Question

In New Britain, Connecticut, a new official in charge of schools named Kelt Cooper wants to end high truancy (逃學) rates among public school students, and he’s suggesting financial punishments to get job done. A plan to fine students up to $75 for each day they skip school is now being considered by New Britain authorities.

The concept of fining kids for skipping school may come as a shock, but it’s not new. In Ohio, the parents responsible for a student guilty of habitual truancy can be fined up to $500 and/or be required to perform up to 70 hours of community service. Until recently, students in Los Angeles could be hit with a $250 punishment for each count of truancy; in early 2012 the law was changed and the heavy fines were removed, though a $20 punishment may still be handed out if a student truants for the third time.

Fines for truancy are also in effect overseas. In the UK, The Guardian reports, parents can be fined ￡50 (about $80) per skipped school day. The punishment doubles if it’s not paid within 28 days.

The question is: Do fines like this work? The vast majority of authorities in the UK said that, indeed, they do. The fines were believed either “very successful” or “fairly successful” by 79% in reducing truancy, according to a survey.

If the plan is passed in Connecticut, it’s unclear how effective the law might be, how to make parents and students obey the law and what might happen if they refuse to pay. However, local officials seem to be willing to give it a shot. According to the Hartford Courant:

“The mayor agrees that truancy is a real issue in New Britain schools, and what’s been done in the past hasn’t been working to reduce truancy.” said Phil Sherwood, assistant to Mayor Timothy O’ Brien.

And what do the students think? In the New Britain Herald, one 17-year-old entering her senior year called the plan “ridiculous” and predicted that the punishments will bring about negative effects on the court system. Besides, “I don’t see the point,” she said. “Kids will just try harder not to get caught.”

1. The passage mainly discusses whether __________.

A．schools have the right to punish students

B．authorities should consider protecting kids

C．students should be fined for skipping school

D．parents are responsible for children’s truancy

2. If a British kid skips two school days and fails to pay fines in a month, the punishment will be __________.

A．two hundred pounds                    B．fifty pounds

C．eighty pounds                          D．a hundred pounds

3. We can learn from the passage that ___________.

A．truancy is a serious problem in New Britain

B．Cooper’s plan has been passed in Connecticut

C．fining kids for truancy is a new idea in America

D．little has been done to reduce truancy in New Britain

4. The underlined part “give it a shot” most probably means _____________.

A．get used to it                           B．help improve it

C．try to carry it out                        D．fight against it

 

Answer 1

【答案】

1.C

2.A

3.A

4.C

【解析】

試題分析：這篇文章討論是否要對逃課的學生罰款。罰款的金額和是否可以奏效。

1.主旨題：從第一段的句子：A plan to fine students up to $75 for each day they skip school is now being considered by New Britain authorities.可知這篇文章討論是否要對逃課的學生罰款。選C。

2.計算題：從第四段的句子：The Guardian reports, parents can be fined ￡50 (about $80) per skipped school day. The punishment doubles if it’s not paid within 28 days.可知是50x2x2=200，選A

3.細節題：從倒數第二段的句子：The mayor agrees that truancy is a real issue in New Britain schools, and what’s been done in the past hasn’t been working to reduce truancy.”可知逃學是個很大的問題。選A

4.猜詞題：從前面的句子：how to make parents and students obey the law and what might happen if they refuse to pay.可知雖然不確定父母學生是否會遵守法規，但還是會實施。選C

考點：教育類短文閱讀。

點評：這篇文章討論是否要對逃課的學生罰款。罰款的金額和是否可以奏效。文章的主旨大意即是文章的中心思想。做閱讀理解題首先要明確文章的中心意思，只有明確了中心意思，那么做閱讀理解的試題才能做到游刃有余。閱讀理解的主旨大意題其實主要考查考生把握全文內容或理解文章中心思想的能力以及分析歸納文章段落大意、重要情節、人物特征和寫作特點等方面的能力。文章的主旨大意明確了，若還具備分析長難句的能力，難的試題也會迎刃而解。