20．The first year of school in America，known as kindergarten，usually begins between the ages of five and six．Among rich countries such a late start is very strange．President Obama believes it is an economic and social problem； his education secretary goes as far as to say that it is"morally wrong"．This statement has some support，as it is clear from research into vocabulary that youngsters from poor families enter kindergarten well behind those from rich families-a disadvantage that usually lasts a lifetime．Children from households on welfare knew 525words by the age of three，while the children of professionals had mastered 1，116．
Preschool can help close this gap．So in a speech last month，Mr，Obama called for a partnership between the federal government and the states to expand it to every American child．It later became known that"every"meant those who come from families with incomes of up to 200% above the poverty line-equal to an income of $47，000for a family of four．
Some critics say that sending children to school at the age of four does not work．The evidence suggests otherwise．For example，on March 20th new results were announced from a study of 9to 11year olds in New Jersey．This report found that disadvantaged children who had attended preschool had better literacy （读写能力），language，maths and science skills．And two years of prekindergarten were better than one．Some studies also follow the effects of early learning over lifetimes，such as its effect on crime rates and other factors that may eventually burden society．Critics have singled out a government scheme called Head Start，created in 1965，which provides poor households with a range of services including school-based early education．
24．Kindergarten in rich countries other than America usually begins at the age ofA
A．four
B．six
C．seven
D．eight
25．According to the passage，which of the following is TRUE？B
A．Poor preschool kids have a larger vocabulary than rich kids．
B．Rich preschool kids have a richer vocabulary than poor kids．
C．President Obama believes that early education can solve all economic and social problems．
D．President Obama's education secretary thinks it is morally wrong to let kids start kindergarten early．
26．Which of the following about the New Jersey study is TRUE？A
A．Two years of prekindergarten were better than one．
B．New Jersey has created a new Head Start to help disadvantaged kids．
C．Sending children to school at the age of four is not going to help．
D．There is no evidence to support the New Jersey study．
27．Which of the following is an appropriate title for this passage？C
A．Secondary Education
B．Poor Kids'Education
C．Preschool Education
D．Rich Kids'Education．
分析 文章探讨了美国学前教育的一些情况，并指出学前教育对孩子以后学习的重要性．
解答 ABAC
24．A 细节题．第一段第一句说美国的幼儿园一般在五到六岁开始，第二句说在富裕国家里这么晚才开始是十分奇怪的，所以是在五岁以前，综合答案选择A，四岁．
25．B 细节题．Rich pre-school kids have a richer vocabulary than poor kids．第一第四句中提到，根据调查，贫困家庭的孩子在词汇方面要落后于富有家庭的孩子，而这种差距往往会持续一生．所以选B．
26．A 细节题．Two years of pre-kindergarten were better than one．倒数第二段第三四句讲到，参加学前教育的孩子在读写能力、语言能力、数学能力和科学能力上均有更好的表现，而有两年的学前教育效果要好于一年，所以选A．
27．C 主旨大意概括．根据全文的内容来看，通篇都在探讨的是学前教．A选项未提到，CD均为学前教育研究的一部分，所以选C．
点评 在做阅读理解时，考生可快速阅读短文，通读测试题，明确考察点，在对应细读，加快做题速度．有时间还可以复查校对答案．
