A detailed and thorough research project undertaken by the Open University recently reported that their evidence appears to show that competition between nearby schools does not significantly improve academic standards. Indeed, their report inclines to the opposite outcome; the exam results may actually decline where competition is fiercest.
When the further education sector was " privatized" a few years ago, competition between colleges became truly fierce, at least in urban areas where potential students could choose between several of them. Colleges appointed highly paid marketing directors and gave them large budgets; some even "bribed." interested students with promises of hundreds of pounds if they completed certain courses satisfactorily.
Fully competitive markets being a philosophical foundation of Britain's recent governments, it was no surprise to hear claims that many educational developments of the 1990s would move us towards a free market in secondary education---giving youngsters and their parents a free choice of where to study. However, the secondary sector did not become particularly competitive while, admittedly, the consumers have been given more information, which is one aspect of a truly free market. It is very rare that two nearby schools with at least some empty places are similar enough to be comparable yet different enough to be rankable; only where that occurs can there be true competition.
The Open University research was probably not flawed---but its conclusions are. This is because the team did not really compare areas having true competition（as just defineD. with areas that do not.
But, let us all breathe a sigh of relief. Secondary schools had started of late to move in the marketing direction——considering allocating scarce resources of staff and money to persuading the pupils that their schools are the best in the area. No schools could afford to do that properly, so it is a relief to realize this research tells us we don't have to.
Competition? We haven't got time for it! Let's spend our small budget in teaching and learning, not in competing and marketing.
1. It is indicated in the passage that competition between schools results in（ ）.
2. Real competition can happen only when（ ）.
3. According to the passage, the free market in secondary education（ ）.
4. The author of the passage feels relieved that（ ）.
5. What might be the author's attitude towards competitions between nearby schools?
问题1选项
A.higher enrollment rate
B.lower academic standard
C.higher marketing expenses
D.privatization of further education
问题2选项
A.academic standard is improved
B.there are comparable schools with different educational qualities
C.students have different interests
D.schools of all areas have sufficient budget for their development
问题3选项
A.only provides consumers with more information
B.is more competitive than the higher education market
C.means there will be more intensive competition than in colleges
D.is a real surprise to Britain's recent government
问题4选项
A.secondary schools have to market themselves
B.most secondary schools have scarce resources of staff and money
C.the research by Open University proves that most secondary schools are the best in its area
D.schools needn't prove that they are the best
问题5选项
A.The author is in favor of various kinds of competition.
B.The author is indifferent to any competition and its result.
C.The author is not certain of the effect of competitions.
D.The author is against inter-collegiate competitions.
第1题:B
第2题:B
第3题:A
第4题:D
第5题:D
1.细节事实题。根据题干定位到第一段“A detailed and thorough research project undertaken by the Open University recently reported that their evidence appears to show that competition between nearby schools does not significantly improve academic standards. Indeed, their report inclines to the opposite outcome; the exam results may actually decline where competition is fiercest.” 大学进行的一项详细而彻底的研究项目最近报告显示，他们的证据似乎表明，附近学校之间的竞争并没有显著提高学术水平。事实上，他们的报告倾向于相反的结果;在竞争最激烈的地方，考试成绩实际上可能会下降。可知学校之间的竞争会导致学术水平的降低。故B项正确。
2.判断推理题。由题干定位到第三段"It is very rare that two nearby schools with at least some empty places are similar enough to be comparable yet different enough to be rankable; only where that occurs can there be true competition." 附近有两所学校（之间至少有一些空地间隔开来）相似到足以进行比较，但不同到足以排名，这种情况是非常罕见的。只有在这种情况下，才会有真正的竞争。据此可知B项“当两所学校的具有不同的教育质量并且两所学校大致相当的时候，才有真正的竞争。”体现了原文中的“相似到足以比较，但又有不同之处”。故B项正确。
3.细节事实题。根据题干定位到第三段However, the secondary sector did not become particularly competitive while, admittedly, the consumers have been given more information, which is one aspect of a truly free market. 然而，第二部门并没有变得特别有竞争力，同时不可否认，消费者得到了更多的信息，这是一个真正自由市场的一个方面。可知A项“中等教育的自由市场给消费者提供了更多信息”正确。B项“中等教育的自由市场比高等教育市场更有竞争力”和C项“中等教育的自由市场意味着大学将有更激烈的竞争”原文没有提到。D项“中等教育的自由市场让英国现行政府很惊讶”与文中“it was no surprise to hear claims that many educational developments of the 1990s would move us towards a free market in secondary education” 这并不令人意外听到这样的观点：上世纪90年代的许多教育发展将推动我们走向中等教育的自由市场…不符。故A项正确。
4.判断推理题。根据题干定位到倒数第二段“But, let us all breathe a sigh of relief. Secondary schools had started of late to move in the marketing direction——considering allocating scarce resources of staff and money to persuading the pupils that their schools are the best in the area. No schools could afford to do that properly, so it is a relief to realize this research tells us we don't have to. 但是，让我们都松一口气吧。中学最近才开始向市场营销方向发展--考虑分配稀缺的人力资源和资金来说服学生，使其相信他们的学校是该地区最好的。没有一所学校能负担得起这样做，因此，当我们意识到这项研究告诉我们不必这样做时，我们松了一口气。”可知作者松了一口气的原因是研究表明学校不必证明自己是最好的。答案D
5.判断推理题。根据题干定位到最后一段“Competition? We haven't got time for it! Let's spend our small budget in teaching and learning, not in competing and marketing.” 竞争?我们没时间了!让我们把我们的小预算花在教学上，而不是竞争和营销上。由此可知作者对竞争是持反对态度的。D项正确。
