No one wants to be tested．We would all like to get a driver’s license without answering questions about rights of way or showing that we can parallel park a car．Many future lawyers and doctors probably wish they could join their profession without taking an exam．

But tests and standards are a necessary fact of life．They protect us from unskilled drivers, harmful products and dishonest professionals．In schools too exams play a constructive role．They tell public officials whether new school programs are making a difference and where new investments are likely to pay off．They tell teachers what their students have learned——and have not．They tell parents how their children are doing compared with others of their age．They encourage students to make more effort．

It is important to recall that for most of century, educators used intelligence tests to decide which children should get a high-quality education．The point of IQ testing was to find out how much children were capable of learning rather than to test what they had actually learned．Based on IQ scores, millions of children were assigned to dumbed-down (学术挑战较小的) programs instead of solid courses in science, math, history, literature and foreign language．

This history reminds us that tests should be used to improve education．Every child should have access to a high - quality education．Students should have full opportunity to learn what will be tested; otherwise their scores will merely reflect whether they come from an educated family．

In the past few years, we have seen the enormous benefits that flow to disadvantaged students because of the information provided by state tests．Those who fall behind are now getting extra instruction in after - school classes and summer programs．In their efforts to improve student performance, states are increasing teachers’ salaries, testing new teachers and insisting on better teacher education．

Performance in education means the mastery of both knowledge and skills．This is why it is reasonable to test teachers to make sure they know their subject matter, as well as how to teach it to young children．And this is why it is reasonable to assess whether students are ready to advance to the next grade or graduate from high school．

68．According to the passage, school exams enable ______．

       A．governments to make right policies

       B．students to meet their teachers’ requirements

       C．teachers to understand if their students have made efforts

       D．parents to compare their kids’ achievements across schools

69．Which of the following does the author probably agree with?

       A．Disadvantaged students can benefit from state tests．

       B．Tests should focus on what students have actually learned．

       C．Intelligent tests decide if children should get a high - quality education．

       D．Intelligent tests are helpful in separating excellent students from poor ones．

70．What is the purpose of the passage?

       A．To re - assess the value of IQ testing．

       B．To defend the role of testing in education．

       C．To explain what high - quality education means．

       D．To call for thorough and complete reform in education．

I would like to encourage parents, and anyone reading this column to express your special thanks to the men and women who share the care giving of your children. Write your children's teachers a little note to tell them how important they are... it will make their day.

Actually they need far more than thanks. They need pay that is equitable (reasonable)to the important work they do. In our country, we pay nearly the same salaries to the attendants who park and watch our cars as we do to trained people who care for our children.

When you give your car to the attendant, you want it kept in a safe place and you want to get it back without a scratch (划痕). When you give your child to a preschool teacher or caregiver, they do much more.

Quality childcare is physically and emotionally demanding. Children are active, vulnerable (be easily harmed), and eager to learn, and they also need individualized, loving attention. Caregivers teach health, safety, personal hygiene (卫生); they teach values and self-discipline. They lay the foundations for learning reading, science, and math. They teach cooperation and the work ethic (道德规范).

Caregivers in quality child -care homes and centers do everything possible for children, and they keep on doing it until they burn out, or can no longer afford to keep it up. They have families too. We lose many of our best early childhood teachers because so many of them have no health benefits.

Fair wages and basic health benefits will keep the good people in the field that our children need. Please write your state and federal representatives (参、众议院议员)to urge their support of young children, their education and their quality care.

1．The underlined expression "it will make their day"(Para. 1)means "________".

       A．it will make them happy

       B．it will remind them of their duties

       C．it will make them remember that day

       D．it will encourage them to show their kindness

2．According to the passage many caregivers give up their job because _______.

       A．they don't like working with children

       B．they have to look after their own children

       C．they are not well trained to be fit for the job

       D．they get paid too little to support their families

3．Which of the following statements is TRUE？

       A．Parents always express their special thanks to their children's teachers.

       B．The local government has been worried about preschool teachers.

       C．Car attendants are able to learn to get better paid than caregivers.

       D．Child caregivers ought to be well respected and better paid.

4．The author would probably agree that ______.

       A．child caregivers play an important role in preschool education

       B．parents should teach their children how to protect themselves

       C．the country is in great need of quality school teachers

       D．a car attendant is able to learn to be a quality caregiver