Remember that texts often highlight topics in bold print. This helps readers to skim a chapter--to find the main points quickly. It’s possible to preview a reading for the main topics in just a few seconds. Skim the following two articles to find out the main points discussed and then read for details. The two articles are kindly provided by the Beijing TVU.
Educational Systems (optional)
We’re all in favour of school--once it’s over, anyway. Education gives us basic literacy skills and advanced training for our work. It also stimulates our minds and helps us to understand the world.
There are 34,600 schools in Britain alone, and many ways to run them. Even teaching methods vary. The traditional approach stresses reading, writing and arithmetic (the three Rs) and closely supervised learning of set courses. Books are the main teaching aid and progress is measured at examinations. Progressive methods give students more freedom to investigate and uses intriguing sources like CD-ROM disks. Course work is important in evaluating progress.
State and Private Schools

Most countries now have state schools, paid for through taxes and compulsory education, which means every child has to go to school between certain ages. State schools give everyone the chance to learn, regardless of wealth. In Britain, the vast majority of children go to state schools. Most of these are owned, funded and managed by special local government bodies called Local Education Authorities. They appoint some of the governors who help to run each school. Other governors include teachers and parents. A few schools are self-governing. They choose their own governors and are funded by a national government agency.
Some children go to private (independent) schools which are not funded by taxes. parents pay large fees, but they feel that they offer a better education and a chance to make useful friends. In Britain, a private education can take you through a nursery school, a preparatory (prep) school and, oddly, a public school. Many are boarding schools--pupils live there during the term, which is helpful for parents who work abroad. One term at a boarding school can cost as much as ￡4000. These schools are mostly for boys or girls only (single-sex schools).