Eight-year-old Bethany and seven-year-old Eliza are having a great time jumping around in the orchard of their home in a village near Penrith. They can play any time they like because they don't go to school. Instead, they are educated at home by their parents, Paul and Veronika Robinson. But they don't have lessons, have never used a timetable and learn only what and when they want to learn.
"I want my kids to have freedom in their childhood, not spend it in an institution," says 37-year-old Veronika, "School is all about control and following the rules." Veronika and her 56-year-old husband Paul have never experienced the daily rush to get dressed and out of the door that is common in most households with school-aged children. "We get up at our leisure - usually around 8.30-ish," says Veronika. "We might visit a friend, or go to the library, and on Tuesdays we shop at the market. In summer, we spend most of our time outside and the girls entertain themselves a lot."
New research due to be published this spring reveals a very different picture of Britain's home educators. "Out of 297 families, 184 said that they never use a timetable," says Mike Fortune-Wood of Home Education UK. "Ninety per cent never or rarely use textbooks, and nearly all said that happiness, contentment and self-fulfillment were more important than academic achievement. Only 15% felt that planning what to learn was crucial."
So far, so good. But what, you might ask, are the children actually learning?
"It wasn't important to me that the girls could read by a certain age, but they both picked it up for themselves at around seven," says Robinson. "Weighing cooking ingredients uses maths, and making a shopping list teaches them to write. Observing five hens has taught the girls about survival of the fittest. "
But what about when the children grow up? Can they go to university? The home educators' answer is they can if they want to. There are a variety of routes into higher education, but probably the most common is to join a local college. This is what Gus Harris-Reid has done. "I was educated at home all my life. I'd never had a lesson or been inside a classroom until I started GCSEs," says the 18-year-old. "I'm now studying for 4 A-levels at Exeter College. I've had no problem with the work or with fitting in." When asked to reflect on his experience of home education, his considered response is, "Like a permanent holiday, really!" Not a bad start for someone who plans to take a mechanical engineering degree next year.
1. What is the topic of this article?
A. New ways of learning to read and write   B. Problems with UK schools
C. Home education in the UK             D. Wild, undisciplined children
2. Why do the Robinsons not send their children to school?
A. They think schools control children too much.    B. They do not like the courses taught in schools.
C. They want to teach their children farming skills.   D. They live in a remote area where there are no schools.
3. According to the article, in homes with school-going children, ______.
A. mornings are rushed and stressful.      B. the children hardly ever go outside.
C. the family wakes up around 8.30am.    D. the children must ask permission to go to the toilet.
4. Which of the following statements is NOT true?
A. Most home educators believe that happiness is more important than good grades.
B. Most home educators believe that planning is important.
C. Most home educators do not follow a timetable or use textbooks.
D. Most home educators are not worried about when their children learn to read and write.
5. What does the article say about home-educated children getting into university?
A. They learn so many useful skills at home that universities are happy to accept them.
B. They can get into university if they have 4 A-levels.
C. They can go to school later and get the qualifications they need in order to enter university.
D. Home education is so relaxed that they are likely to experience problems when faced with the pressures of a degree course.

Eight-year-old Bethany and seven-year-old Eliza are having a great time jumping around in the orchard of their home in a village near Penrith. They can play any time they like because they don't go to school. Instead, they are educated at home by their parents, Paul and Veronika Robinson. But they don't have lessons, have never used a timetable and learn only what and when they want to learn.

"I want my kids to have freedom in their childhood, not spend it in an institution," says 37-year-old Veronika, "School is all about control and following the rules." Veronika and her 56-year-old husband Paul have never experienced the daily rush to get dressed and out of the door that is common in most households with school-aged children. "We get up at our leisure - usually around 8.30-ish," says Veronika. "We might visit a friend, or go to the library, and on Tuesdays we shop at the market. In summer, we spend most of our time outside and the girls entertain themselves a lot."

New research due to be published this spring reveals a very different picture of Britain's home educators. "Out of 297 families, 184 said that they never use a timetable," says Mike Fortune-Wood of Home Education UK. "Ninety per cent never or rarely use textbooks, and nearly all said that happiness, contentment and self-fulfillment were more important than academic achievement. Only 15% felt that planning what to learn was crucial."

So far, so good. But what, you might ask, are the children actually learning?

