2023年到專八閱讀真題及答案

第二部分2023年2023年英語(yǔ)專業(yè)八級(jí)閱讀真題2023年TextATheWelshlanguagehasalwaysbeentheultimatemarkerofWelshidentity,butagenerationagoitlookedasifWelshwouldgothewayofManx.OncewidelyspokenontheIsleofManbutnowextinct.Governmentsfinancingandcentralplanning,however,havehelpedreversethedeclineofWelsh.RoadsignsandofficialpublicdocumentsarewritteninbothWelshandEnglish,andschoolchildrenarerequiredtolearnbothlanguages.WelshisnowoneofthemostsuccessfulofEurope’sregionallanguages,spokenbymorethanahalf-millionofthecountry’sthreemillionpeople.Therevivalofthelanguage,particularlyamongyoungpeople,ispartofaresurgenceofnationalidentitysweepingthroughthissmall,proudnation.LastmonthWalesmarkedthesecondanniversaryoftheopeningoftheNationalAssembly,thefirstparliamenttobeconvenedheresince1404.TheideabehinddevolutionwastorestorethebalancewithintheunionofnationsmakinguptheUnitedKingdom.Withmostofthepeopleandwealth,Englandhasalwayshadbraggingrights.ThepartialtransferoflegislativepowersfromWestminster,implementedbyTonyBlair,wasdesignedtogivetheothermembersoftheclub-Scotland,NorthernIreland,andWales-abiggersayandtocountercentrifugalforcesthatseemedtothreatentheveryideaoftheunion.TheWelshshowedlittleenthusiasmfordevolution.WhereastheScotsvotedoverwhelminglyforaparliament,thevoteforaWelshassemblyscrapedthroughbylessthanonepercentonaturnoutoflessthan25percent.Itspowerswereproportionatelylimited.TheAssemblycandecidehowmoneyfromWestminsterortheEuropeanUnionisspent.Itcannot,unlikeitscounterpartinEdinburgh,enactlaws.Butnowthatitishere,theWelsharegrowingtoliketheirAssembly.Manypeoplewouldlikeittohavemorepowers.Itsimportanceasfigureheadwillgrowwiththeopeningin2023,ofanewdebatingchamber,oneofmanynewbuildingsthataretransformingCardifffromadecayingseaportintoaBaltimore-stylewaterfrontcity.MeanwhileagrantofnearlytwomilliondollarsfromtheEuropeanUnionwilltacklepoverty.WalesisoneofthepoorestregionsinWesternEurope-onlySpain,Portugal,andGreecehavealowerstandardofliving.NewspapersandmagazinesarefilledwithstoriesaboutgreatWelshmenandwomen,boostingself-esteem.TofamiliarfacessuchasDylanThomasandRichardBurtonhavebeenaddednewiconssuchasCatherineZeta-Jones,themoviestar,andBrynTerfel,theoperasinger.Indigenousfoodslikesaltmarshlambareinvogue.AndWalesnowboastsanationalairline.AwyrCymru.Cymru,whichmeans“l(fā)andofcompatriots,”istheWelshnameforWales.Thereddragon,thenation’ssymbolsincethetimeofKingArthur,iseverywhere-onT-shirts,rugbyjerseysandevencellphonecovers.“UntilveryrecenttimesmostWelshpeoplehadthisfeelingofbeingsecond-classcitizens,”saidDyfanJones,an18-year-oldstudent.Itwasawarmsummernight,andIwassittingonthegrasswithagroupofyoungpeopleinLlanelli,anindustrialtowninthesouth,outsidetherockmusicvenueoftheNationalEisteddfod,Wales’sannualculturalfestival.ThedisusedfactoryinfrontofusechoedtothesoundsofnewWelshbands.“Therewasalmostagenetictendencyforlackofconfidence,”Dyfancontinued.EquallycomfortableinhisWelshnessasinhismembershipintheEnglish-speaking,globalyouthcultureandthenewfederalEurope,Dyfan,liketherestofhisgeneration,isgrowingupwithasenseofpossibilityunimaginabletenyearsago.“Weusedtothink.Wecan’tdoanything,we’reonlyWelsh.NowIthinkthat’schanging.”11.Accordingtothepassage,devolutionwasmainlymeanttoA.maintainthepresentstatusamongthenations.B.reducelegislativepowersofEngland.C.createabetterstateofequalityamongthenations.D.grantmoresaytoallthenationsintheunion.12.Theword“centrifugal”inthesecondparagraphmeansA.separatist.

