Children Tested to Destruction? Reading Answers
Children Tested to Destruction? Reading Answers contains 12 questions which need to be answered in 20 minutes. Children Tested to Destruction? Reading Answers consists of three types of questions including- sentence completion, Yes/no/Not Given, and multiple choice questions. Candidates need to skim the passage for keywords, understand the concept and answer based on the given instructions. For a one-word answer, candidates must read the IELTS reading passage, identify keywords, and recognize synonyms to answer the question.
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Topic: Children Tested to Destruction? Reading Answers
Section 1
Read the Passage to Answer the Following Questions
Children Tested to Destruction? IELTS Reading Sample
- English primary school pupils have to deal with unprecedented levels of pressure as they face tests more frequently, at a younger age, and in more subjects than children from any other country, according to one of the biggest international education inquiries in decades. The damning indictment of England’s primary education system revealed that the country’s children are now the most tested in the world. From their very earliest days at school, they must navigate a set-up whose trademark is high stakes testing, according to a recent report
- Parents are encouraged to choose schools for their children based on league tables of test scores. But this puts children under extreme pressure which could damage their motivation and self-esteem, as well as encouraging schools to teach to the test at the expense of pupils' wider learning, the study found. The findings are part of a two-year inquiry – led by Cambridge University – into English primary schools. Other parts of the UK and countries such as France, Norway and Japan used testing but it was less intrusive, less comprehensive, and considerably less frequent, Cambridge’s Primary Review concluded.
- England was unique in user testing to control what is taught in schools, to monitor teaching standards and to encourage parents to choose schools based on the results of the tests, according to Kathy Flail, from the National University of Ireland in Cork, and Kamil Ozark, from the University of Oslo, who conducted the research. ‘Assessment in England, compared to our other reviewed countries, is pervasive, highly consequential, and taken by officialdom and the public more generally to portray objectively the actual quality of primary education in schools, 'their report concluded. Teachers ‘leaders said the testing regime was ‘past its sell-by date’ and called for a fundamental review of the assessment.
- Steve Sinnott, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, said England’s testing system was having a ‘devastating’ impact on schools. Uniquely, England is a country where testing is used to police schools and control what is taught,’ he said. ‘When it comes to testing in England, the tail wags the dog. It is patently absurd that even the structure and content of education is shaped by the demands of the tests.
I call on the Government to initiate a full and independent review of the impact of the current testing system on schools and on children’s learning and to be prepared to dismantle a system which is long past its sell-by date. John Dunford, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, warned that the tests were having a damaging effect on pupils. The whole testing regime is governed by the need to produce league tables,’ he said. ‘It has more to do with holding schools to account than helping pupils to progress.’
- The fear that many children were suffering intolerable stress because of the tests was voiced by Mick Brookes, General Secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers. There are schools that start rehearsing for key stage two SATs [Standard Assessment Tests] from the moment the children arrive in September. That’s just utterly ridiculous, he said. There are other schools that rehearse SATs during Christmas week. These are young children we are talking about. They should be having the time of their lives at school, not just worrying about tests. It is the breadth and richness of the curriculum that suffers. The consequences for schools not reaching their targets are dire – heads can lose their jobs and schools can be closed down. With this at stake, it’s not surprising that schools let the tests take over’.
- David Laws, the Liberal Democrat schools spokesman, said: The uniquely high stakes placed on national tests mean that many primary schools have become too exam-focused. However, the Government rejected the criticism. The idea that children are over-tested is not a view that the Government accepts, a spokesman said. The reality is that children spend a very small percentage of their time in school being tested. Seeing that children leave school up to the right standard in the basics is the highest priority of the Government.’
- In another child-centred initiative, both major political parties in the UK-Labour and the Conservatives – have announced plans to make Britain more child-friendly following a report by UNICEF which ranked the UK the worst place to be a child out of 21 rich nations. Parents were warned that they risked creating a generation of battery-farmed children’ by always keeping them indoors to ensure their safety. The family’s minister, Kevin Brennan, called for an end to the cotton wool culture and warned that children would not learn to cope with risks if they were never allowed to play outdoors.
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Section 2
Solution and Explanation
Questions 1-5
Complete the following sentences using appropriate words from the passage.
Remember: For every answer, do NOT write MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage.
[Suggestion: Referring to the keywords helps to answer the questions accurately.]
Question 1. According to the inquiry, the amount of testing puts a lot of on young children
Answer: Pressure
Supporting Sentence: “English Primary School pupils have to deal with unprecedented levels of pressure as they face tests more frequently, at a younger age, and in more subjects than children from any other country, according to one of the biggest International education enquiries in decades.”
