Private Schools Reading Answers

Dec 9, 2022

Private Schools Reading Answers has 12 questions that need to be answered in 20 minutes. Private Schools Reading Answers comprises two types of questions, namely- Write the correct letter and complete the sentence. Candidates must read the IELTS Reading passage to write the correct letter from the given options. Candidates must read the IELTS reading passage and complete the sentences given using one word. Candidates can practise on various topics by undertaking IELTS Reading practice papers.

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Reading Passage Questions

Most countries’ education systems have had what you might call educational disasters, but, sadly, in many areas of certain countries, these ‘disasters’ are still evident today. The English education system is unique due to the fact that there are still dozens of schools which are known as private schools, and they perpetuate privilege and social division. Most countries have some private schools for the children of the wealthy; England is able to more than triple the average number globally.

England has around 3,000 private schools, and just under half a million children are educated at them whilst some nine million children are educated at state schools. The overwhelming majority of students at private schools also come from middle-class families.

The result of this system is evident, and it has much English history embedded within it. The facts seem to speak for themselves. In the private system, almost half the students go on to University, whilst in the state system, only about eight per cent make it to further education. However, statistics such as these can be deceptive due to the fact that middle-class children do better at examinations than working-class ones, and most of them stay on at school after 16. Private schools, therefore, have the advantage over state schools as they are entirely ‘middle class’, and this creates an environment of success where students work harder and apply themselves more diligently to their school work.
Private schools are extortionately expensive, being as much as £18,000 a year at somewhere such as Harrow or Eton, where Princes William and Harry attended, and at least £8,000 a year almost everywhere else. There are many parents who are not wealthy or even comfortably off but are willing to sacrifice a great deal in the cause of their children’s schooling. It baffles many people as to why they need to spend such vast amounts when there are perfectly acceptable state schools that don’t cost a penny.

One father gave his reasoning for sending his son to a private school, ``If my son gets a five-per cent-better chance of going to University then that may be the difference between success and failure.” It would seem to the average person that a £50,000 minimum total cost of second-level education is a lot to pay for a five-per cent-better chance. Most children, given a choice, would take the money and spend it on more enjoyable things rather than shelling it out on a school that is too posh for its own good.

However, some say that the real reason that parents fork out the cash is prejudice: they don’t want their little kids mixing with the “workers”, or picking up an undesirable accent. In addition to this, it wouldn’t do, if at the next dinner party all the guests were boasting about sending their kids to the same place where the son of the third cousin of Prince Charles is going, and you say your kid is going to the state school down the road, even if you could pocket the money for yourself instead, and, as a result, be able to serve the best Champagne with the smoked salmon and duck.

It is a fact, however, that at many of the best private schools, your money buys you something. One school, with 500 pupils, has 11 science laboratories; another school with 800 pupils, has 30 music practice rooms; another has 16 squash courts, and yet another has its own beach.

Private schools spend £300 per pupil a year on investment in buildings and facilities; the state system spends less than £50. In books, the ratio is 3 to 1. One of the things that your money buys which is difficult to quantify is the appearance of the school, the way it looks. Most private schools that you will find are set in beautiful, well-kept country houses, with extensive grounds and gardens. In comparison with the state schools, they tend to look like castles, with the worst of the state schools looking like public lavatories, perhaps even tiled or covered in graffiti. Many may even have an architectural design that is just about on the level of an industrial shed

Solution and Explanation

Choose the correct letter A, B, C or D.

The English educational system differs from the other ones because

Answer: C
Supporting Sentence: The English education system is unique due to the fact that there are still dozens of schools which are known as private schools and they perpetuate privilege and social division.
Keyword: unique, perpetuate, social division, privilege
Keyword Location: 1st paragraph, 2nd line
Explanation: The second line of the first paragraph makes it obvious that the English educational system is exceptional. Since it encourages the development of class division in society. Hence, the correct answer is C.

There are more private school children who go to university because

Answer: D
Supporting Sentence: Private schools therefore have the advantage over state schools as they are entirely ‘middle class’, and this creates an environment of success where students work harder and apply themselves more diligently to their school work.
Keywords: advantage, success, diligently
Keyword Location: 2nd paragraph, 5th line
Explanation: The advantage that private school students have over pupils in public schools is described in the fifth line of the second paragraph. It makes mention of how success is promoted by the presence of a middle-class atmosphere. Furthermore, the students put in more effort and are more conscientious, which results in greater academic success.

