阅读理解。
Is early childhood education really necessary? Early childhood education primarily focuses on learning
through playing to develop the child's physical, sensory (感觉的), communicational and social development.
Early childhood education has become a concern of the government, who pushes poor children to be formally
trained before they are old enough for the kindergarten.
There are good reasons for the government to push early childhood education. Studies have shown that
orphan children who did not receive good care and education become developmentally delayed causing failure
in school, and even in life. Further studies show that poor children who take part in Head Start programs are
more prepared for school, less likely to end up in Special Education classes, and are less likely to receive public
help or go to jail.
There are also negative parts of putting a child in formal education programs too early. Time Magazine online
explains that the younger the child, the less his chances of catching up with first-grade work. I have personally
witnessed many children of my generation who went to Head Start programs became frustrated and bored with
school before they finished high school. Yet parents have been sure that the earlier the child starts school, the
better off he or she is, so they push to start childhood education earlier.
Actually while early formal education of poor children does show great gains in the early elementary years,
studies also show that this head start is really a"false start", as the gains are lost in middle and high school years.
It seems that environment is a bigger factor on life's success than early education. Head Start programs have
not achieved its original goal in closing the achievement gap in poor and middle school children. Perhaps it is
time to find other ways to close that gap.
1. The purpose of the government valuing early childhood education is _____.
A. to develop the children's communication
B. to give orphaned children good care and education
C. to get the children prepared for the kindergarten
D. to train the children formally and regularly
2. According to the studies which of the following is True?
A. Children with good early education may have a rich life.
B. The orphaned children are usually unhappy in their life.
C. Children without early education can do well at school.
D. Head Start programs are helpful to the poor children.
3. The author's attitude toward early childhood education is _____.
A. puzzling
B. objective
C. indifferent
D. approving
4. The main idea of the last passage is that _____.
A. early childhood education is very necessary
B. Head Start programs have helped the children a lot
C. environment is the most important to life's success
D. better ways should be found to help the poor children