B.conventional.C.feudal.

D.political13.WalesisdifferentfromScotlandinallthefollowingaspectsEXCEPTA.people'sdesirefordevolution.B.locals'turnoutforthevoting.C.powersofthelegislativebody.D.statusofthenationallanguage.14.WhichofthefollowingisNOTcitedasanexampleoftheresurgenceofWelshnationalidentityA.Welshhaswitnessedarevivalasanationallanguage.B.Poverty-relieffundshavecomefromtheEuropeanUnion.C.AWelshnationalairlineiscurrentlyinoperation.D.Thenationalsymbolhasbecomeafamiliarsight.15.AccordingtoDyfanJoneswhathaschangedisA.people'smentality.

B.popculture.C.town'sappearance.

D.possibilitiesforthepeople.TextBGettingtotheheartofKuwaitidemocracyseemshilariouslyeasy.Armedonlywithadog-earedNEWSWEEKID,IambledthroughthegatesoftheNationalAssemblylastweek.Unscanned,unsearched,mysatchelcouldeasilyhaveheldtheoddgrenadeorananthrax-stuffedlunchbox.Theonlypersonwhostoppedmewasaguardwhogrinnedandinvitedmetotakeaswigoforangejuicefromhisplasticbottle.WereIaKuwaitiwomanwieldingaballot,Iwouldhavebeenaclearerandmorepresentdanger.ThatverydayParliamentblockedabillgivingwomenthevote;29M.P.Svotedinfavorand29against,withtwoabstentions.Unabletodecidewhetherthebillhadpassedornot,thegovernmentscheduledanothervoteintwoweeks-toolateforwomentoregisterforJune'smunicipalelections.Thenextsuchelectionsaren'tuntil2023.Insidetheelegant,marbledParliamentitself,aseaofmustachioedmeninwhiterobessatingreenseats,debatingfuriously.Therulingemirhaspushedforwomen'spoliticalrightsforyears.Ironically,thedemocraticallyelectedlegislaturehasthwartedhim.Traditionalistsandtriballeadersareopposed.Liberalsfret,too,thatIslamistswilllettheirmultiplewivesvote,swellingconservativeranks.“WhenIcametoParliamenttoday,peoplewhovotedyesdidn'tevenshakehandswithme,”saidoneShiaclerc.“Whycan'twerespecteachotherandworktogether?”Whynotindeed?ByGulfstandards,Kuwaitisademocraticsuperstar.Itscitizensenjoyfreespeech(aslongastheydon'tinsulttheiremir,naturally)andboastaParliamentthatcanactuallypasslaws.UnliketheirSaudisisters,Kuwaitiwomendrive,workandtravelfreely.Theyrunmultibillion-dollarbusinessesandserveasambassadors.Theiracademicsuccessissuchthatcollegeshaveactuallyloweredthegradesrequiredformakestudentstogetintomedicalandengineeringcourses.Eventhen,70percentofuniversitystudentsarefemales.InKuwait,theWesternobsessionwiththehigabfindsitsequivalent.AtafancypartyforNEWSWEEK'sArabicedition,someKuwaitiwomenworethem.Othersoptedfortight,spangled,sheerlittlenumbersinpeacockblueorparrotorange.Fortheparty'sentertainment,NancyAjram,theArabworld'sanswertoBritneySpears,sangpassionatesongsofloveinawhitemini-dress.Shecouldn'tdanceforus,alas,sinceshakingone'sbodyonstageisillegalinKuwait.Thatdidn'tstopwholetablesofmenfromraisingtheircamera-enabledmobilephonesandclickingherpicture.You'dthinknotbeingabletovoteordanceinpublicwouldangerKuwait'syoungergenerationofwomen.Tofindout,Iheadedtothemalls-Kuwait'sarchipelagoofcivicfreedom.Eagertoduckstrictparentsandthesocialtaboosofdatinginpublic.YoungKuwaitishavetakentocafes,beamingflirtatiousinfrarede-mailstooneanotherontheircellphotos.AtStarbucksintheglitteringAlSharqMall,Ifoundonlytablesofmen,puffingcigarettesandgrumblingabouttheservice.AtPizzaHut,IthoughtI'dgotananswerafterencounteringayoungwomanwholookedeveryinchthemodernsuffragette—drainpipejeans,strappysliverhigh-heeledsandalsandahigabstuddedwithpurplerhinestones.But,no,MiriamAl-Enizi,20,studyingbusinessadministrationatKuwaitUniversity,doesn'tthinkwomenneedthevote.”Menarebetteratpoliticsthanwomen,”sheexplained,addingthatwomeninKuwaitalreadyhaveeverythingtheyneed.Welcometodemocracy,16.Accordingtothepassage,whichofthefollowinggroupsofpeoplemightbeviewedasbeingdangerousbytheguards?A.Foreigntourists.

