概括大意demands preparation

　　Life in the twentieth century demands preparation. Today， all individuals in a country must have adequate schooling to prepare them for their work as well as for their responsibilities as citizens. With this in mind， national leaders everywhere are placing more emphasis on the education of the young. In the United States， government officials， parents， and teachers are working hard to give their children - tomorrow s decision makers - the best preparation available.

　　There is no national school policy in the United States. Each of the fifty states makes its own rules and regulations for its school， but there are many similarities among the fifty school systems. Public schools in all states are supported by taxes paid by the citizens of the individual state. In most states the children are required to attend school until they reach the age of sixteen

　　When they become six years old， children begin elementary school. After six years in elementary school， they go into junior high school and remain there for three years. The last three years of their public school education are spent in senior high school， from which they graduate at the age of eighteen.

　　A great number of high school graduates continue their education in one of the many colleges or universities in the country. After four years， they receive a bachelor s degree. Some continue studying for a master s degree and perhaps a doctor s degree.

　　練習(xí)：

　　A. Family education in the United States

　　B. Primary and secondary schooling

　　C. The importance of education

　　D. The similar school system throughout the US

　　1. Paragraph 1 _________

　　2. Paragraph 2 _________

　　3. Paragraph 3 _________

　　A. go on to study in colleges or universities

　　B. emphasized today

　　C. the taxes paid by the citizens of each state

　　D. to go abroad to do further study

　　E. attend school

　　4. Education is being _________

　　5. In most states children， before they are 16， must _________。

　　6. Public schools are financed by _________。

　　7. After one finishes secondary school， he may or may not _________。

　　答案：CDBBECA