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Teachers have long said that success is its own reward. But these days, some students are finding that good grades can bring them cash and luxury gifts.
In at least a dozen states this school year, students who bring home top marks can expect more than just thankfulness.
The most ambitious experiment began in September, when seven states—Arkansas, Alabama, Connecticut, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Virginia and Washington—won spots in an Mobilfunded program that, in most cases, pays students $100 for each passing grade on advanced placement(AP) collegeprep exams.
It’s an effort to get lowincome and minority students interested in the courses, says Tommie Sue Anthony, president of the Arkansas Advanced Initiative for Math and Science. “We still have students who are not sure of the value, who are not willing to take the courses.” she says, “Probably the motivation will make a difference with those students.”
Gregg Fleisher of the National Math and Science Initiative, which runs the sevenstate program, says the effort is modeled on a program adopted by Dallas in the 1995-1996 school year that saw AP coursetaking jump obviously. That program is now statewide.
While many educators would be against offering kids cash for good grades, Fleisher and others say the idea is simple. “It’s an encouragement to get them to basically make the right decision and choose a more strict class.” he says, “This teaches them that if they work at something very hard and have a lot of support, they can do something they didn’t think they could do.”
An analysis of the Texas program last month by Cornell economist C.Kirabo Jackson found that it linked to a 30% rise in the number of students with high SAT and ACT scores and an 8% rise in collegegoing students.
(Notes:1.SAT:美国学术能力评估考试; 2.ACT:美国大学入学考试。)
51.What does the passage mainly talk about?
A.Success is its own reward.           B.Success makes a difference.
C.Good grades deserves gratitude.      D.A new motivation for students.
52.What’s the purpose of the experiment?
A.To get relatively poor students interested in their studies.
B.To help poor students to keep on with education.
C.To offer poor students luxury gifts on their birthdays.
D.To make an effort to raise the value of money.
53.Which of the following statements is TRUE?
A.Students who top at collegeprep exams get $100.
B.The program was probably first adopted by Dallas.
C.The program has been going on half a dozen states this year.
D.The program didn’t have any effect on student’s achievements.
54.What is the writer’s attitude toward offering kids cash for good grades?
A.Favorable.     B.Worried.        C.Opposed.          D.Confident.
55.According to the passage, the program_______.
A.makes everything possible            B.encourages students to study harder
C.helps students choose right classes     D.teaches students to spend money