B.Womenprotestors.C.Foreignjournalists.

D.MembersoftheNationalAssembly.17.ThebillgivingwomenthevotedidnotmanagetopassbecauseA.Differentinterestgroupshelddifferentconcerns.B.Liberalsdidnotreachconsensusamongthemselves.C.Parliamentwascontrolledbytraditionalists.D.Parliamentmemberswereallconservatives.18.Whatistheroleofthe4thand5thparagraphsinthedevelopmentofthetopic?A.ToshowhowKuwaitiwomenenjoythemselves.B.TodescribehowwomenworkandstudyinKuwait.C.Toprovideacontrasttotheprecedingparagraphs.D.Toprovideacontrasttotheprecedingparagraphs.19.WhichofthefollowingisNOTtrueaboutyoungKuwaitiwomen?A.Theyseemtobequitecontented.B.TheygoinforWesternfashions.C.Theydesiremorethanmodernnecessities.D.Theyfavourtheuseofhi-techproducts.TextCRichard,KingofEnglandfrom1189to1199,withallhischaracteristicvirtuesandfaultscastinaheroicmouldisoneofthemostfascinatingmedievalfigures.Hehasbeendescribedasthecreatureandembodimentoftheageofchivalry,Inthosedaysthelionwasmuchadmiredinheraldry,andmorethanonekingsoughttolinkhimselfwithitsrepute.WhenRichard'scontemporariescalledhim"CoeurdeLion"(TheLionheart),theypaidalastingcomplimenttothekingofbeasts.LittledidtheEnglishpeopleowehimforhisservices,andheavilydidtheypayforhisadventures.HewasinEnglandonlytwiceforafewshortmonthsinhistenyears'reign;yethismemoryhasalwaysEnglishhearts,andseemstopresentthroughoutthecenturiesthepatternofthefightingman.InalldeedsofprowessaswellasinlargeschemesofwarRichardshone.Hewastallanddelicatelyshapedstronginnerveandsinew,andmostdexterousinarms.Hereioicedinpersonalcombat,andregardedhisopponentswithoutmaliceasnecessaryagentsinhisfameHelovedwar,notsomuchforthesakeofgloryorpoliticalends,butasothermenlovescienceorpoetry,fortheexcitementofthestruggleandtheglowofvictory.Bythishiswholetemperamentwastoned;andunitedwiththehighestqualitiesofthemilitarycommander,loveofwarcalledforthallthepowersofhismindandbody.Althoughamanofbloodandviolence,Richardwastooimpetuoustobeeithertreacherousonhabituallycruel.Hewasasreadytoforgiveashewashastytooffend;hewasopen-handedandmunificenttoprofusion;inwarcircumspectindesignandskilfulinexecution;inpoliticalachild,lackinginsubtletyandexperience.Hispoliticalallianceswereformeduponhislikesanddislikes;hispoliticalschemeshadneitherunitynorclearnessofpurpose.Theadvantagesgainedforhimbymilitarygeoidswereflungawaythroughdiplomaticineptitude.When,onthejourneytotheEast,MessinainSicilywaswonbyhisarmshewaseasilypersuadedtosharewithhispolished,faithlessally,PhilipAugustus,fruitsofavictorywhichmorewiselyusedmighthavefoiledtheFrenchKing'sartfulschemes.TherichandtenableacquisitionofCypruswascastawayevenmoreeasilythanitwaswon.Hislifewasonemagnificentparade,which,whenended,leftonlyanemptyplain.In1199,whenthedifficultiesofraisingrevenuefortheendlesswarwereattheirheight,goodnewswasbroughttoKingRichard.ItwassaidtherehadbeendugupnearthecastleofChaluz,onthelandsofoneofhisFrenchvassals,atreasureofwonderfulquality;agroupofgoldenimagesofanemperor,hiswife,sonsanddaughters,seatedroundatable,alsoofgold,hadbeenunearthed.TheKingclaimedthistreasureaslordparamount.ThelordofChaluzresistedthedemand,andtheKinglaidsiegetohissmall,weakcastle.Onthethirdday,asherodedaringly,nearthewall.Confidentinhishard-triedluck,aboltfromacrossbowstruckhimintheleftshoulderbytheneck.Thewound,alreadydeep,wasaggravatedbythenecessarycuttingoutofthearrow-head.Gangrenesetin,andCoeurdeLionknewthathemustpayasoldier’sdebt.Hepreparedfordeathwithfortitudeandcalm,andinaccordancewiththeprincipleshehadfollowed.Hearrangedhisaffairs,hedividedhispersonalbelongingsamonghisfriendsorbequeathedthemtocharity.HedeclaredJohntobehisheir,andmadeallpresentswearfealtytohim.Heorderedthearcherwhohadshotthefatalbolt,andwhowasnowaprisoner,tobebroughtbeforehim.Hepardonedhim,andmadehimagiftofmoney.ForsevenyearshehadnotconfessedforfearofbeingcompelledtobereconciledtoPhilip,butnowhereceivedtheofficesoftheChurchwithsincereandexemplarypiety,anddiedintheforty-secondyearofhisageonApril6,1199,worthy,bytheconsentofallmen,tositwithKingArthurandRolandanotherheroesofmartialromanceatsomeEternalroundTable,whichwetrusttheCreatoroftheUniverseinHiscomprehensionwillnothaveforgottentoprovide.Thearcherwasflayedalive.20“l(fā)ittledidtheEnglishpeopleownhimforhisservice”(paragraphone)meansthattheEnglishA.paidfewtaxestohim.Bgavehimlittlerespect.Creceivedlittleprotectionfromhim.Dhadnorealcausetofeelgratefultohim.21.Tosaythathiswifewasa“magnificentparade’(paragraphTwo)impliesthatitwastosomeextent.A.spentchieflyatwar.Bimpressiveandadmirable.ClivedtoopompouslyD.anemptyshow.22.Richard’sbehaviourasdeathapproachedshowed.A.braveryandself-control.B.WisdomandcorrectnessC.DevotionandromanceD.Chivalryandcharity23.ThepointofthelastshortparagraphisthatRichardwasA.cheatedbyhisownsuccessorsB.determinedtotakerevengeonhisenemies.C.moregeneroustohisenemiesthanhisseccesors.Dunabletoinfluencethebehaviorofhissuccessors.24.WhichofthefollowingphrasebestdescribesRichardasseenbytheauthor?A.Anaggressiveking,toofondofwar.B.Abravekingwithminorfaults.CAcompetentbutcunningsoldier.DAkindwithgreatpoliticalskills.25.TherelationshipbetweenthefirstandsecondparagraphsisthatA.eachpresentsonesideofthepicture.B.thefirstgeneralizesthesecondgivesexamples.C.thesecondisthelogicalresultofthefirst.D.bothpresentRichard’svirtuesandfaults.TEXTDThemiserablefateofEnron'semployeeswillbealandmarkinbusinesshistory,oneofthoseawfuleventsthateveryoneagreesmustneverbeallowedtohappenagain.Thisurgeisunderstandableandnoble:thousandshavelostvirtuallyalltheirretirementsavingswiththedemiseofEnronstock.Butmakingsureitneverhappensagainmaynotbepossible,becausethesuddenimpoverishmentofthoseEnronworkersrepresentssomethingevenlargerthanitseems.It'sthelatestturnintheunwindingofoneofthemostaudaciouspromiseofthe20thcentury.Thepromisewasassuredeconomicsecurity-evencomfort-foressentiallyeveryoneinthedevelopedworld.Withtheexplosionofwealth,thatbeganinthe19thcenturyitbecamepossibletothinkaboutapossibilitynoonehaddaredtodreambefore.Thefearatthecenterofdailylivingsincecavemandays-lackoffoodwarmth,shelter-wouldatlastloseitspowertoterrify.Thatremarkablepromisebecamerealityinmanyways.Governmentscreatedwelfaresystemsforanyoneinneedandseparateprogrammesfortheelderly(SocialSecurityintheU.S.).Labourunionspromisednotonlybetterpayforworkersbutalsopensionsforretirees.Giantcorporationscameintobeingandofferedthepossibility-insomecasesthepromise-oflifetimeemploymentplusguaranteedpensions.Thecumulativeeffectwasafundamentalchangeinhowmillionsofpeopleapproachedlifeitself,areversalofattitudethatmostrankasoneofthelargestinhumanhistory.Formillenniatheaverageperson’sstancetowardprovidingforhimselfhadbeen.UltimatelyI’monmyown.Nowitbecame,ultimatelyI’llbetakencareof.Theearlyhintsthatthispromisemightbebrokenonalargescalecameinthe1980s.U.S.businesshadbecomeuncompetitivegloballyandbeganrestructuringmassively,withhugeLayoffs.Thetrendacceleratedinthe1990sasthebastionsofcorporatewelfarefacedreality.IBMendedit’sno-layoffpolicy.AT&Tfiredthousands,manyofwhomfoundsuchathingsimplyincomprehensible,andafewofwhomkilledthemselves.Theothersupposedguarantorsofoureconomicsecuritywerealsoindecline.Labour-unionmembershipandpowerfelltotheirlowestlevelsindecades.PresidentClintonsignedahistoricbillscalingbackwelfare.AmericansrealizedthatSocialSecuritywon’tprovidesocialsecurityforanyofus.Alessvisiblebutequallysignificanttrendaaffectedpensions.Tomakecostseasiertocontrol,companiesmovedawayfromdefinedbenefitpensionplans,whichobligatethemtopayoutspecifiedamountsyearsinthefuture,todefinecontributionplans,whichspecifyonlyhowmuchgoesintotheplaytoday.Themostcommontypeofdefined-contributionplanisthe401(k).thesignificanceofthe401(k)isthatitputsmostoftheresponsibilityforaperson'seconomicfatebackontheemployee.Withinlimitstheemployeemustdecidehowmuchgoesintotheplaneachyearandhowitgetsinvested-thetwofactorsthatwilldeterminehowmuchit’sworthwhentheemployeeretires.WhichbringsusbacktoEnron?Thosebillionsofdollarsinvaporizedretirementsavingswentinemployees'401(k)accounts.Thatis,theemployeeschosehowmuchmoneytoputintothoseaccountsandthenchosehowtoinvestit.Enronmatchedacertainproportionofeachemployee's401(k)contributionwithcompanystock,soeveryonewasgoingtoendupwithsomeEnroninhisorherportfolio;butthatcouldberegardedasafreebie,sincenothingcompelsacompanytomatchemployeecontributionsatall.AtleasttwospecialfeaturescomplicatetheEnroncase.First,someshareholderschargetopmanagementwithillegallycoveringupthecompany'sproblems,promptinginvestorstohangonwhentheyshouldhavesold.Second,Enron's401(k)accountswerelockedwhilethecompanychangedplanadministratorsinOctober,whenthestockwasfalling,soemployeescouldnothaveclosedtheiraccountsiftheywantedto.ButbyfarthelargestcauseofthishumantragedyisthatthousandsofemployeeswereheavilyoverweighedinEnronstock.Manyhadplaced100%oftheir401(k)assetsinthestockratherthaninthe18otherinvestmentoptionstheywereoffered.Ofcoursethatwasn'tprudent,butit'swhatsomeofthemdid.TheEnronemployees'retirementdisasterispartofthelargertrendawayfromguaranteedeconomicsecurity.That'swhypreventingsuchathingfromeverhappeningagainmaybeimpossible.ThehugeattitudinalshifttoI’ll-be-taken-care-oftookatleastageneration.Theshiftbackmaytakejustaslong.Itwon'tbecompleteuntilanewgenerationofemployeesseeassuredeconomiccomfortasa20th-centuryquirk,andunderstandnotjustintellectuallybutintheirbonesthat,likemostpeopleinmosttimesandplaces,they'reontheirown26.Whydoestheauthorsayatthebeginning“ThemiserablefateofEnron'semployeeswillbealandmarkinbusinesshistory...”?A.Becausethecompanyhasgonebankrupt.B.Becausesucheventswouldneverhappenagain.C.BecausemanyEnronworkerslosttheirretirementsavings.D.Becauseitsignifiesaturningpointineconomicsecurity.27.Accordingtothepassage,thecombinedeffortsbygovernments,layoutunionsandbigcorporationstoguaranteeeconomiccomforthaveledtoasignificantchangeinA.people'soutlookonlife.B.people'slifestyles.C.people'slivingstandardD.people'ssocialvalues.28.ChangesinpensionschemeswerealsopartofA.thecorporatelay-offs.B.thegovernmentcutsinwelfarespending.C.theeconomicrestructuring.D.thewarningpoweroflaborsunions.29.ThousandsofemployeeschoseEnronastheirsoleinvestmentoptionmainlybecauseA.The401(k)madethemresponsiblefortheirownfuture.B.Enronofferedtoaddcompanystocktotheirinvestment.C.theiremployersintendedtocutbackonpensionspending.D.Enron'sofferwassimilartoadefined-benefitplan.30.WhichisNOTseenasalessondrawnfromtheEnrondisaster?A.401(k)assetsshouldbeplacedinmorethanoneinvestmentoption.B.Employeeshavetotakeupresponsibilitiesforthemselves.C.Sucheventscouldhappenagainasitisnoteasytochangepeople'smind.D.Economicsecuritywon'tbetakenforgrantedbyfutureyoungworkers.閱讀理解答案：11-15

