Americans who remember “the good old days” are not alone in complaining about the educational system in this country. Immigrants(移民) complain ，too. Lately a German friend was filled with anger when he learned that the mathematics test given to his son on his first day as a college freshman included multiplication and division. Japanese businessmen in Los Angeles send their children to private schools staffed by teachers imported from Japan to learn mathematics at Japanese levels，generally considered at least a year more advanced than the level here.

But I wonder：If American education is so poor，why is it that this is still the country of innovation(创新)?

When I was 12 in Indonesia，I had to memorize the name of all the world's major cities，from Kabul to Karachi. At the same age，my son，who was brought up by a Californian，thought that Buenos Aires was Spanish for good food. However，unlike children of his age in Asia and Europe，my son had studied creative geography. When he was only 6，he drew a map of the route that he traveled to get to school，including the streets，the traffic signs and the houses that he passed.

Dissatisfied American parents forget that in this country their children are able to experiment freely with ideas; without this they will not really be able to think or to believe in themselves.

Critics of American education cannot grasp one thing：freedom. America，I think，is the only country that extends even to children the license to freely speak，write and be creative. Our public education certainly is not perfect，but it is a great deal better than any other. I think I have found the answer to my question.

16. From the text we learn that_________.

A)both Americans and immigrants are dissatisfied with the quality of American education

B)the author shares the general idea that American education is worse than education in many other countries

C)Japanese schools in America require their American teachers to teach mathematics at Japanese levels

D)the author's German friend was a little displeased because the mathematics test for his son was too easy.

17. Which of the following is NOT true?

A)The author most probably was an immigrant from Asia and received some school education there.

B)Buenos Aires must be the name of a city，as are Kabul and Karachi.

C)Children in other countries are not likely to learn creative geography.

D)The knowledge of geography of the author's son shows that American education is poor.

18. Which of the following can be inferred from the passage?

A)If children are not allowed to experiment freely with ideas they won't grow up independent and creative.

B)Most Americans think the present American educational system is not as good as it used to be.

C)Private schools run by Japanese businessmen maintain a higher level than American public schools.

D)Americans are more innovative than other people in the world.

19. In the last paragraph the author says," I have found the answer to my question.” What is the question?

A)Is Japanese education better than American education?

B)Why do Japanese businessmen send their children to Japanese-staffed schools?

C)Why was my son not taught enough geographic knowledge?

D)Is American education really worse than education in other countries?

20. What would be the best title for this passage?

A)American Education and Education in Foreign countries

B)Improvement Needed for American Education

C)Freedom to Think― Characteristic of American Education

D)Education and Innovation in American

【答案】

16. A 17. D 18. A 19. D 20. C