The educator says that while banning homework and tests sounds radical (激进的), it makes sense to give 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 after-school 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 long-term 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 after-school work as well!
[语篇解读] 本文是一篇说明文。瑞典一所学校在四月份取消了学生的家庭作业和考试，这是该校校长Petronella Sirkka看到学生作业负担太重而提出的举措，且芬兰采取的类似做法已获成功。
28．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：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...”，并结合第一段的内容可知，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提出的想法，故A项正确。
答案：A
29．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.
