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Topic 5 School Life (学校生活)
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What we can see in the picture are a man without official uniform, a
hand in the top right and two Chinese characters bamian in the left
bottom. As is known to us all, the primary and senior middle school
students also paid for their schooling in past China. Many children
dropped out from school. However, in the past few years the Chinese
government has called off the rural compulsory education charges.
Therefore, the financial burden of the family is reduced and it is
possible for all children throughout the country, especially in the rural
mountainous area, to enjoy equal education.
基础篇
Passage 1
◎题材：学校介绍◎体裁：记叙文◎关键词：school
◎词数：342 ◎建议时间：6分钟◎正确率：/5
At first, there were no schools for children in the colonies. Boys and girls had to learn from their parents at home. However, not all parents could read or write.
The first schools in New England were called "dame schools," because housewives were teachers. Children gathered in their homes to learn reading, writing and spelling.
Public schools were started in New England in 1647. A new law was passed that every town of fifty or more families had to establish a grade school. A town with one hundred or more families had to have a high school, too.
Grade schools in New England were little log buildings. All of the children learned together in one room. Some students sat on wooden benches and studied quietly. At the same time, other students stood near the wall reciting their lessons. For textbooks, they used only the Bible and the New England Primer, which contained spelling words, short poems, and questions about the Bible.
Schoolhouses had no light except the light from the fireplace. All students had to bring wood for the fireplace, and if they did not, they had to sit farthest from it. The schoolmaster was very strict and whipped students if they made mistakes or did not behave well. They attended classes from seven or eight in the morning to four or five in the afternoon, Monday through Saturday.
Every church had its own school in New Netherland. These schools were supported mainly by the government, but wealthy parents paid a small fee. Most boys and girls attended these schools. However, when English people took over the colony, they stopped the government support.
Southern colonies established few schools. People lived far apart, and they did not think learning was important. Wealthy parents who wanted to educate their children hired tutors from England, but no one educated poor children.
During colonial times, only men went to college. Sons of wealthy Southern colonists studied at universities in England. There were also nine colleges in the colonies, most of which were started by churches to train ministers. Some of these later became famous universities.
1. Why did the “dame school” get its name?
A. For its teachers.
B. For its founders.
