1 . Eighteen people in central Kenya are taking the country's secondary education test, called the KCSE. Even under normal conditions, this examination can make a student nervous. But these 18 students may feel especially fearful. They are serving sentences in a top-security prison. And if they do well in the test, they might get to leave the prison.
During the test the inmates(囚犯）sit at school desks at Naivasha Prison.The classroom looks like any other except that the students are wearing prison uniforms. David Noah Okwemba has just finished the examination for history and biology. He says he wants people to know that the prisoners are no longer criminals. Instead, he says they are students.
Prisoners who perform well can have their sentences changed. They may be released early to go to university or find employment. Patrick Mwenda is head officer at Naivasha prison. He says Naivasha works with the high courts to consider the cases of prisoners who get high marks and nine prisoners have been released since 2008 as a result of.their schooling and tests. So far, the releases have gone only to prisoners sentenced to short terms.
Only one other possibility for freedom exists for those facing life in prison and those who have used up all their legal appeals. Kenya's Power of Mercy committee advises about pardons for prisoners. Mr.Mwenda admits the difficulties of getting a pardon.But he says the prison urges students with longer sentences to build skills, which would help them have a good record to show the committee.
Inmate Prince Winsor Mosii does not approve of the whole system."The Power of Mercy is not actually helpful. It is there, but it is not helping in setting us at liberty, even if you have performed." Serving a life sentence for his involvement in an armed robbery, Prince Winsor Mosii took his KCSE exam last year. But he says he does not see much reason to get an education if he is to remain in prison."It is of no good to get or to acquire something of great value skills, and not put it into action."
More than half of the 3,000 inmates at the Naivasha prison are involved in the school program. The inmates themselves choose the subjects and decide the content of the studies. Personal experience makes up an important part of the class discussions.
1. Why does the author mention KCSE in Paragraph 1?| A．To suggest its popularity among Kenya. |
| B．To explain its influence on secondary students. |
| C．To introduce a special mercy in Kenya prison. |
| D．To praise the achievement of schooling in prison. |
| A．it is difficult for prisoners to learn a skill |
| B．it is useless studying if one cannot be released |
| C．prisoners with long sentences also need to study |
| D．mastering a skill can help one solve practical problems |
| A．High Education Reduces Crime. |
| B．Everyone Has the Right to Education. |
| C．The More educated,the Less Criminal. |
| D．Good Grades Are the Pass to Freedom. |
