When Joe Bates was twelve years old, he lost interest in school. He stopped list

When Joe Bates was twelve years old, he lostinterest in school. He stopped listening in his classes. Some of his teachersbegan to consider him a problem.

But a few of Joe’s teachers thought that Joemight have lost interest in schoolwork because he already understood it. Theyproposed that Joe try taking a university class in computer science. Joe did.He was the best student in the class. Later tests showed that his intelligenceand knowledge were far greater than most children of his age. He entereduniversity when he was thirteen, about four years earlier than most children.And by the time he was in his early twenties, Joe was teaching computer scienceat a university.

Joe’s story shows what can happen when achild’s unusual ability is recognized. Sadly, however, not all gifted childrenget this recognition. And educational experts say unusually gifted children maywaste their abilities if they do not get help to develop them.

Studies show that almost twenty percent ofstudents who fail to complete high school in the United States are giftedchildren.This is because gifted children can have special problems as well asspecial abilities. Teachers may not recognize their abilities or may not knowhow to keep them interested. Or they may consider such students to betroublemakers or rebels.

Gifted children may feel lonely or differentbecause they do not know other children who share their interests.

Educators say there are more than twomillion gifted children in the United States today.  But they say fewerthan half are taking part in special education programs designed for them.

One of the most successful programs is heldevery summer at John Hopkins University in the state of Maryland, where JoeBates went to school. It started in 1980 when educators saw that there must bemany children like Joe.

At first, only 100 children took part in it,and now more than 1,000 children between the ages of nine and sixteen arestudents in the summer program.

The John Hopkins program provides studies inmath and science. It also has classes for children with unusual ability inlanguage and writing. The children study the same subject every day for severalweeks. It could be biology, or history, or literature. In those few weeks, theylearn as much as in a normal nine-month school year.

William Durden, the director says theprogram succeeds because it permits children to make progress more quickly thanin a traditional program. And the children get to meet others like themselves.

1.JoeBates stopped listening in his classes because __________.

A. he lost interest in school

B. he hated those teachers who consideredhim a problem

C. he had already understood what he wastaught

D. he wanted to take a university class

2.When achild’s unusual ability is recognized, __________.

A. he can do whatever he likes

B. he will no longer be considered to be atroublemaker or rebel

C. he may have more success than mostchildren of his age

D. he will certainly take part in a specialeducation program

3.Accordingto the passage, the most important thing is to __________.

A. recognize and develop gifted children’sunusual abilities

B. design and support special educationprograms for gifted children

C. help gifted children get to meet otherswho share their interests

D. encourage gifted children instead oftreating them as a problem

4.Manygifted students fail to complete high school in the United States because_________.

A. they take part in traditional educationprograms

B. their unusual abilities are notrecognized   

C. their teachers don’t know how to keepthem interested in schoolwork

D. they have special problems as well asspecial abilities.

试题答案

【答案】

1.C

2.C

3.A

4.D