2009年12月大学英语四级模拟试题(2)

　　Questions 81 to 85 are based on the following passage:
　　In the English educational system, students take three very importantexaminations. The first is the eleven-plus, which is taken at the age ofeleven or a little past. At one time the ability or aptitude shown on theeleven-plus would have determined if a child stayed in school. Now, however,all children continue in"comprehensive"schools, and the eleven-plus determines which courses of study the child will follow. At the age offifteen or sixteen, the students are tested for the Ordinary Level ofthe General Certificate of Education. This examination covers a widerange of subjects; once students have passed this exam, they are allowedto specialize, so that two-thirds or more of their courses will be inphysics, chemistry, classical languages, or whatever they wish to studyat greater length. The final examination, at eighteen, covers only thecontent of the special subjects. Even at the universities, students studyonly in their concentrated area, and very few students ever venture out-side that subject again; in a real sense, the English boy or girl is aspecialist from the age of fifteen.
　　81. The purpose of this passage is to ______.
　　A) show why most English students are"specialists"
　　B) show the superiority of the English educational system
　　C) describe the three tests that the English educational system is basedon
　　D) discuss the inequalities of the English educational system
　　82. The exam for the Ordinary Level of the General Certificate of Education is administrated at the age of ______.
　　A) fifteen B) eighteen
　　C) eleven D) thirteen
　　83. We may conclude from the passage that______.
　　A) the exam that is taken at age eighteen is easier than the other two exams B) failure on the eleven-plus exam excludes a student from further
　　schooling
　　C) higher education is much narrower in scope in England than in American
　　D) physics and chemistry are the two most popular courses of study
　　84. The passage suggests that ______.
　　A) most people in England are college educated
　　本文来自织梦
　　B) schooling is very closely controlled in England
　　C) the failure rate on eleven-plus exam is quite high
　　D) England's structured educational system has reduced the illiteracy
　　rate in that country dramatically
　　85. As used in the passage, the word "content" (in Line 12) means______.
　　A) difficulties B) framework
　　C) material D) pleasure