Today, there are many avenues open to those who wish to continue their education. However, nearly all require some break in one’s career in order to attend school full time.
『Part time education, that is, attending school at night or for one weekend a month, tends to drag the process out over time and puts the completion of a degree program out of reach of many people. 』①Additionally, such programs require a fixed time commitment which can also impact negatively on one’s career and family time.
Of the many approaches to teaching and learning, however, perhaps the most flexible and accommodating is that called distance learning. Distance learning is an educational method which allows the students the flexibility to study at his or her own pace to achieve the academic goals which are so necessary in today’s world. The time required to study may be set aside at the student’s convenience with due regard to all life’s other requirements. Additionally, the student may enroll in distance learning courses from virtually any place in the world, while continuing to pursue their chosen career. 『Tutorial assistance may be available via regular airmail, telephone, facsimile machine, teleconferencing and over the Internet.』②
Good distance learning programs are characterized by the inclusion of a subject evaluation tool with every subject. This precludes the requirement for a student to travel away from home to take a test. Another characteristic of a good distance learning program is the equivalence of the distance learning course with the same subject materials as those students taking the course on the home campus. The resultant diploma or degree should also be the same whether distance learning or on-campus study is employed. The individuality of the professor/student relationship is another characteristic of a good distance learning program. In the final analysis, a good distance learning program has a place not only for the individual student but also the corporation or business that wants to work in partnership with their employees for the educational benefit, professional development, and business growth of the organization. Sponsoring distance learning programs for their employees gives the business the advantage of retaining career-minded people while contributing to their personal and professional growth through education.
1. According to the passage, which of the following is NOT a disadvantage of part time education?
A. It requires some break in one’s career.
B. It tends to last too long for many people to complete a degree program.
C. It affects one’s career.
D. It gives the student less time to share with the family.
2. Which of the following is NOT an advantage of distance learning?
A. The student may choose his or her own pace.
B. The student may study at any time to his or her convenience.
C. They can pursue their chosen career while studying.
D. Their tutorial assistance comes through regular airmail, telephone, facsimile machine, etc.
3. What benefit will distance learning program bring to a business?
A. Recruitment of more talented people.
B. Good image of the business.
C. Better cooperation with universities.
D. Further training of employees and business growth.
4. Good distance learning program have the following characteristic EXCEPT .
A. distance learning course is the same as students taking courses in campus
B. the result diploma or degree should be same as on campus study
C. professor-student relationship is strictly one to one all through the course
D. includes subject evaluation tool
5. What benefit will distance learning bring to an employee of a business?
A. Professional growth.
B. Good relationship with the employer.
C. Good impression on the employer.
D. Higher salary.
Vocabulary
1.avenue n. 林荫道，大街，方法，途径，路
2.accommodating adj. 乐于助人的，随和的，善于适应新环境的
3.due adj. 应得的，应付的，正当的，预期的
4.facsimile machine 传真机
5.teleconferencing n. 电信会议
6.preclude v. 排除，使避免
7.equivalence n. 同等，等价，等效性
8.resultant adj. 作为结果而发生的，合成的
9.individuality n. 个性，个人的特性，个人的嗜好
10.sponsor v. 发起，主办，赞助
长难句解析
①
【解析】这个句子由两部分组成，主语都是“part time education”，第一部分的“that is…”做主语的同位语。
推断题。问题问及选项中哪个不是业余教育的缺点。依据文章第一段中nearly all require some break in one’s career in order to attend school full time可以看出，参加全日制学习需要中断自己的事业，在第二段中作者又说Part time education, that is, attending school at night or for one weekend a month, tends to drag the process out over time and puts the completion of a degree program out of reach of many people. 业余教育，只需要晚上和周末学习，因此需要中断自己的事业不是部分时间教育的缺点。而其他选项都是文章提及的part time education的不利条件。
2.D
细节题。文章提到的优缺点是几种教育方式之间的比较，问题问及哪个选项的内容不是远程教育的优点。前三个选项，A.“学生可以选择自己的进度”，B.“学生可以在他(或她)方便的时候学习”，C.“在学习的同时还可以追求自己的事业”都是文章中提及的与另两种方式比较的优点。在文章第二段最后，作者指出Tutorial assistance may be available via regular airmail, telephone, facsimile machine, teleconferencing and over the Internet. 辅导可以通过定期的航空邮件、电话、传真和电话会议以及因特网等方式进行，作者只是提出了一种可能，实际上是弥补distance education的不足的一个建议，并不是远程教育(函授)的优点。因此选项D符合题意。
3.D
细节题。选项A、B、C在文章中都没有提及，依据文章最后一段，a good distance learning program has a place not only for the individual student but also the corporation or business 一个良好的远程教育计划不仅对个人有好处，而且对那些公司或者商业机构来说也是意义重大。选项D说的也正是这个意思，故为正确选项。
细节题。注意本题与上题的区别，上一题问及远程教育对公司的好处，本题则是远程教育对职工，也就是个人的好处。同样依据文章最后一段，a good distance learning program has a place not only for the individual student but also the corporation or business that wants to work in partnership with their employees for the educational benefit, professional development, and business growth of the organization. 远程教育可以帮助雇员提高教育素质和职业技能从而促使事业的发展，正确选项为A。
