Read the following passage adapted from MS Encarta 2008 and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet
to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions.
In early civilizations, citizens were educated informally, usually within the family unit. Education meant
simply learning to live. As civilizations became more complex, however, education became more formal, structured,
and comprehensive. Initial efforts of the ancient Chinese and Greek societies concentrated solely on the
education of males. The post-Babylonian Jews and Plato were exceptions to this pattern. Plato was
apparently the first significant advocate of the equality of the sexes. Women, in his ideal state, would have the same
rights and duties and the same educational opportunities as men. This aspect of Platonic philosophy, however, had little
or no effect on education for many centuries, and the concept of a liberal education for men only, which had been
espoused by Aristotle, prevailed.
In ancient Rome, the availability of an education was gradually extended to women, but they were taught
separately from men. The early Christians and medieval Europeans continued this trend, and single-sex schools for the
privileged classes prevailed through the Reformation period. Gradually, however, education for women on a
separate but equal basis to that provided for men was becoming a clear responsibility of society. Martin Luther
appealed for civil support of schools for all children. At the Council of Trent in the 16th century, the Roman
Catholic Church encouraged the establishment of free primary schools for children of all classes. The concept of
universal primary education, regardless of sex, had been born, but it was still in the realm of the single-sex school.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, co-education became a more widely applied principle of
educational philosophy. In Britain, Germany, and the Soviet Union the education of boys and girls in the same
classes became an accepted practice. Since World War II, Japan and the Scandinavian countries have also
adopted relatively universal co-educational systems. The greatest negative reaction to co-education has been felt
in the teaching systems of the Latin countries, where the sexes have usually been separated at both primary and
secondary levels, according to local conditions.
A number of studies have indicated that girls seem to perform better overall and in science in particular in
single-sex classes: during the adolescent years, pressure to conform to stereotypical female gender roles may
disadvantage girls in traditionally male subjects, making them reluctant to volunteer for experimental work while
taking part in lessons. In Britain, academic league tables point to high standards achieved in girls' schools. Some
educationalists therefore suggest segregation of the sexes as a good thing, particularly in certain areas, and a
number of schools are experimenting with the idea.
Question 56: Ancient education generally focused its efforts on ____.
A. on male learners B. both sexes C. female learners D. young people only
Question 57: Education in early times was mostly aimed at ____.
A. teaching skills B. learning to live C. learning new lifestyles D. imparting survival skills
Question 58: The first to support the equality of the sexes was ____.
A. the Chinese B. the Greek C. Plato D. the Jews
Question 59: The word "informally" in this context mostly refers to an education occurring____.
A. in classrooms B. outside the school C. in a department D. ability
Question 60: When education first reached women, they were ____.
A. locked up in a place with men B. isolated from normal life
C. deprived of opportunities D. separated from men
Question 61: When the concept of universal primary education was introduced, education____.
A. was given free to all B.was intended for all the sexes
C. focused on imparting skills D. was intended to leave out female learners
Question 62: The word "espouse" is contextually closest in meaning to "____".
A. to introduce B. to put off C. to give D. to induce
Question 63: Co-ed was negatively responded to in ____.
A. Japan B. the Scandinavian countries C. South American countries D. conservative countries
Question 64: The word "tables" is closest in meaning to "____".
A. shapes B. meeting tables C. personalities D. figures
Question 65: The word "segregation" may be understood as "____".
A. grouping B. mixture C. separation D. extraction
Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the underlined part that needs correction.
Question 66: The museum contains sixth century sculptures, eighteenth century swords and the dress
A B