"It wasn't important to me that the girls could read by a certain age, but they both picked it up for themselves at around seven," says Robinson. "Weighing cooking ingredients uses maths, and making a shopping list teaches them to write. Observing five hens has taught the girls about survival of the fittest. "

But what about when the children grow up? Can they go to university? The home educators' answer is they can if they want to. There are a variety of routes into higher education, but probably the most common is to join a local college. This is what Gus Harris-Reid has done. "I was educated at home all my life. I'd never had a lesson or been inside a classroom until I started GCSEs," says the 18-year-old. "I'm now studying for 4 A-levels at Exeter College. I've had no problem with the work or with fitting in." When asked to reflect on his experience of home education, his considered response is, "Like a permanent holiday, really!" Not a bad start for someone who plans to take a mechanical engineering degree next year.

1. What is the topic of this article?

 A. New ways of learning to read and write   B. Problems with UK schools

C. Home education in the UK             D. Wild, undisciplined children

2. Why do the Robinsons not send their children to school?

A. They think schools control children too much.    B. They do not like the courses taught in schools.

 C. They want to teach their children farming skills.   D. They live in a remote area where there are no schools.

3. According to the article, in homes with school-going children, ______.

A. mornings are rushed and stressful.      B. the children hardly ever go outside.

 C. the family wakes up around 8.30am.    D. the children must ask permission to go to the toilet.

4. Which of the following statements is NOT true?

 A. Most home educators believe that happiness is more important than good grades.

B. Most home educators believe that planning is important.

 C. Most home educators do not follow a timetable or use textbooks.

 D. Most home educators are not worried about when their children learn to read and write.

5. What does the article say about home-educated children getting into university?

 A. They learn so many useful skills at home that universities are happy to accept them.

 B. They can get into university if they have 4 A-levels.

C. They can go to school later and get the qualifications they need in order to enter university.

 D. Home education is so relaxed that they are likely to experience problems when faced with the pressures of a degree course.

Eight-year-old Bethany and seven-year-old Eliza are having a great time jumping around in the orchard of their home in a village near Penrith. They can play any time they like because they don't go to school. Instead, they are educated at home by their parents, Paul and Veronika Robinson. But they don't have lessons, have never used a timetable and learn only what and when they want to learn.

"I want my kids to have freedom in their childhood, not spend it in an institution," says 37-year-old Veronika, "School is all about control and following the rules." Veronika and her 56-year-old husband Paul have never experienced the daily rush to get dressed and out of the door that is common in most households with school-aged children. "We get up at our leisure - usually around 8.30-ish," says Veronika. "We might visit a friend, or go to the library, and on Tuesdays we shop at the market. In summer, we spend most of our time outside and the girls entertain themselves a lot."

New research due to be published this spring reveals a very different picture of Britain's home educators. "Out of 297 families, 184 said that they never use a timetable," says Mike Fortune-Wood of Home Education UK. "Ninety per cent never or rarely use textbooks, and nearly all said that happiness, contentment and self-fulfillment were more important than academic achievement. Only 15% felt that planning what to learn was crucial."

So far, so good. But what, you might ask, are the children actually learning?

"It wasn't important to me that the girls could read by a certain age, but they both picked it up for themselves at around seven," says Robinson. "Weighing cooking ingredients uses maths, and making a shopping list teaches them to write. Observing five hens has taught the girls about survival of the fittest. "

But what about when the children grow up? Can they go to university? The home educators' answer is they can if they want to. There are a variety of routes into higher education, but probably the most common is to join a local college. This is what Gus Harris-Reid has done. "I was educated at home all my life. I'd never had a lesson or been inside a classroom until I started GCSEs," says the 18-year-old. "I'm now studying for 4 A-levels at Exeter College. I've had no problem with the work or with fitting in." When asked to reflect on his experience of home education, his considered response is, "Like a permanent holiday, really!" Not a bad start for someone who plans to take a mechanical engineering degree next year.

