their learning.

In setting out its plans for a five-term year, Nottingham City Council (委员会）is seeking to reduce the summer holiday down to four and a half weeks, with a. more balanced five terms of roughly eight weeks, each followed by a two-week break. We believe this will give real ―down time" for school staff and pupils alike but will be short enough not to cause a real break in learning.

We acknowledge that this change may be difficult for some school staff, particularly whose own children are educated in other authorities. However, this must be weighed against the benefits for city children for whom we all have the greatest duty of care.

71. The passage is probably written by _____.

A. an experienced teacher B. a working parent

C. an inspired student D. a city council member

答案：D 推理判断题。根据倒数第二段第一句话的口气可知作者是City Council的一名成员，D项正确。

72. The underlined word ―

A. environments B. holidays C. wages D. benefits

答案：B词义猜测题。根据上文提到的holidays are expensive可知they指的是holidays，本

句意为：假期是非常贵的，对于那些低收入或靠救济来过活的家庭的人来说，假期是获得不

到的。

73. It is suggested in the passage that the summer break be reduced to _____.

A. 2 weeks B. 4.5 weeks C. 5 weeks D. 6 weeks

答案：B 细节理解题。从文中“Nottingham City Council (委员会）is seeking to reduce the summer holiday down to four and a half weeks”可知。

74. The plans for a shorter summer holiday will help students _____.

A. obtain the cheapest holidays without additional costs

B. get a chance to spend, six weeks a term with teachers in school

C. benefit more from the caring and inspiring learning environment

D. have more school days to receive free school meals

答案：C 细节理解题。从文中The schools that I visit in Nottingham are full of experienced staff committed to giving our children a caring and inspiring learning environment.可得知。

75. It can be inferred from the passage that _____.

A. working parents can enjoy a five-week break to care for their children

B. the suggested plans for a five-term school year can hardly be carried out

C. the long summer holiday gives teachers and students real ― down time"

D. some school staff will say ― No" to the plans for a shorter summer holiday

答案：D推理判断题。根据第二段第一句话We acknowledge that this change may be difficult for some school staff, particularly whose own children are educated in other authorities.可知答案为

D项，对于减少假期的时间学校的一些教职工是不支持的。