17．When University of California-Berkeley released a study this month showing alarmingly high teacher turnover （人员流动） rates at Los Angeles charter （特许） schools，I wasn‘t surprised．
That's not shocking news at local charter schools．It‘s just that the study reminded me of something I'd observed many times，starting with my niece．
Bright and cheerful，my niece longed to teach high-needs children．She started out in the San Francisco public schools，where she was assigned to the district‘s toughest elementary school．Fifth-graders threw chairs across the room-and at her．Parents refused to show up for conferences．
She wasn't willing to deal with this level of indifference and teacher abuse，so she switched to a highly regarded charter elementary school in the Bay Area where she poured her energy into her job and it showed．Her students‘test scores were as high as those in a nearby wealthy school district，despite the obstacles these children faced．
By her fourth year，however，my niece was worn out，running out of the energy it took to work with a classroom of sweet but deeply needy children who begged to stay in her classroom when it was time to leave．The principal‘s offer of a $10，000raise couldn‘t stop her from giving notice．She went to work at that wealthy school district next door-for less money．
Over the years，I've met many teachers who have a passion for their work at charter schools，only to call them the next year and find they‘ve left．The authors of the Berkeley study hold the belief that the teachers leave because of the extraordinary demands：long hours，intense involvement in students complicated lives，continual searches for new ways to raise scores．Even the strongest supporters of the reform movement acknowledge that raising achievement among disadvantaged students is the most challenging task．
It‘s unlikely that we can build large-scale school reform on a platform of continual new demands on teachers-more time，more energy，more devotion，more responsibility-even if schools find ways to pay them better．
This is the bigger challenge facing schools．We need a more useful answer to the Berkeley study than-Yeah，its really hard work．
50．Why wasn‘t the author surprised at the problem？C
A．She had been informed of the problem by her niece．
B．She had participated in the Berkeley study．
C．She had noticed the phenomenon repeatedly．
D．She had been warned of the problem by the media．
51．What can we learn about the students in the public school the author‘s niece taught？B
A．They were clever and cheerful．
B．They were not disciplined．
C．They were indifferent to each other．
D．They were forced to learn by their parents．
52．The author‘s niece left the charter elementary school in the Bay Area becauseC．
A．her hard work and devotion didn‘t pay off
B．her work was not well received by the children
C．the demanding work made her exhausted
D．the mean principle offered her a low salary
53．Which of the following is probably the most difficult for teachers？A
A．Raising disadvantaged students‘scores．
B．Frequent involvement in students‘lives．
C．Indifference from students‘parents．
D．Long working time and much energy．
54．What is the author's comment on the current school reform movement？B
A．It will have a positive impact on education．
B．It tends to be unsuccessful．
C．It will make teachers more motivated．
D．It demands more fund to meet the challenge．
分析 加州大学伯克利分校发布了一项研究显示在美国旧金山特许学校的老师人员流动很大．作者对此现象并不感到惊奇，因为屡次觉察到这种现象．作者从他的侄女的经历开始说起，侄女一开始在公立学校当老师，但公立学校的学生不守纪律，在教室里摔椅子，家长不配合，因此她去了特许学校（相当于民办学校），而特许学校的学生对分数的追求，以及老师精力的透支，她还是离开了特许学校．
伯克利分校的研究显示特许学校的老师人员流动性大的原因有：时间长，需要过多地干涉学生复杂的生活背景，持续的提高分数的考核指标等等．就连教改的最强支持者也承认--对不具备优势的学生来说，要求提高学习成绩是一项极大的挑战．
最后作者提出了自己的见解：一味地大幅度地要求提高老师的素质并不能解决问题--要求老师更长的教学时间，更多的精力，更多的奉献，更多的责任感．即使提高特许学校老师的薪资待遇，也是无法改变人员流动的现状的．
作者认为应该找到实际的解决办法，而不是一味地说--这真的是太难了！
解答 50．C 细节理解题．由第二段That's not shocking news at local charter schools．It‘s just that the study reminded me of something I'd observed many times由many times可知"有很多次"，因此同义词为repeatly，可以推知答案为C，意为已经反复地意识到这个现象．
51．B 细节理解题．由第三段可知，Fifth-graders threw chairs across the room-and at her．五年级的学生在教室里扔椅子，甚至朝着她扔，可知这些public school的人是不受约束的，不遵守纪律的，答案为B．
52．C 细节理解题．由第五段可知作者的侄女离开特许学校的原因：By her fourth year，however，my niece was worn out，running out of the energy…因为太累（wear out，精疲力尽），即使校长想要提高她的薪资待遇，作者的侄女还是决定离开．
故答案为C．
53．A 细节理解题．从第六段最后一句可以得知Even the strongest supporters of the reform movement acknowledge that raising achievement among disadvantaged students is the most challenging task．（即使最强烈支持教改的支持者也承认提高成绩对劣势的学生来说是一项最具挑战性的任务）．故答案为A．
54．B 作者情感态度推测题．由最后两段可以得知作者的态度It‘s unlikely that we can build large-scale school reform on a platform of continual new demands on teachers-more time，more energy，more devotion，more responsibility-even if schools find ways to pay them better．This is the bigger challenge facing schools．We need a more useful answer to the Berkeley study than-Yeah，its really hard work．关键词"It‘s unlikely…"（不可能），a more useful answer （更实际的答案），可见作者对目前的教改是持否定态度的，故答案为B．
点评 此类阅读理解需在通读全文的基础上，把握文章写作结构，理清文章线索，注意细节，理解作者写作目的．
