阅读理解。
Education is an expensive part of American life. Its size is matched by its variety. Differences in
American schools compared with those found in the majority of other countries lie in the fact that
education here has long been intended for everyone. Schools are expected to meet the needs of every
child, regardless of ability, and also the needs of society itself. This means that public schools offer more
than academic subjects. It surprises many people when they come here to find high schools offering such
courses as typing, sewing, radio repair, computer programming or driver training, along with traditional
academic subjects such as mathematics, history, and languages. Students choose their courses
depending on their interests, future goals, and level of ability. The basic goal of American education is to
develop every child to the utmost of his or her own possibilities, and to give each one a sense of
community.
Schools have traditionally played an important role in creating national unity and "Americanizing" the
millions of immigrants who have poured into this country from many different backgrounds and origins.
Schools still play a large role in the community, especially in the small towns.
The teaching may seem unfamiliar to many, not only because it is informal, but also because there is
not much emphasis on learning facts. Instead, Americans try to teach their children to think for themselves and to develop their own intellectual and creative abilities. Students spend much time learning how to use
materials, libraries, statistics, and computers. Americans believe that if children are taught to reason well
and to research well, they will be able to find whatever facts they need throughout the rest of their lives.
Knowing how to solve problems is considered more important than the accumulation (积累) of facts.
This is America's answer to the searching question that thoughtful parents all over the world are asking
themselves in the fast-moving time, "How can one prepare today's child for a tomorrow that one can
neither predict nor understand?"
1. The underlined words "reason well" probably means _____
A. persuade firmly
B. list the reasons clearly
C. think logically
D. conclude immediately
2. It is implied in the passage that _____.
A. all high-school students take the same courses
B. every student must take practical ability training courses
C. every public school offers the same academic subjects
D. the subjects every student takes may vary
3. American schools place great emphasis on the learners' _____.
A. knowledge
B. accumulation of facts
C. creativity
D. ability to work with hands
4. What makes American education different from others'?
A. The large number of schools.
B. The variety of the courses.
C. Its consideration for immigrants.
D. The basic goal of the education.
