A
“You know, the soft subjects，” says the boy in maths. “The easy ones：the stupid girls at the bottom take them. Like dance. It shouldn't even be a subject.” We're choosing subjects for our Alevel taster day at school. I see the raised eyebrows (眉毛) when I explain two of my GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education) choices are dance and drama (戏剧)．
I was told by advisers that dance and drama wouldn't help me to get a suitable career. My friends told me I'd get bored with dance and switch to science within the first month.
But taking GCSE dance was the best decision I ever made. Dance gives me something to pour my head and heart into. It gives me a feeling of belonging, creativity, security and freedom.
The education secretary Nicky Morgan has put emphasis on (强调) science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM), saying that students who focus on the arts risk their careers. Stopping young people from expressing themselves at such a young age is not doing them any favours. Perhaps Nicky Morgan has forgotten to open the door of having a drive to study that subject day in, day out. It shouldn't matter what that subject is.
I don't doubt the influence that STEM subjects can have on the people that love them. But to force children into one field is cruel. As much as I try, I'm not good at and don't love physics, biology or maths. I don't want a career in these areas.
There has been a decrease in the number of state schools offering art subjects taught by specialist teachers. I can't even imagine how it feels to be told that you don't teach a “real subject” by an 8yearold boy.
To the teachers, the parents, and the government I say: Let children make their own decisions. Let them live in the present. Let them have a real, unlimited education.
本文是一篇议论文，讨论了艺术类学科当今的地位以及作者对此的看法。
1．How does the boy in maths feel about dance?
A．Useless. B．Difficult.
C．Beautiful. D．Important.
答案：A
解析：推理判断题。根据第一段中的“The easy ones: the stupid girls at the bottom take them. Like dance. It shouldn't even be a subject”可知，学数学的男孩认为舞蹈没有用处，甚至不应成为一门学科，故A项正确。
2．After the author took GCSE dance, she ________.
A．lost interest in it B．kept her mind on it
C．turned to other subjects D．struggled with her lessons
答案：B
解析：细节理解题。根据第三段第二句“Dance gives me something to pour my head and heart into”可知，作者选择了舞蹈之后就全身心投入其中。故B项正确。
3．What do we know about Nicky Morgan?
A．She encourages students to learn soft subjects.
B．She suggests students take a risk in their careers.
C．She underlines the importance of STEM subjects.
D．She allows students to express themselves freely.
答案：C
解析：细节理解题。根据题干中的Nicky Morgan将答案定位至第四段，根据第四段第一句中的“The education secretary Nicky Morgan has put emphasis on (强调) science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM)”可知，Nicky Morgan强调STEM学科的重要性，故C项正确。
4．What's the present situation of art subjects?
A．They attract much attention worldwide.
B．They are taught by nonprofessionals.
C．They are considered less important.
D．They have made great progress.
答案：C
解析：推理判断题。根据倒数第二段第一句“There has been a decrease in the number of state schools offering art subjects taught by specialist teachers”可知，由专业教师教授艺术课程的公立学校的数量有所减少，由此可以得出艺术类学科没有得到重视的结论，故C项正确。