Keywords: English Primary School, tests, enquiries
Keyword Location: In Paragraph A
Explanation: In the very first paragraph it is stated that the amount of pressure bombarded on the primary school children is unmatched due to the fact that they have to go through tests very oftenly at this tender age. Moreover, the research of one of the largest International education enquiries has shown that they have to appear in many more subjects than children from other countries.
Question 2. The education report describes testing in England as
Answer: High stakes
Supporting Sentence: “The damning indictment of England's primary education system revealed that the country's children are now the most tested in the world. From their very earliest days at school they must navigate a set-up whose trademark is 'high stakes' testing, according to a recent report.”
Keywords: Indictment, revealed, most tested, trademark.
Keyword Location: In Paragraph A
Explanation: The incriminating charge of England's primary education set up disclosed that the children in their country have become the most tested students in the world. On the basis of a report framed recently, we come to know that from their initial days in the school they ought to steer a structure whose symbol is rigorous testing.
Question 3. Parents often select their children's schools after studying test results in
Answer: League tables
Supporting Sentence: “Parents are encouraged to choose schools for their children based on league tables of test scores.”
Keywords: Parents, choose schools, test scores.
Keyword Location: Second Paragraph
Explanation: From the first line of the second paragraph you will come to know that it is a sad fact that the parents are motivated and accustomed to selecting the schools for their children on the basis of the League Tables of their test scores. Such kind of behaviour can have a negative impact on the children which could hamper their self confidence.
Question 4. Kathy Flail and Kamil Ozerk believe testing in England is also used to evaluate
Answer: Teaching standards
Supporting Sentence: “England was unique in using testing in control what is taught in schools, to monitor teaching standards and to encourage parents to choose schools based on the results of the tests, according to Kathy Flail, from the National University of Ireland in Cork, and Kamil Ozerk, from the University of Oslo, who conducted the research.”
Keywords: Monitor, results, Kathy Flail, Kamil Ozerk.
Keyword Location: Third Paragraph
Explanation: According to the research done by Kathy Flail and Kamil Ozerk, England had its own different way of incorporating testing under control as taught in schools, which was done to keep a check on the teaching standards and also to motivate parents to select schools on the basis of their test results.
Question 5. The major political parties have promised to make Britain in view of the UNICEF report.
Answer: More child-friendly
Supporting Sentence: "In another child-centred initiative, both major political parties in the UK - Labour and the Conservatives - have announced plans to make Britain more child-friendly following a report by UNICEF which ranked the UK the worst place to be a child out of 21 rich nations."
Keywords: Child-centred, Labour, Conservatives, UNICEF, worst.
Keyword Location: Eighth Paragraph
Explanation: The two most important and significant political parties in the UK have declared a pact that they will contribute wholeheartedly to turn Britain into a more child-friendly area. This was enacted in concern of the report by UNICEF, according to which the UK was ranked as the worst place for bringing up children out of the other 21 wealthy countries.
Questions 6-9
Do the following statements concur with the data and perspective of the writer provided in the given passage?
Remember:
True If the statement concurs with the data
False If the statement disagrees with the data
Not Given If there is no data provided related to this
Question 6. Steve Sinnott says what is taught at school should be more tightly controlled.
Answer: False
Supporting Sentence: “Steve Sinnott, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, said England's testing system was having a 'devastating' impact on schools. 'Uniquely, England is a country where testing is used to police schools and control what is taught,' he said.”
Keywords: Steve Sinnott, devastating impact, police schools, control.
Keyword Location: Fourth Paragraph
Explanation: The general secretary of the National Union of Teachers, Steve Sinnott, believes that the testing structure of England has an extremely discouraging and catastrophic influence on the schools. In England, testing is consumed to monitor the school and command the teachings. Thus, the following statement is false.
Question 7. According to John Dunford, children would make more progress with much shorter and easier tests.
Answer: Not Given
Explanation: According to John Dunford, it has more to do with holding schools to account for having damaging effects on pupils by these tests than helping pupils to progress.’
Question 8. Mick Brookes wants to see earlier student preparation for SATs.
Answer: False
Supporting Sentence: Mick Brookes exclaims that “There are schools that start rehearsing for key stage two SATs (Standard Assessment Tests) from the moment the children arrive in September. That's just utterly ridiculous, he said. There are other schools that rehearse SATs during Christmas week. These are young children we are talking about. They should be having the time of their lives at school, not just worrying about tests.”
Keywords: SATs, worrying, Mick Brookes, Christmas, young children.
