继教院英语综合教程期末阅读复习资料

1 继教院英语综合教程期末阅读复习资料(2012.12)

Passage 1

The accessibility (易接近) of clean water is one of the most important components in the

health of young children. In many areas, disease caused by dirty water is a major cause of poor

health and death among young children. This is a particular problem in rural areas, where sources

of water may not be reliable, and neither the quantity nor the quality of the water is adequate.

In recent years, many programs to improve the quality of water supplies in rural areas have

been implemented (贯彻). These have included educating people about health and encouraging

greater community involvement. In addition, many countries have improved the organization of

government health control and technical services at both the national and local levels. Health

control includes the establishment of regulations as well as close supervision and enforcement（实施）. Technical services, on the other hand, comprise（包含）a wide range of activities. These

include providing supplies such as pumps, water pipes, and well-drilling equipment in addition to

the training of people to operate and maintain this equipment. Technicians also help to organize

the people of the community to build water supply projects. While access to pure water continues

to be a problem in many parts of the world, programs such as these have contributed greatly to the

general improvement of health in rural areas.

1. According to the passage, the main cause of poor health and death is __________.

A. dirty water

B. quantity of water

C. disease caused by dirty water

D. sources of water

2. It is stated in the passage that in remote areas, __________.

A. the quality of water is adequate

B. the supply of water is adequate

C. sources of water are adequate

D. both the quantity and quality of water are not adequate

3. According to the passage, the technical services include __________.

A. providing supplies such as pumps, water pipe and well-drilling equipment

B. establishment of regulation

C. training of people to operate and maintain this equipment

D. both A and C

4. In this passage, the word “supervision” (Line 5, Para 2) means __________.

A. expansion B. inspection

C. sensation D. sanction

5. The lack of pure water is __________.

A. still a problem in most parts of the world

B. a problem in some parts of the world

C. no longer a problem in most parts of the world

D. not very serious

Passage 2 2 One of the strongest reasons for the raising of the school leaving age (ROSLA) has been that

it will bring us nearer to the ideal of “equal 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 apparently so thorough. It is obvious, for instance, that

many children from less rich homes reach university or do well in other ways.

Unfortunately, we now have plenty of evidence 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 of all male 18-20 year olds. Half of those soldiers who were

placed in the two highest ability groups had left schools 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 1930. One study of 5000 children from birth to 21 years old

indicated that up to half the bright pupils from working class homes left school when they reached

16 years old. Moreover, there is no difference in intelligence between the sexes, but far more boys

than girls stay in education after 16.

It is clear from this and much other evidence 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 circumstances. Their parents often need the extra money another wage-earner can bring in;

they do not 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”.

6. It is hoped that ROSLA 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

7. People would like to think that ________.