A
While an entire month free of homework or tests may sound too good to be true, that is exactly what the students at Sturenskolan School in Boden, Sweden were treated to in April. What's more, if the results of the experiment prove encouraging, starting 2019, the middle schoolers will never have to worry about afterschool work or tests, aside from the national examinations, which are compulsive for students across the country.
The school's principal, Petronella Sirkka, who came up with the idea, said, “We are constantly receiving new reports that our children feel bad. And that's because they have a high level of stress all the time. This is our way of trying to reduce that stress.”
The educator says that while banning homework and tests sounds radical (激进的), it makes sense given the changes in the curriculum and approaches to education. While in the past students were primarily subjected to memorizing facts, learning today is all about reflection and analysis. As a result, it is often harder for kids, especially those with little support at home, to comprehend the material by themselves.
Sirkka is not the only one who believes afterschool work does not help students learn. In March 2018, another principal in Canada also decided to do away with homework. They hope parents will spend the extra time reading to their kids.
While the longterm impact of the recent decisions made by the two educators remains to be seen, the experiment has already proved successful in Finland which has done away with homework, grades, and even teaching by subjects for many years. Yet, Finnish students always rank high in the PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) tests especially in math and science but they have the least homework! Hopefully, it will only be a matter of time before US educators follow their lead and ban afterschool work as well!
语篇解读：本文是一篇说明文。瑞典一所学校正在试行四月份取消学生的家庭作业和考试，试行成功则永久取消，因为这无益于学生的学习，只是徒增负担，芬兰采取的类似做法已获成功。
1．The students at Sturenskolan School had no homework in April because ________.
A．the headmaster was experimenting with her idea
B．they needed to do some experiments during the month
C．they were busy preparing for the national examinations
D．the headmaster had to carry out the government's policy
解析：选A 细节理解题。根据第二段第一句中的The school's principal, Petronella Sirkka, who came up with the idea，并结合第一段内容可知，Sturenskolan学校的学生们在四月份没有家庭作业和考试是该校校长正在试行的想法，故A项正确。
2．What makes children's learning hard nowadays?
A．Children have to do more analyzing.
B．The approach to education is complex.
C．Children get no support at home and school.
D．There are many more facts to memorize.
解析：选A 细节理解题。根据第三段第二、三句可知，在过去，学生主要是被要求记住事实，而如今学生需要的是反思和分析。因此，孩子们往往很难自己理解这些材料。据此可知，反思和分析让孩子们的学习更加困难。故A项正确。
3．What does Petronella Sirkka most likely advise parents to do?
A．Help children with their homework.
B．Free children from afterschool work.
C．Spend more time reading to their children.
D．Communicate with teachers from time to time.
解析：选C 推理判断题。根据第四段尾句They hope parents will spend the extra time reading to their kids.可推知，Petronella Sirkka很可能会建议父母花些时间为他们的孩子们阅读，故C项正确。
4．What can we infer about the students in Finland?
A．They study the hardest at school.
B．They have a more relaxing school life.
C．They enjoy great success after graduation.
D．They all have a talent for math and science.
解析：选B 推理判断题。根据尾段第一句中的the experiment has already proved successful in Finland which has done away with homework, grades, and even teaching by subjects for many years可知，多年来，芬兰已经取消了家庭作业、成绩等级，甚至科目教学。据此可推知，芬兰学生的学校生活更加轻松，故B项正确。
