Ⅲ. Reading Comprehension: 35%
Part A: Cloze Test 15%
Competition for admission to the country’s top private schools has always been tough. This is spreading from Manhattan to the rest of the country. Precise 50 data on private schools are unavailable, but interviews with representatives of independent and religious schools all told the same 51: too many applicants, higher rejection rates. Surveys indicate that Americans’ No. 1 52 is education. 53 the long economic boom(繁荣) has given parents more income, many are turning to private schools, even at price tags of well over $10,000 a year. “We’re getting applicants from a broader area, 54, than we ever have in the past,” said Besty Haugh of the Latin School of Chicago, which experienced a 20 percent increase in 55 this year.
The problem is that while demand has increased, supply has not. “Every year, there are a few children who do not find places, but this year, for the first time that I know of, there are a(n) 56 number of children who don’t have places,” said Krents, who also heads a private-school admissions group in New York.
So what can parents do to give their 4-year-old a(n) 57? Schools know there is no simple way to pick a class when children are so young. Many schools give preference to boys or girls or alumni(校友) children. Some use lotteries. But most rely on a 58 of subjective and objective measures: tests that at best 59 developmental maturity and learning potential, interviews with parents and observation of applicants in classroom settings. They also want a diverse mix. Children may end up on a waiting list simply because their birthdays 60 at the wrong time year, or because too many applicants were boys.
The worst thing a parent can do is to pressure preschoolers to perform --- 61, by pushing them to read or do math exercises 62 they’re ready. Instead, the experts say, parents should take a breath and look for 63. Another year in preschool may be all that’s needed. Parents, meanwhile, may need a more 64 mind about relatively unknown private schools --- or about magnet（具有吸引力的）schools in the public system. There’s no sign of the private-school boom letting up.
50. A. traditional B. current C. processed D. average
51. A. story B. advice C. context D. promise
52. A. venture B. concern C. occupation D. interest
53. A. For that B. So that C. Now that D. After that
54. A. intellectually B. psychologically C. commercially D. geographically
55. A. applications B. locations C. schools D. admissions
56. A. considerate B. inadequate C. significant D. moderate
57. A. advantage B. skill C. place D. school
58. A. choice B. mix C. preference D. base
59. A. identify B. exploit C. employ D. confirm
60. A. set B. fix C. date D. fall
61. A. in a word B. to a great extent C. in any case D. for example
62. A. when B. since C. before D. until
63. A. occasions B. competitions C. alternatives D. pressures
64. A. open B. closed C. active D. secret
