2021年考博英語閱讀理解模擬題（五一）

In the1990s New York City's success in cutting crimebecame a model forAmericaand the world. Innovative policing methods, guided by the “broken windows”philosophy of cracking down on minor offences to encourage a culture oflawfulness, showed that a seemingly hopeless situation could be turned around.It made the name of the mayor, Rudy Giuliani, now a presidential aspirant.

Hopelessis how many people feel about America's government-funded public schools,particularly in the dodgier parts ofbig cities, where graduation rates are shockingly low and many fail to achievebasic levels of literacy and numeracy. As with urbancrime, failing urban schools are preoccupying countries the world over. Andjust as New Yorkpointed the way on fighting crime, under another mayor, Michael Bloomberg, itis now emerging as a model for school reform.

OnNovember 5th Mr Bloomberg announced a new “report card” for the city's schools,designed to make them accountable for their performance. The highest-gradedschools will get an increased budget and perhaps a bonus for the principal.Schools that fail will not be tolerated: unless their performance improves,their principals will be fired, and if that does not do the trick, they will beclosed. This is the culmination of a series of reforms that began when MrBloomberg campaigned for, and won, direct control of the school system afterbecoming mayor in 2002. Even before the “report cards”, there have beenimpressive signs of improvement, including higher test scores and bettergraduation rates.

MrBloomberg has not been as brave with schools as Mr Giuliani was with crime.Oddly given his belief in competition, the former media mogul shunned the mostradical option—vouchers that allowparents to shop around beyond the public-schools system for their children'seducation. On the other hand, even supporters of school choice, like thisnewspaper, have to admit it is proving hard to sell. Nor has Mr Bloomberg madea big push to introduce large numbers of independent charter schools as exist,say, in Los Angeles.

Againstthis, Mr Bloomberg has provided an example of what a mayor with control ofschools can do even without embracing such controversial ideas. He has avoided inflammatory political terms—“meritpay” and “vouchers” are red rags to teachers' unions. Instead, byusing the carrot of pay rises to extract performance concessions fromprincipals and teachers, and by persuadingphilanthropists such as Bill Gates to pay for innovations that might behard to sell to the public if the public had to pay for them, he has put inplace a system based on transparency, accountability and competition that hehopes will achieve much the same effect.

Will it?A lot will depend on whether Mr Bloomberg's actions continue to match his toughtalk. Unless bad schools are indeed closed, his scheme will be as much good asa blackboard with no chalk. But there are some parallels with Mr Giuliani'scrime reforms. For the New York Police Department's giant CompStat database,which provided useful insight into crime patterns, read a new schoolsinformation system for students, parents, teachers and schools administratorsdesigned by IBM. For the concept of making precinctpolice captains personally accountable for reducing crime, read the grading ofschools and firing of failing principals.

1. Which one of the following actions may be carried out according to the “broken windows” philosophy?

[A] The police work hard on hopeless offences to create a lawful culture.

[B] The police make the punishment harsher for all kinds of crime.

[C] People are encouraged to give an immediate report about the crime nearby.

[D] Burglars are given a severe punishment.

2. The poor performance of America’s government-funded public schools in big cities is most probably due to_____

[A] a rampant growth of the urban crime.

[B] low rate of graduation and student literacy.

[C] the poor management of the schools in terms of teaching method and teacher qualification.

[D] certain reasons which are not mentioned in the passage.

3. The phrase “red rag” (Line 3, Paragraph 5) most probably means______

[A] the bottom line.

[B] controversial ideas.

[C] irritative factors.

[D] sensitive topics.

4. Which one of the following is TURE of Mr Bloomberg’s reform on publcih schools?

[A] He was encouraged to establish a transparent and accountable system without controversial ideas.

[B] He was intentionally copying Mr Giuliani’s models in most aspects.

[C] He was moderate in taking measures to change the schools system.

[D] He adopted measures that were difficult for people to understand.

5. Mr. Bloomberg’s scheme is compared to a blackboard with no chalk because_____

[A] his scheme is only empty talk.

[B] his scheme has not been implemented.

[C] his scheme sounds too good to be true.

[D] his scheme awaits to be rectified.

[答案]

1. D

2. D

3. C

4. C

5. B

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