CADBA

16-20

BACCD

21-25

DDDBA

26-30

DABBD

2023年TEXTA

Attheageof16,LeeHyukJoonslifeisalivinghell.TheSouthKorean10thgradergetsupat6inthemorningtogotoschool,andstudiesmostofthedayuntilreturninghomeat6p.m.Afterdinner,itstimetohitthebooksagain—atoneofSeoulsmanyso-calledcramschools.Leegetsbackhomeat1inthemorning,sleepslessthanfivehours,thenrepeatstheroutine—fivedaysaweek.Itsagruelingschedule,butLeeworriesthatitmaynotbegoodenoughtogethimintoatopuniversity.Someofhisclassmatesstudyevenharder.

SouthKoreaseducationsystemhaslongbeenhighlycompetitive.ButforLeeandtheother700,000high-schoolsophomoresinthecountry,high-schoolstudieshavegottenevenmoreintense.ThatsbecauseSouthKoreahasconceivedanewcollege-entrancesystem,whichwillbeimplementedin2023.Thisyears10thgraderswillbethefirstgroupevaluatedbythenewadmissionsstandard,whichplacesmoreemphasisongradesinthethreeyearsofhighschoolandlessonnationwideSAT-styleandotherselectiontests,whichhavetraditionallydeterminedwhichstudentsgototheelitecolleges.

Thechangewasmademostlytoreducewhatthegovernmentsaysisagrowingeducationgapinthecountry:wealthystudentsgotothebestcollegesandgetthebestjobs,keepingthechildrenofpoorerfamiliesonthesocialmargins.Theaimistoreducetheimportanceofcostlytutorsandcramschools,partlytohelpstudentsenjoyamorenormalhigh-schoollife.Butthenewsystemhashadtheoppositeeffect.Before,studentsdidntworrytoomuchabouttheirgrade-pointaverages;thebigchallengewasbeatinghestandardizedtestsashigh-schoolseniors.Nowstudentsarecompetingagainstoneanotheroverathree-yearperiod,andeverymidtermandfinaltestiscrucial.Fretfulparentsarerelyingevenmoreheavilyontutorsandcramschoolstohelptheirchildrensucceed.

