhappy. It is not so much that they force their sons and daughters to leave school, rather that they tend to say, “It’s up to you.” 25. It is hoped that the raising of the school leaving age will give all children ______. A. a more enjoyable time at school B. the same chances in society C. the right to a better school D. higher scores in intelligence tests 26. Working class children are thought to be at a disadvantage because ______. A. many of the clever ones leave school early B. fewer go to university than ever before C. more than half leave school when they are 16 D. fewer boys than girls stay at school after 16 27. Many children leave school early because ______. A. their social backgrounds make them unhappy B. they have to do something to increase their families’ income C. their school life is dull and unhappy D. their parents don’t allow them to make their own decisions 28. This article shows that equal opportunity in education ______. A. is a thing of the past B. has not yet been achieved C. is there for those who deserve it D. has greatly improved our society C Brief News Report Castle Fire Winton Castle was damaged in a fire last night. The fire, which was discovered at about 9 o’clock, spread very quickly. Nobody was injured but two people had been rescued from the upstairs room. A number of paintings are believed to have been destroyed. It isn’t known how the fire started. Shop Robbery In Paxham yesterday a shop assistant was forced to hand over 500 pounds after being threatened by a man with a knife. The man escaped in a car which had been stolen earlier in the day. The car was later found in a car park where it had been thrown away by the thief. A man in connection with the robbery has been arrested and is still being questioned by the police. Road Delays Repair work started yesterday on the Paxham-Longworth road. The road is being resurfaced and there will be long delays. Drivers are asked to choose another way if possible. The work is expected to last two weeks. Next Sunday the road will be closed and the traffic will be diverted (使车辆改道行驶). Accident A woman was taken to hospital quickly after her car collided (碰撞) with a truck near Norstock yesterday. She was allowed homelater after treatment. The road was blocked for an hour after the accident and the traffic was diverted. A police inspector said afterward, “The woman was lucky. She could have been killed.” 29. As a result of the road accident yesterday, ______. A. a lot of valuable paintings were destroyed B. five hundred pounds and a car were lost C. the traffic had to be diverted D. a woman was too lucky to kill herself 30. The man who did the robbery ______. A. was still being questioned by the police B. hasn’t been arrested yet C. was arrested in a stolen car D. is being controlled by the police 31. What do you know about the Paxham-Long-worth road? A. An accident happened there and the traffic was diverted. B. Another road was open for drivers during the road repairs. C. The road was blocked for an hour after a traffic accident. D. The surface of the road needed repairing for two weeks. 32. The woman could have been killed ______. A. if she hadn’t been taken to the hospital B. if she wasn’t allowed home after treatment C. because she was seriously injured in the traffic accident D. no matter how skillful she was in driving on the road D When you know a little or a lot about Ernesto Che Guevara, you will enjoy Brazilian director Walter Salles’ film “The Motorcycle Diaries”. It shows Guevara (1928-1967), a Cuban revolution (1953-1959) pioneer and trusted friend of Cuban leader Fidel Castro, as a young man. The movie is a description of the hardships that help form the future rebel (反叛). Or, you can simply see it as a road picture: a story of two bright, energetic young men who make their way by motorcycle and on foot across South America. Salles’ film is based on two sources: Guevara’s diaries about the trip and a description written by his traveling companion, Alberto Granado. Granado lives in Cuba and appears briefly at the end of the film. “The Motorcycle Diaries” opens in 1952 as the two friends leave Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Guevara’s loving family, aboard an old motorcycle. “This is not a story of heroic feats(功绩),” Guevara explains, “but of lives that ran along with each other for a time”. Guevara has chosen to leave one semester before completing medical school. Granado, 29, is a biochemist. They want to see something of the world. But the trip affects both of them in unexpected ways and changes their lives forever. On the road, Guevara sees miners who worked in dangerous conditions for little pay. There are also the misadventures (不幸遭遇) of the two guys on the road. These include motorcycle accidents, scenes of girl-chasing, and inventive ways to get food, drink and places to sleep. The portrait of Guevara is admiring and respectable, especially in the scenes among the hopelessly diseased people. He is shown to be a natural leader who determined to use his life “to make a difference” in a world where he sees injustice everywhere. 33. The two young men made their way across South America to ______. A. enjoy the beautiful scenery B. cure the diseases of poor people C. find a suitable way to rebuild Cuba D. know the world well 34. The film “The Motorcycle Diaries” ______. A. is about Cuban revolution B. arouses the interests of American audience C. describes Guevara’s way of success D. is connected with why Guevara took up revolution 35. The fourth paragraph mainly tells us ______. A. people in those days lived a hard life B. what happened to the two travellers on the road C. how Guevara felt at the sight of the scene D. the world is unsafe 36. The author thinks Guevara ______. A. has the gift of a leader B. is respected among the poor on their way C. should have given the hopelessly diseased people more help D. is handsome