1. What is the topic of this article?

 A. New ways of learning to read and write   B. Problems with UK schools

C. Home education in the UK             D. Wild, undisciplined children

2. Why do the Robinsons not send their children to school?

A. They think schools control children too much.    B. They do not like the courses taught in schools.

 C. They want to teach their children farming skills.   D. They live in a remote area where there are no schools.

3. According to the article, in homes with school-going children, ______.

A. mornings are rushed and stressful.      B. the children hardly ever go outside.

 C. the family wakes up around 8.30am.    D. the children must ask permission to go to the toilet.

4. Which of the following statements is NOT true?

 A. Most home educators believe that happiness is more important than good grades.

B. Most home educators believe that planning is important.

 C. Most home educators do not follow a timetable or use textbooks.

 D. Most home educators are not worried about when their children learn to read and write.

5. What does the article say about home-educated children getting into university?

 A. They learn so many useful skills at home that universities are happy to accept them.

 B. They can get into university if they have 4 A-levels.

C. They can go to school later and get the qualifications they need in order to enter university.

 D. Home education is so relaxed that they are likely to experience problems when faced with the pressures of a degree course.

   Free On-line Short Stories For Kids: Trevor The Taxi

   In this children's story, suited to younger children, we have an adventure with Trevor. He is a taxi. Trevor loves his life:

   “Sometimes he takes patients to the nursing home, where they can get better after being ill, and sometimes he takes people home when they have been shopping, and Stan puts all their packages inside Trevor's boot, so they will not get wet or broken.”

   The black cab, in this adventure, goes far beyond the call of duty whilst he achieves his wildest dreams! What could this be? Well you will just have to read this short story for yourself!

   Free On-line Short Stories For Kids: The Girl Who Believed In Fairies

   The fairy queen is upset and the elves just don't know what to do:

   “Oh, oh," sobbed the queen, getting her hankie all wet with her constant crying. For the twelfth time that day, Elgie the chief elf took her hankie and wrung it out on to the carpet of grass that grew all around the palace.”

   How will they manage to help the queen? Why was she so unhappy? There is only one person that can help! Can she do it? This is a lovely fairy tale that will glow the embers of your heart - only for young little princesses!
   Free On-line Short Stories For Kids: The Envious Kings

   This story is suitable for 6 years and upwards.

   Unfolding in the story pages of this recommendation is a children's story about two kings who were competing with each other:

   “In spite of the easy life that the two kings had, they were not happy, for each of them kept thinking that the other one had a bigger and better palace, or owned more horses, or had more jewels or even had creamier milk.”

   They were both petty and, through their envy, they caused themselves much trouble. Who do you think saved the day? Well, you will just have to read the story to find out!
   Free On-line Short Stories For Kids: The Wise Old Woman

   This story is probably suited to the 8 years old age range and upwards, although would appeal to adults, alike.

   Here I introduce you to one of my kids on-line stories listed on the writing and literature section of Hubpages. In this parable you will find a magical world of wisdom involving trees, people and someone very special.
   “As she stood and watched, the knowledge melted into her and the sapling grew...The magical transition took her breath away and as she watched on with ore, she noticed something strange.”

   So, what was this strangeness and magical transition? Let me leave you with wonderment ... and a click of the link!

   Free On-line Short Stories For Kids: Unusual Stories - Faffenburger's Odyssey

   This story is probably more suited to the older child. So who is Faffenburger? Well with one of these free on-line short stories for kids, we enter into a different realm. A world of nonsense as Faffenburger moves within alpha and omega. This is a rather unusual story as you will find out!

   “My friend, Henry Faffenburger stomped down the long lane on his short stumpy legs, moonlight glancing off his bald-spot, which was a little surprising as there was no moon that night. As he rounded the bend, he saw a pair of headlights coming toward him. They drew level, and stopped. A small man with yellow eyes emerged from the darkness behind the lights, and enquired if Faffenburger would like a lift.

   "Where are you going ?" asked my friend. "Wherever you want to go", replied the owner of the yellow eyes.”

   So, the adventure begins! Where will they go? Alpha, Omega or just the middle? After all, it was a long summer - especially the middle! Take a closer look at this - you might find something a little more strange and a little more hidden that you have noticed before. Intrigued? Well you should be with Faffenburger's Odyssey!

46. Which story is more well-received by young girls?

   A. Trevor The Taxi                                     B. Faffenburger's Odyssey

   C. The Wise Old Woman                            D. The Girl Who Believed In Fairies

47. You can find the description of a night scene in _______?

   A. The Envious Kings                                 B. The Girl Who Believed In Fairies

   C. The Wise Old Woman                            D. Faffenburger's Odyssey

48. According to the passage, the kings in “The Envious Kings” can be described as_______?

   A. Jealous              B. powerful                         C. rude                       D. ugly

49. Who will most probably find the passage useful?

   A. parents with children                              B. children who love to surf the Internet

   C. teachers in high school                             D. experts who concern children