2010PETS4真题.docVIP

Section III Reading Comprehension (60 minutes) 阅读理解A21、根据以下内容回答21-40题：Competition for admission to the countrys top private schools has always been tough, but this year Elisabeth realized it had reached a new level. Her wake-up call came when a man called the 燚alton School in Manhattan, where Elisabeth is admissions director, and inquired about the age cutoff for their kindergarten program. After providing the information, she asked about the age of his child. The man paused for an uncomfortably long time before answering. Well, we dont have a child yet. Were trying to figure out when to conceive a child so the birthday is not a problem. Worries are spreading from Manhattan to the rest of the country. Precise current data on private schools are unavailable, but interviews with representatives of independent schools all told the same story: an oversupply of applicants, higher rejection rates. We have people calling us for spots two years down the road, said Marilyn of the Seven Hills School in Cincinnati. We have grandparents calling for pregnant daughters. Public opinion polls indicate that Americans No. 1 concern is education. Now that the long economic boom has given parents more disposable income, many are turning to private schools, even at price tags of well over $10,000 a year. Were getting applicants from a broader area geographically than we ever have in the past, said Betsy of the Latin School of Chicago, which experienced a 20 percent increase in applications this year.The problem for the applicants is that while demand has increased, supply has not. Everyyear, there are a few children who do not find places, but this year, for the first time that I knowof, there are a significant number without places, said Elisabeth.?So what can parents do to give their 4-year-old an edge? Schools know there is no easy way to pick a class when children are so young. Many schools give preference to children of their graduates. Some make the choice by drawing lots