问答题Classes at American College　　The year at an American college is divided into 2 semesters or 3 quarters. Semesters are 15 weeks; quarters are 10 weeks. American college students usually attend school from September to May. Occasionally their academic pu

Read the passage carefully and answer Questions 1 to 5. Answer each question in a maximum of 10 words. Remember to write the answers on the Answer Sheet.　　In the United States today, many people want a college education. However, almost half of the people who go to college now do not attend a four-year college. Instead, they go to a community college.　　The community college offers a two-year course of study in a wide range of subjects. It prepares some young people to go on to a four-year college. It trains others for jobs in business, government, or industry.　　Some people choose a community college because of cost. The tuition for a semester at a community college can be less than half the cost of a semester at a four-year college. Also, since these colleges are located in large communities, their students can save money by living at home.　　Community colleges are also useful for people who have jobs and who do not have time for a traditional four-year college. Some of these people take night courses at community colleges. Others complete long-distance courses, in which they stay at home and use video-tapes, audiotapes, and the Internet.　　Community colleges also serve high school graduates who only achieved low grades. Many of these students would not be admitted to a four-year college. If they do well, they may go on to a four-year college.　　Today, the country’s 1,500 community colleges have more than 10 million students. These colleges are making it possible for more and more people to continue their education.　　Questions:　　1．What is the passage mainly about?　　2．What does theyin paragraph 1 refer to?　　3．In which fields does a community college provide job training?　　4．Why do people often prefer to go to a community college?　　5．What does the word tuitionin paragraph 3 mean?

Which of the following statements is supported by the passage?

There is an ever-widening gap between black male college enrollees and their female and white counterparts, says the American Council on Education (ACE).　　Twenty years ago, according to ACE’s “Annual Status Report on Minorities in Higher Education,” 30 percent of African American male high school graduates (ages 18 to 24) were enrolled in college, compared with 28 percent of same-age black females and 41 percent of white males. Now, some 37 percent of black men are enrolled, compared with 42 percent of African American women and 44.5 percent of white males. So while there are more black males enrolling in college today than 20 years ago, other groups have outstripped them in enrolling and, even more importantly, in retention rates.　　The graduation rate of black men is lower than that of any group. Only 35 percent of black males enrollees graduated within six years from colleges in 1996, compared with 59 percent of white males,46 percent of Hispanic men,41 percent of American Indian males and 45 percent of the black women who entered the same year.　　Surveys and reports are hinting that the country’s educational apparatus is stacked against the black male. Fewer than one in five students of color have graduated from high school, have a set of college-prep courses on their high school transcripts and “demonstrate basic literacy” — the necessities for being “college ready.”　　Another glaring problem is that black males are disproportionately labeled as discipline and behavioral problems and fast tracked out of high schools through expulsions and suspensions. As if that’s not enough, says ACE’s William Harvey, there’s a virtual drying up of federal aid-to-education grant money coupled with jacked-up tuitions, which make it necessary for low-income students to assume an average $ 20,000 debt to finish a four-year curriculum.　　“For those in the lower economic category, the availability of financial aid determines who gets to go to college and who doesn’t,” observes Harvey.　　Harvey points out that, over the years, federal funding has undergone a “complete reversal,” from “a 70 percent to 30 percent grant-to-loan ratio 20 years ago” to the exact opposite today..”An 18-year-old male will be more inclined to say, I want money in my pocket now’ and attempt to get a job,” adds Harvey. “But many take on the debt, become part-time students, work 20-plus hours a week and become five-year students at a four-year college.”　　The inequity of that educational apparatus is especially clear when you look at the black males who persevere — those who go on to finish high school, earn a bachelor’s degree and even finish grad school.　　A recently released Census report shows that, whether they have a high school diploma or a master’s degree, black men will earn roughly 25 percent less than Whites.

According to the passage the problems of college education partly arise from the fact that______.

According to the third paragraph, which of the following is true?

Covington College has four full-time Classics professors, but only 12 Classics majors. This three-to-one student-to-professor ratio is the lowest in the college. Since the college is facing financial difficulties, and since the tuition fees from just 12 students is not sufficient to pay the salaries of 4 full-time professors, the college should cancel the Classics program to reduce expenses.　 Which of the following, if true, most weakens the conclusion above?

According to the passage the problems of college education partly arise from the fact that _____.

Classes at American College　　The year at an American college is divided into 2 semesters or 3 quarters. Semesters are 15 weeks; quarters are 10 weeks. American college students usually attend school from September to May. Occasionally their academic pursuits extend into the summer.　　Students choose their classes a few weeks prior to the start of each term. Universities offer a great many classes in the students’ main area of study and in other areas as well. Students must take both. These include science, mathematics, computer, history and English. Other classes may be just for fun, like dance, theater or sports. Tests usually are given in the middle of the term and at the end3. The final examinations are extremely important. In some classes, the professor asks the students to write a research paper or complete a certain task instead of taking a test.　　Classes usually are organized through lectures. For example, a student may attend 2 or 3 lectures a week by the professor. As many as several hundred students sit at each lecture. Sometimes they also attend a smaller class to ask questions and discuss what the professor says4. These small classes are taught by professor’s assistants. In science classes, students also have a long laboratory class each week.　　What do American students study at college? The US Department of Education says the most popular area of study is sciences and management. Next is social science, which encompasses history, sociology, literature, public relations and political science. English is another popular field of study. Then comes computer science and health and life sciences like biology, chemistry and physics. Education is popular, too. Foreign languages are not popular as a main area of study among American college students. However, students at many colleges must study a language other than English before they can graduate. The most popular foreign language is Spanish, followed by French and German.