[originaltext] M: Today, we invite Ms. Lesley to talk about education. How d

M: Today, we invite Ms. Lesley to talk about education. How does the English school system work?
    W: Um, most children start school at the age of five and they can’t leave school until 16. (1) At 11, they used to take an eleven-plus examination which would then determine whether they would go to a grammar school or a secondary modern school. But now we have a new system where children aren’t divided off at 11 and will go into a comprehensive system of schooling.
    M: Do you think that’s an improvement to the system?
    W: Well, theoretically it is, (2) but in fact what usually happens is that those children who would have gone to a grammar school tend to be at the top end of the comprehensive system, and those that would have gone to secondary modern school find themselves at the lower levels of the school.
    M: Do you think that the present school system is an efficient way of educating children?
    W: Well, it seems so. (3) Of course, one great problem in England is that we have very large classes. And it would be nice in a class with only 20 children so that each child gets more individual attention; thus their own particular needs aren’t passed over.
    M: Do you think the subjects that children learn today are adapted to the present society?
    W: It would be good if children had the opportunity of learning about the society so that they are more aware of the problems we face today. (4) But I think education can be just a gradual extension of oneself, and I don’t think it’s important for subjects to be seen only in terms of how useful they are when you leave school, but how much you enjoy them and how much they mean to you.
    M: OK, thank you very much for coming.
    W: You’re welcome.
    Questions 1 to 4 are based on the conversation you have just heard.
    1. What can we learn about the eleven-plus examination?
    2. What is the problem of the new school system?
    3. Why is it good with 20 children in a class?  
    4. What does the woman think of the subjects that children study today?