High school graduation is worth celebrating. It marks a big change in the lives of young adults. However, it ought to mean even more. It ought to mean that the graduate is ready for college or career.
In a report issued last year, we found that almost half of recent Illinois high school graduates required remedial courses(补习课) upon enrolling(注册) a munity college. These courses require time and money to plete, yet offer no credits toward a degree. Too often, students never get through those remedial courses and end up dropping out of college.
Why is the remediation rate so high? A large part of the reason is that we have not set high enough standards for what our students need to learn from kindergarten to high school. They simply aren’t equipped with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed.
The same is true for careers. In Illinois, good jobs continue to go vacant(空缺) even while we are trying hard to go through tough economic times. This is due largely to the mismatch between the skills and knowledge we provide our students with and what employers in a modern economy need workers to know.
The good news is that in Illinois we have a plan to help get our students ready for life in the real world. We have already taken an important first step by being one of the 45 states to adopt the Common Core State Standards and have begun introducing them to classrooms this year. The new standards provide fewer, clearer and higher benchmarks(标准) for academic progress. They focus on deeper knowledge required at each grade level, give teachers the opportunity to explore topics fully and ensure students can apply what they’ve learned.
Research shows that when expectations are raised, students rise to meet them. Adapting to higher standards and raising expectations may prove challenging, but they are the steps we must take so that our students are successful in high school and prepared for college and careers. Readiness is worth a celebration.
【小题1】According to the passage, in most cases, students taking part in remedial courses .A．e from wealthy familiesB．leave college before finishing their coursesC．are offered credits toward a degreeD．are likely to develop their academic interest【小题2】The author uses the third and fourth paragraphs to . A．provide solutions to the rising remediation rateB．show the present situation of unemployment in IllinoisC．suggest knowledge learned in school be put into practiceD．explain why students aren’t prepared for college and a career【小题3】Which of the following statements about the Common Core State Standards is TRUE?A．They were first adopted in Illinois.B．More benchmarks are required.C．They benefit teachers as well as students.D．They ensure students’ success in college.【小题4】Based on the last paragraph, what is the author’s attitude to raising expectations of students?A．SupportiveB．CriticalC．DoubtfulD．WorriedB
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(答案→)B
解析：本文从现在的大学生不能适应大学和工作的现实，探寻原因在于对学生的期望标准太低，引出the Common Core State Standards这个话题，通过提高标准使学生适应大学生活，也可以在职场获得成功。
【小题1】细节题：从第一段的句子：Too often, students never get through those remedial courses and end up dropping out of college.可知上补习班的学生大多数大学中途辍学。选B
【小题2】细节题：从第三段的句子：They simply aren’t equipped with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed.和第四段的句子：This is due largely to the mismatch between the skills and knowledge we provide our students with and what employers in a modern economy need workers to know.可知是解释为什么没有为大学或工作做好准备。选Ｄ
【小题3】细节题；从倒数第二段的句子：give teachers the opportunity to explore topics fully and ensure students can apply what they’ve learned.可知the Common Core State Standards对学生和老师都有利。选C
【小题4】推理题：从最后一段的句子：but they are the steps we must take so that our students are successful in high school and prepared for college and careers.可知作者对于这个标准是赞同的。选A