A lot of parents often send their children to private schools

Answer: C
Supporting Sentence: One father gave his reasoning for sending his son to a private school, ‘If my son gets a five-percent-better chance of going to University then that may be the difference between success and failure
Keywords: chance, success
Keyword Location: 3rd Paragraph, 5th line
Explanation: An explanation of a parent's preference for enrolling his son in a private school is given in the third paragraph's fifth line. Because there is a 5% greater likelihood that he will succeed.

It is suggested that some parents of children at private schools are

Answer: A
Supporting Sentence: However, some say that the real reason that parents fork out the cash is prejudice: they don’t want their little kids mixing with the “workers”, or picking up an undesirable accent.
Keywords: prejudice
Keyword Location: 4th Paragraph, Line 1
Explanation: The first sentence of the fourth paragraph reveals that parents' bias is the reason why they send their kids to private schools. Particularly at the workers/labourers who are pupils in public schools. Furthermore, they do not want their kids to have any friends or grow up in the same setting as them.

Private school

Answer: C
Supporting Sentence: Private schools spend £300 per pupil a year on investment in buildings and facilities; the state system spends less than £50
Keywords: spend
Keyword Location: 5th Paragraph, 3rd line
Explanation: The fifth paragraph's third line emphasises how much money is spent annually on each student by public and private institutions.

writer thinks that private-school buildings

Answer: A
Supporting Sentence: Most private schools that you will find are set in beautiful, well-kept country houses, with extensive grounds and gardens.
Keywords: beautiful, extensive
Keyword Location: 6th Paragraph, 2nd line
Explanation: The second line of the sixth paragraph emphasises how the author communicates his opinions about private schools in this remark. They are located in stunning areas and are kept in good condition.

In general, what do you think the writer’s opinion of private schools is?

Answer: B
Supporting Sentence: The English education system is unique due to the fact that there are still dozens of schools which are known as private schools and they perpetuate privilege and social division
Keywords: perpetuate, privilege, social division
Keyword Location: 1st paragraph, 2nd line
Explanation: The second line of the first paragraph states that the private schools are situated in lovely areas and are kept in excellent condition. However, the author also notes at the beginning of the section that private schools encourage social class division.

Ques 8-13. Complete the sentences below. Choose only one word from the passage.

Question 8

Answer: Unique
Supporting Sentence: The English education system is unique due to the fact that there are still dozens of schools which are known as private schools and they perpetuate privilege and social division.
Keyword: English, unique
Keyword Location: 1st paragraph, 2nd line
Explanation:According to the second sentence of the first paragraph, the English education system is exceptional. Because there are still dozens of institutions that are categorised as private schools. Furthermore, they keep social inequality and privilege alive.

Question 9

Answer:middle - class
Supporting Sentence: The overwhelming majority of students at private schools also come from middle-class families.
Keyword: majority, private, middle-class
Keyword Location: 1st Paragraph, 5th Line
Explanation: According to the fifth line of the first paragraph, middle-class families make up the vast majority of students who attend private schools.

Question 10

Answer: deceptive
Supporting Sentence: However, statistics such as these can be deceptive due to the fact that middle-class children do better at examinations than working class ones, and most of them stay on at school after
Keyword: statistics, deceptive
Keyword Location: 2nd Paragraph, 4th line
Explanation: Statistics can be misleading, as stated in the second paragraph's fourth line. Because children from middle-class families perform better on examinations than those from working-class families.

Question 11

Answer: apply
Supporting Sentence: Private schools therefore have the advantage over state schools as they are entirely ‘middle class’, and this creates an environment of success where students work harder and apply themselves more diligently to their school work.
Keyword: apply, diligently, harder
Keyword Location: 2nd paragraph, 5th line
Explanation: The advantage that pupils at private schools have over those in public schools is described in the fifth line of the second paragraph. It describes how success is encouraged by the existence of a predominantly middle class milieu. Furthermore, the students put in more effort and are more conscientious, which results in greater academic success.

Question 12

Answer: schooling
Supporting Sentence:There are many parents who are not wealthy or even comfortably off but are willing to sacrifice a great deal in the cause of their children’s schooling
Keyword: not, wealthy, sacrifice, schooling
Keyword Location: 3rd paragraph, 2nd line
Explanation: As per the second line of the third paragraph, many parents make significant sacrifices for their kids' education because they come from lower-income homes.

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