We are all interested in equality

We are all interested in equality(平等), but

while some people try to protect the school and

examination system in the name of equality,

other, still in the name of equality, want only to

destroy it.

Any society which is interested in equality

of opportunity and standards of achievement

must regularly test its pupils. The standards

may be changed—no examination is

perfect—but to have no tests or examinations

would mean the end of equality and of

standards. There are groups of people who

oppose this view and who do not believe either

in examinations or in any controls in school or

on teachers. This would mean that everything

would depend on luck since every pupil would

depend on the efficiency, the values and the

purpose of each teacher.

Without examinations, employers will look

for employees from the highly respected

schools and from families known to them—a

form of favourtism will replace equality. At the

moment, the bright child from an ill—respected

school can show certificates to prove he or she

is suitable for a job, while the lack of certificate

indicates the unsuitability of a dull child

attending a well—respected school. This

defend of excellence and opportunity would

disappear if examinations were taken away,

and the bright child form a poor family would be

a prisoner of his or her school’s reputation,

unable to compete for employment with the

child from the favoured school.

The opponents of the examination system

suggest that examinations are an evil force

because they show differences between pupils.

According to these people, there must be no

special, different, academic class. They have

even suggested that there should be no form of

difference in sport or any other area: all jobs or

posts should be filled by unsystematic

selection. The selection would be made by

people who themselves are probably selected

by some computer.

82. The word “favouritism” in paragraph 3

is used to describe the phenomenon

that________.

A. bright children also need certificates go

get satisfying jobs.

B. children from well—respected schools

tend to have good jobs

C. poor children with certificates are

favoured in job markets

D. children attending ordinary schools

achieve great success

83. What would happen if examinations

were taken away according to the author?

A. Schools for bright children would lose

their reputation.

B. There would be more opportunities and

excellence.

C. Children from poor families would be

able to change their schools.

D. Children’s job opportunity would be

affected by their school reputation.

84. The opponents of the examination

system will agree that _________.

A. jobs should not be assigned by

systematic selection

B. computers should be selected to take

over many jobs

C. special classed are necessary to keep

the school standards

D. schools with academic subjects should

be done away with

85. The passage mainly focuses on

___________.

A. schools and certificates B. examination

and equality

C. opportunity and employment D.

standards and reputation