【C3】A．inB．towardC．throughD．beyond

【C2】

A．besides

B．on average

C．in sum

D．for example

ex vocabulary. When they【C1】______ school, most girls have slightly better verbal skills than boys—【C2】______, they are a month or two ahead. As they progress【C3】______ primary school, girls continue to【C4】______ boys when it comes to verbal skills. By the time children leave primary school, girls are about a year【C5】______ with reading and the gap is even bigger for writing.【C6】______, it should be noted that boys are【C7】______ level with girls when it comes to attainment in maths at primary school. The gap in attainment at the age of 16 has led some teachers to believe that【C8】______ lessons in core subject are the way forward when it comes to【C9】______ male students and improving boys grades. They argue that boys,【C10】______, feel less disheartened in subjects like【C11】______ when there are no female students in the classroom to【C12】______. Others believe that girls and boys【C13】______ best when the opposite sex is taken out of the equation completely—and【C14】______ a single-sex environment, especially at【C15】______ school level. Some schools believe that a male【C16】______—whether it is a male teacher or more【C17】______ from dad at home—is a key factor in impelling boys and improving their grades. Others advocate a more boy-friendly environment at school, whether its【C18】______ more books in the library that appeal to boys or trying【C19】______ different teaching styles in lessons to【C20】______ boys in learning.

【C1】

A．go to

B．finish

C．leave

D．start

【C20】

A．pay

B．incur

C．cover

D．induce

【C19】

A．erosion "

B．facilitation

C．difficulties

D．limitation

【C18】

A．profit

B．joy

C．benefit

D．nightmare

【C17】

A．supportive

B．cautious

C．neglectful

D．mindful

【C16】

A．Perhaps

B．Undoubtedly

C．Ultimately

D．Finally

【C15】

A．harder

B．easier

C．more difficult

D．more simple

【C14】

A．reasonable

B．heavy

C．little

D．no

【C13】

A．opportunities

B．positions

C．companies

D．organizations