In the (4)______of a recent report by the Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills, "A strong back, the willingness to work, and a high school diploma were once all that was necessary to (5)______ a start in America.
(Extracted from Info USA-CD Version)

"Why is the written word a superior way to get information than television?" That is (3)______ interesting point of view worth further (4) ______.

You will take a short (3)_____ in English as soon as you arrive.

Because the federal government provides only limited funds to schools, individual school districts (3)______ on funds from local property taxes to meet the vast majority of public schools tend to reflect the financial capabilities of the communities in which they are located.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR
The Prime Minister's comments yesterday on education spending miss the point, as the secondary education system also needs a major overhaul. Firstly, the system only views the weakest learners as having special needs. The brightest and most conscientious students are not encouraged to develop to their full (1)_____ . Secondly, there's too much testing and not enough learning. My fifteen–year–old daughter, for example, has just spent the last month or so (2)_____ for exams. These aren't even real, important exams, as her GCSEs will be next year. They're just mock exams. Is the work she's been doing really going to make her more knowledgeable about her subjects, or will she forget it all tomorrow? I suspect the (3)_____ . Thirdly, the standard (4)_____ doesn't give students any tuition in developing practical work–related, living and social skills, or in skills necessary for higher education. How many students entering university have the first idea what the difference is between plagiarising someone else's work and (5)_____ good use of someone else's ideas? Shouldn't they have been taught this at school? How many of them are really able to go about selfstudy skill that's essential at university because there are no teachers to tell you what to do – in an efficient way? Indeed, hoe many students graduate from university totally unable to spell even simple English words correctly? The system is letting our children down.

They lose direction. As time (5)______ by and they continue to forget about their past and their natural traditions, their identity becomes less and less pronounced.

Before the 1960’s, Singapore was essentially a trading nation. Since (1)_____ , it has developed a more (2)_____ economy and has become an important financial, trade, and transportation center. Singapore has many banks, (3)_____ firms, and finance companies, as (4)_____ as a stock exchange. Tourism is also important to the economy of Singapore. There is little unemployment in Singapore. The country’s annual
income per capita (per person) is one of the highest in Asia. The government of Singapore plays a major role in the country’s economy. For example, it decides what benefits, such as vacation time and sick leave, must be provided for workers by employers. It also operates an employment agency to help people find jobs, and it provides (5)______ for retired workers

Just as adults enjoy reading a book after seeing it serialised on television, so children will pounce on books which (5)_____ their favourite television characters and videos can add a new dimension to a story known from a book.

(3)______ , we cannot deny the fact that text messages have been used by bullies to intimidate fellow students.

It therefore brings people into touch with the real world; and, hence, equips them for the future. Initially, young adults in their late teens might not seem to have the expertise or knowledge to impart to others that say a teacher or an agriculturalist or a nurse would have, (2)_____ they do have many skills that can help others. And in the absence of any particular talent, their energy and enthusiasm can be harnessed for the benet (3)_____ 

So people are urged totake moderate exercise and eat moderately healthily rather than embarking on extreme diets and training. In too many instances, ultra- t people have had heart attacks or dropped down dead. In all, governments need to nd ways of (4)_____ people to take responsibility for their own health.