Keyword Location: Sixth Paragraph
Explanation: In this paragraph Mick Brookes opines that there are some particular schools which carry out the standard assessment test SATs immediately after the children join school in September. He perceives that this is really upsetting and irrelevant. Also, he shares more information by saying that there are a few schools which practice SATs during Christmas. In his opinion, young children shouldn't be burdened to this extent in their childhood and that they should enjoy school without stressing about tests.
Question 9. David Laws agrees with the opinions of Mick Brookes.
Answer: True
Supporting Sentence: "There are other schools that rehearse SATs during Christmas week. These are young children we are talking about. They should be having the time of their lives at school, not just worrying about tests”. David Laws, the Liberal Democrat schools spokesman, said: “The uniquely high-stakes placed on national tests mean that many primary schools have become too exam focused."
Keywords: SATs, Christmas week, David Laws, high-stakes.
Keyword Location: Seventh Paragraph
Explanation: According to the point of view of Mick Brookes, we came to know that there were schools which conducted SATs even at the time of Christmas which was really depressing. David Laws completely accepts his opinions and says that it is unfortunately true that the volume of significance provided to the win or lose concept in National tests implies that the primary schools have now become exam oriented.
Questions 10-13
Choose the most appropriate option A,B,C or D to attribute a meaning to the following statements.
Remember: Only one among the four options will fit the statement with the passage.
Question 10. What does the government argue?
- There is not enough testing at present.
- Tests at primary school are too easy.
- Tests are not given too frequently.
- Teachers should take more tests.
Answer: C
Supporting Sentence: “David Laws, the Liberal Democrat schools spokesman, said: The uniquely high-stakes placed on national tests mean that many primary schools have become too exam focused. However, the Government rejected the criticism. The idea that children are over-tested is not a view that the Government accepts, a spokesman said. The reality is that children spend a very small percentage of their time in school being tested.”
Keywords: David Laws, over-tested, rejected.
Keyword Location: Seventh Paragraph
Explanation: In the seventh paragraph we can see that the Liberal Democrat schools spokesman, David Laws, quoted that the amount of importance attached to national tests justifies that primary schools only revolve around exams. But the government contradicted this statement. The Objection regarding the fact that the children are being over tested was not accepted and supported by the government. On the contrary, they argued that the children are not given tests as regularly and frequently as they should be.
Question 11. The government spokesman
- is extremely critical of the way exams are written.
- accepts many of the points made by the teachers' leaders.
- thinks education is what the government is most interested in.
- argues it is the teacher's fault that students are tested so much.
Answer: C
Supporting Sentence: “The idea that children are over-tested is not a view that the Government accepts, a spokesman said. The reality is that children spend a very small percentage of their time in school being tested. Seeing that children leave school up to the right standard in the basics is the highest priority of the Government.”
Keywords: Spokesman, small percentage, priority.
Keyword Location: Seventh Paragraph
Explanation: A spokesman brought up the fact that the government believes that in reality the children do not spend the required amount of time as they should to be tested in schools. Therefore, it is the responsibility and the major concern of the government to ensure that children leave schools to the standard quality which accordingly makes it the most important and interesting aspect for them.
Question 12. According to UNICEF, children in the UK
- often spend too much time in the worst kind of places.
- are not as well behaved as in other countries.
- are not as rich as children in 21 other countries.
- could be having much more fulfilling childhoods.
Answer: D
Supporting Sentence: "In another child-centred initiative, both major political parties in the UK - Labour and the Conservatives - have announced plans to make Britain more child-friendly following a report by UNICEF which ranked the UK the worst place to be a child out of 21 rich nations."
Keywords: UNICEF, political parties, child-friendly.
Keyword Location: Eighth Paragraph
Explanation: The eighth paragraph states that the two major political parties in the UK that are- Labour and the Conservatives, in concern with the children welfare program have declared arrangements in order to convert Britain into a more child- centred place. The idea was enforced due to a report by UNICEF in which the UK was ranked to be the worst area for a child to be born among the 21 healthy Nations.
Question 13. What is the point Kevin Brennan makes?
- children use too many electrical devices.
- children would learn by being outside more.
- It's too risky for children to be outside on their own.
- The most important thing is children's safety.
Answer: B
Supporting Sentence: “The family's minister, Kevin Brennan, called for an end to the 'Cotton wool' culture and warned that children would not learn to cope with risks if they were never allowed to play outdoors.”
Keywords: Kevin Brennan, Cotton Wool, Outdoors.
Keyword Location: Ninth Paragraph
Explanation: In the last paragraph we can clearly see that Kevin Brennan, the family's minister, terminated the concept of 'cotton wool' tradition and warned that until and unless the children of this generation are permitted to play outside, they will never be able to overcome and put up with the future risks.
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