ParentsandkidshavesentthousandsofangryonlineletterstotheEducationMinistrycomplainingthatthenewadmissionsstandardissettingstudentsagainsteachother."Onecansucceedonlywhenothersfail,”asoneparentsaid.

EducationexpertssaythatSouthKoreaspublicsecondary-schoolsystemisfoundering,whileprivateeducationisthriving.Accordingtocritics,thecountryshighschoolsarealmostuniformlymediocre—theresultofanegalitariangovernmenteducationpolicy.Withthenumberofeliteschoolsstrictlycontrolledbythegovernment,eventhebrighteststudentstypicallyhavetosettleforordinaryschoolsintheirneighbourhoods,wherethecurriculumiscentredonaveragestudents.Tomakeupforthemediocrity,zealousparentssendtheirkidstotheexpensivecramschools.StudentsinaffluentsouthernSeoulneighbourhoodscomplainthatthenewsystemwillhurtthemthemost.

NearlyallKoreanhighschoolswillbeweightedequallyinthecollege-entranceprocess,andrelativelyweakstudentsinprovincialschools,whomaynotscorewellonstandardizedtests,oftencompilegoodgrade-pointaverages.

Someuniversities,particularlyprestigiousones,openlycomplainthattheycannotselectthebeststudentsunderthenewsystembecauseiteliminatesdifferencesamonghighschools.Theyveaskedformorediscretioninpickingstudentsbygivingmoreweighttosuchscreeningtoolsasessaywritingorinterviews.

PresidentRohMooHyundoesntlikehowsomecollegesaretryingtocircumventthenewsystem.Herecentlycriticized"greedy"universitiesthatfocusmoreonfindingthebeststudentsthanfayingto"nurturegoodstudents".Butamidthecrossfirebetweenthegovernmentanduniversities,thecountrys10thgradersarefeelingthestress.Ononlineprotestsites,somearecallingthemselvesa“cursedgeneration”and“miceinalabexperiment”.Itallseemsatouchmelodramatic,butthatstheSouthKoreanschoolsystem.11.Accordingtothepassage,thenewcollege-entrancesystemisdesignedto

A.requirestudentstositformorecollege-entrancetests.

B.reducetheweightofcollege-entrancetests.

C.selectstudentsontheirhighschoolgradesonly.

D.reducethenumberofprospectivecollegeapplicants.

12.Whatseemstobetheeffectofintroducingthenewsystem?

A.Thesystemhasgivenequalopportunitiestostudents.

B.Thesystemhasreducedthenumberofcramschools.

C.Thesystemhasintensifiedcompetitionamongschools.

D.Thesystemhasincreasedstudentsstudyload.

13.Accordingtocritics,thepopularityofprivateeducationismainlytheresultof

A.thegovernmentsegalitarianpolicy.

B.insufficientnumberofschools:

C.curriculumsofaveragequality.

D.lowcostofprivateeducation.

14.Accordingtothepassage,thereseemstobedisagreementovertheadoptionofthenewsystembetweenthefollowinggroupsEXCEPT

A.betweenuniversitiesandthegovernment.

B.betweenschoolexpertsandthegovernment.

C.betweenparentsandschools.

D.betweenparentsandthegovernment.

15.Whichofthefollowingadjectivesbestdescribestheauthorstreatmentofthetopic?

A.Objective.

B.Positive.

C.Negative.

D.Biased.TEXTB

WilfredEmmanuel-Joneswasateenagerbeforehesawhisfirstcowinhisfirstfield.BorninJamaica,the47-year-oldgrewupininner-cityBirminghambeforemakingacareerasatelevisionproducerandlaunchinghisownmarketingagency.ButdeepdownhealwaysnurturedeverytrueEnglishmansdreamofarusticlife,adreamthathisentrepreneurialwealthhasallowedhimtosatisfy.Thesedayshestheownerofathriving12-hectarefarmindeepestDevonwithcattle,sheepandpigs.Hislatestbusinessventu