Question

A new report says only about half of all students in the main school systems of America’s largest cities finish high school.The report notes higher rates of graduation—more than seventy percent—in areas surrounding the cities.

The Editorial Projects in Education Research Center prepared the report.

Researchers studied high school graduation rates from the two thousand three，two thousand four school year.They also identified the nation’s fifty largest cities.The largest，New York City，had a population of more than eight million.The smallest city was Wichita，Kansas.It had about three hundred sixty thousand people.

Researchers used a system of measurement called the growing promotion index to find graduation rates.School officials in many of the cities studied say the resulting numbers were too low.That is because different areas use different methods to find graduation rates.Critics say many methods do not give a true picture of the number of students who leave high school before finishing.

Other studies have put the national graduation rate at about seventy percent.But experts agree that too many students are not completing high school.They estimate the number at more than one million each year.

The report was prepared for America’s Promise Alliance.The private group aims to help children receive services they need to succeed.

General Colin Powell was chairman of America’s Promise Alliance when it was formed in nineteen ninety­seven.He attended the press conference Tuesday where the report was released.He said studies have shown that the United States must do more to educate the leaders and work force of the future.

Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings also spoke.She said the government will propose that states use the same methods when reporting graduation rates.Alliance officials also announced the start of a nationwide campaign to improve graduation rates.It is to include a series of meetings to be held in every state over the next two years.The meetings will bring together elected leaders，business owners，students，parents and education officials.They will develop plans to increase the number of Americans who finish high school.

68．From the first paragraph，we can know________.

A．Most of the students in America don’t like to finish high school

B．Most of the students in areas surrounding the cities are willing to finish high school

C．American people don’t care about the education of their children

D．High schools in American aren’t good places to study in

69．Experts agree that the national graduation rate is lower than______.

A．70%                                                  B．80% 

C．50%                                                  D．40%

70．Which of following statements is TRUE?

A．America’s Promise Alliance prepared the new report for the Editorial Projects.

B．The resulting numbers of the new report are different from other studies.

C．General Colin Powell is chairman of America’s Promise Alliance.

D．Margaret Spellings didn’t attend the press conference Tuesday.

Answer 1

68．B　推理判斷題。文章的第一段所給的兩個數(shù)字，一是美國大城市的學生高中畢業(yè)率僅為50%，在他們周邊地區(qū)的高中畢業(yè)率是70%多，從此我們可以得出周邊地區(qū)的學生愿意讀完高中的結論，因此B項正確。A說大多數(shù)美國學生不喜歡讀完高中，與數(shù)字不符；C，D的說法從第一段中不能看出，是片面的說法。

69．A　推理判斷題。根據(jù)文章的第四段的理解可知由其他報告說全國的高中生畢業(yè)率大約在70%左右，但是專家們卻認為太多的學生沒有完成高中學業(yè)，因此我們可以推斷專家所認為的高中畢業(yè)率會低于70%。

70．B　細節(jié)理解題。根據(jù)文章的第六段的第一句可知A錯誤；由文章開始知道這個新報告說高中畢業(yè)率是50%，由第四段的第一句可知其他的報告說的數(shù)字是大約70%，所以是不同的，因此B正確；由倒數(shù)第二段的第一句可知他現(xiàn)在不是主席了所以C錯誤；由最后一段第一句可知他出席了記者招待會，所以D錯誤。