補全短文的設(shè)計思路是，給出一篇300～450詞的短文，其中有5處空白，文章后面有6段文字，要求應(yīng)試者根據(jù)文章的內(nèi)容選擇5段文字，將其放回文章原有位置，以恢復(fù)文章原貌。這種題型重在考查應(yīng)試者把握文章結(jié)構(gòu)、掌握作者思路的能力。這是一種較高層次的閱讀理解能力，要求考生能夠從宏觀的角度把握文章的內(nèi)容和結(jié)構(gòu)，要想做好這類題，必須從語篇的角度，搞清楚文章的脈絡(luò)，吃透文章的意思。請看短文：
Home Schooling
All children in the United States have to receive an education, but the law does not say they have to be educated at school. A number of parents prefer not to send their children to school. ………………… (1). There are about 300,000 home-schoolers in the United States today. Some parents prefer teaching their children at home because they do not believe that public schools teach the correct religious values; others believe they can provide a better educational experience for their children by teaching them at home …………………… (2)
David Guterson and his wife teach their three children at home. Guterson says that his children learn very differently from children in school. ………………….(3) For example, when there is heavy snowfall on a winter day, it may start a discussion or reading about climate, snow removal equipment, Alaska, polar bears, and winter tourism. Or a spring evening when the family is out watching the stars is a good time to ask questions about satellites and the space program. ………………………… (4)
Home schooling is often more interesting than regular schools, but critics say that home-schoolers are outsiders who might be uncomfortable mixing with other people in adult life. ……………….. (5) However, most parents don't have the time or the desire to teach their children at home, so schools will continue to be where most children get their formal education.
A Interestingly, results show that home-schooled children quite often do better than average on national tests in reading and math.
B Critics also say that most parents are not well qualified to teach their children.
C Learning starts with the children's interests and questions.
D Children who are educated at home are known as "home-schoolers."
E In some countries, there are children who are educated by their parents at home instead of by teachers at school.
F If the Brazilian rain forests are on the TV news, it could be a perfect time to talk about how rain forests influence the climate，how deserts are formed，and how the polar ice caps affect ocean levels
這篇文章的主題是，近年來，美國時興這樣一種潮流，很多家長不愿把自己的孩子送到學(xué)校念書，而是把他們留在家里親自教育孩子，給孩子上課。
文章的開頭講到，在美國，法律規(guī)定孩子必須接受教育。而很多家長不愿把孩子送到學(xué)校里去接受教育。接下來是一處空白。再接下來的一句話說，目前在美國有30多萬兒童在家里接受教育……根據(jù)這幾句話的信息，第一個空白處應(yīng)該填哪句話呢?后面的選項D說：那些在家里接受教育的孩子被稱作"home-schoolers"。把這句話放到一個空白處意思上講得通。所以選項D為正確答案。注意，這里有一個很重要的線索，就是"home-schooler"。在空白處后面的一句話中也出現(xiàn)了，選項D是對這個詞的解釋。
文章接著說，有些家長喜歡在自己的家里教孩子，因為他們認為公立學(xué)校不能教給孩子正確的宗教價值觀；有的家長認為在家里，孩子接受的教育會更好一些。接下來，又有一處空白。至此，這一段結(jié)束。在短文后的幾個句子中，選項A的意思是：有意思的是，調(diào)查結(jié)果表明，在全國舉行的閱讀和數(shù)學(xué)考試中，在家里接受教育的孩子的成績普遍好一些。聯(lián)系上下文，把這句話放到文中第二個空白處，文意連貫。所以此處答案應(yīng)為選項A。
文章第二段的意思是，David Guterson和他的妻子在家里教授他們的三個孩子。Guterson認為，孩子在家里的學(xué)習(xí)方式與在學(xué)校里有很大不同。接下來是第三處空白?？瞻缀蟮膬?nèi)容是舉例。大意是：冬天下雪時，他們與孩子討論有關(guān)氣候問題、除雪設(shè)備問題，討論阿拉斯加、北極熊、冬季旅游等話題。在春天的夜晚，舉家出去看星星，然后問孩子一些有關(guān)衛(wèi)星、太空項目等方面的問題。接下來又是一處空白。至此，本段結(jié)束。
根據(jù)上面幾句話的意思，第三個空白處應(yīng)插入的句子為選項C，其意思是：學(xué)習(xí)要從孩子們感興趣的問題開始。第四個空白應(yīng)插入選項F。因為選項F進一步舉例說明如何通過孩子們感興趣的話題來教育他們。
文章的后一段的意思是，家庭教育比正規(guī)的學(xué)校教育更有意思，但也有人對此持批評態(tài)度，認為孩子游離于學(xué)校之外，與成人交往，可能有些不適應(yīng)的地方。接下來是一處空白。文章的后一句說，多數(shù)家長沒有時間，也不想在家里教育自己的孩子，所以學(xué)校還要辦下去，孩子還要接受正規(guī)教育。顯然，選項B應(yīng)該填入第五個空白處。該句的意思是，也有批評者認為多數(shù)家長并不稱職來教育他們的孩子。