2、A detailed and thorough research project undertaken by the Open University recently reported that their evidence appears to show that competition between nearby schools does not significantly improve academic standards．Indeed，their report．inclines to the opposite outcome：the exam results may actually decline where competition is fiercest．

    When the further education sector was “privatized” a few years ago，competition between colleges became truly fierce，at least in urban areas where potential students could choose between several of them. Colleges appointed highly paid marketing directors and gave them large budgets；some even “bribed（賄賂）” interested students with promises of hundreds of pounds if they completed certain courses satisfactorily． 

    Fully competitive markets being a philosophical foundation of Britain’s recent governments，it was no surprise to hear claims that many educational developments of the 1990s would move us towards a free market in secondary education--giving youngsters and their parents a free choice of where to study．However，the secondary sector did not become particularly competitive while，admittedly，the consumers have been given more information，which is one aspect of a truly free market．It is very rare that two nearby schools with at least some empty places are similar enough to be comparable yet different enough to be ranked；only where that occurs can there be true competition．

    The Open University research was probably not flawed—but its conclusions are．This is because the team did not really compare areas having true competition（as just defined）with areas that do not．

    But，let us all breathe a sigh of relief．Secondary schools had started late to move in the marketing direction--considering allocating scarce resources of staff and money to persuading the pupils that their schools are the best in the area．No schools could afford to do that properly，so it is a relief to realize this research tells us we don’t have to．

    Competition? We haven’t got time for it! Let’s spend our small budget in teaching and learning，not in competing and marketing．

1．It is indicated in the passage that competition between schools results in            ．

    A．higher enrollment rate

    B．lower academic standard

    C．higher marketing expenses

    D．privatization of further education

2．Real competition can happen only when              .

    A．a(chǎn)cademic standard is improved

    B．there are comparable schools with different educational qualities

    C．students have different interests

    D．schools of all areas have sufficient budget for their development

3．According to the passage，the free market in secondary education              ．

    A．only provides consumers with more information

    B．is more competitive than the higher education market

    C．means there will be more Intensive competition than in colleges

    D．is a real surprise se to Britain’s recent government

4．The author of the passage feels relieved that                 ．

    A．secondary schools have to market themselves

    B．most secondary schools have scarce resources of staff and money

    C．the research by Open University proves that most secondary schools are the best in its area

    D．schools needn’t prove that they are the best

5．What might be the author’s attitude towards competitions between nearby schools?

    A．The author Is in favor obvious kinds of competition．

    B．The author doesn't care about any competition and its result．

    C．The author is not certain of the effect of competitions．

    D．The author is against the competitions among the universities