In many countries, schools have long summer holidays, with shorter holidays in between. However, a new report suggests shortening school holidays to stop children forgetting what they have learnt during the long summer break. Instead of three school terms, it says, there should be five eight-week terms. And there should be just four weeks off in the summer, with a two-week break between the other terms.
Sonia Montero has two children at primary school and works full-time. She supports the idea. “The kids,” she says, “have much longer holidays than me and I can’t afford to take several weeks off work, so I need someone to take care of them. But nobody wants the work in the summer months — they all have holidays of their own.”
Not surprisingly, some young people disagree. Student Jason Panos says “It’s a stupid idea. I would hate staying at school in the summer. It’s unfair, too. The people who suggest this had long school holidays when they were young, but now they want to stop us enjoying the summer. The kids in Spain and America have much longer holidays than here, but they don’t forget everything they’ve learnt in a few months.”
Nadia Salib agrees. “Sure,” she says, “the first week at school after the summer is never easy, but you soon get back into it. The real problem round here is that kids get bored after so many weeks out of school, and then some of them start causing trouble. But the answer is to give them something to do, not make everyone stay in school longer.”
1. Why is Sonia in support of shorter school holidays?| A．She doesn’t get any summer holidays in her job. |
| B．She is worried that her children will forget what they’ve learnt. |
| C．She can’t afford to pay someone to look after her children. |
| D．She can’t get anyone to look after her children in summer. |
| A．They can help children forget about school. |
| B．Schools in other countries don’t have them. |
| C．These days many older people have them too. |
| D．They have little influence on children’s education. |
| A．They would like to spend more time at school. |
| B．Long holidays are very bad for their education. |
| C．They need something to do to enrich themselves. |
| D．Long holidays should be shortened to stop them causing trouble. |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】Nine months ago，I was packing my daughter’s backpack with new school supplies，wondering how I was going to send her off to kindergarten．I stood on the playground，tears pouring down my face because I wasn’t ready for this first day of kindergarten——but she was ready．Today I will be standing on the playground， once again with tears，because this precious time went by too quickly．This week I realized that I never told you "thank you"．I don’t know how to express a mother’s thanks in the way a teacher deserves．
We first met you at the open house the week before school started and I immediately knew you would be the type of teacher we would appreciate forever．While the students lined up for the day，you touched each one on the shoulder as you greeted them．If a student was having a tough I got to know you as I volunteered in the lunch room．You made sure your students were all ready for Iunch before you went on your own lunch break．You kept track of their big things and small things，because as a veteran kindergarten teacher，you know that the small things are the big things．I loved the way you made each student feel special．You helped them fall in love with school which is so important at the start．
To all of the teachers in the world who are like you．I wish you knew how grateful parents are for you．We adore you．respect you，and appreciate you．We don’t tell you enough——we probably don’i tell you ever．I wish we could take you with us to the next 12 grades．
1. Why did the author’s tears come down on her daughter’s first day of kingdergartern？| A．She hadn’t made full preparations for her daughter． |
| B．Her daughter wasn’t willing to go to kindergarten． |
| C．She felt worried about her daughter’s being away． |
| D．Her daughter wasn’t familiar with the teachers． |
| A．she stood on the playground |
| B．she was at the open house |
| C．she said goodbye to the teacher |
| D．she Worked as a teacher at lunch time |
| A．Beautiful． | B．Generous． |
| C．Skillful． | D．Humorous． |
| A．Good wishes to a kindergarten teacher． |
| B．Sincere thanks to a kindergarten teacher． |
| C．A sweet memory of kindergarten life． |
| D．A kid’s daily behavior in the kindergarten． |
【推荐2】This year some twenty-three hundred teenagers (young people aged from 13-19) from all over the world will spend about ten months in US homes. They will attend US schools, meet US teenagers, and form impressions of the real America. At the same time, about thirteen hundred American teenagers will go to other countries to learn new languages and gain a new understanding of the rest of the world.
Here is a two-way student exchange in action. Fred, nineteen, spent last year in Germany with George’s family. In turn, George’s son Mike spent a year in Fred’s home in America.
Fred, a lively young man, knew little German when he arrived, but after two months’ study the language began to come to him. School was completely different from what he had expected—much harder. Students rose respectfully when the teacher entered the room. They took fourteen subjects instead of the six that were usual in the United States. There were almost no outside activities.
Family life, too, was different. The father’s word was law, and all activities were around the family rather than the individual. Fred found the food too simple at first. Also, he missed having a car. “Back home, you pick up some friends in a car and go out and have a good time. In Germany, you walk, but you soon learn to like it. ”
At the same time, in America, Mike, a friendly German boy, was also forming his idea. “I suppose I should criticize American schools,” he said. “It is far too easy by our level. But I have to say that I like it very much. In Germany we do nothing but study. Here we take part in many outside activities. I think that maybe your schools are better in training for citizens. There ought to be some middle ground between the two.”
1. The whole exchange program is mainly to ________.| A．help teenagers in other countries know the real America |
| B．send students in America to travel in Germany |
| C．let students learn something about other countries |
| D．have teenagers learn new languages |
| A．There is some middle ground between the two teaching buildings. |
| B．There are a lot of outside activities. |
| C．Students usually take 14 subjects in all. |
| D．Students go outside to enjoy themselves in a car. |
| A．A better education should include something good from both America and Germany. |
| B．German schools trained students to be better citizens. |
| C．American schools were not as good as German schools. |
| D．The easy life in the American school was more helpful to students. |
| A．Praise. | B．Regret. |
| C．Ignore. | D．Accuse (指责). |
【推荐3】International Summer Program: Spiderman at Hoyts Cinema Carousel
Join us for an afternoon of superheroes as you watch Spider-Man: No Way Home at Hoyts, and catch up with other Curtin international students also staying in Perth over the summer break.
Schedule
● 1 pm: Students arrive at Hoyts, sign in and purchase any food or drink that they would like.
● 1:30 pm: The film begins!
● 4 pm: The film concludes, and students leave the cinema.
As Curtin has paid part of the cost of the film, the reduced student ticket is $10. If you would like any food or drink, please bring additional money to purchase it.
This activity is only available to international students who have applied for a course at Curtin University now.
Places are limited so book your spot now! Please use your Curtin student email to register for the event.
Important Information
● By signing up for this activity, you declare that you are a Curtin international student over the age of 18 and have read the information above. You also agree to:
* Declare all your medical or accessibility requirements that organizers must be aware of and inform the organizers if you have any illnesses or injuries on the day.
* Behave according to the Curtin Student Charter (章程) and accept that going against the Charter may result in your removal from the activity.
● If you’re under 18, please call 9266 3954 for further information on how to proceed.
1. Who is the activity targeted at?| A．International students in Perth. | B．Students desiring to attend Curtin University. |
| C．Students loving superhero movies. | D．Current Curtin international students. |
| A．Being under the age of 18. | B．Failing to follow the Charter. |
| C．Bringing food and drink privately. | D．Registering with Curtin email addresses. |
| A．A film review. | B．An admission notice. |
| C．A theatre programme. | D．An activity announcement. |
