panese respondents (答问卷者)listed "to give children a good start' academically" as one of their top three reasons for a society to have preschools. In contrast, over half the American respondents chose this as one of their top three choices. To prepare children for success ful careers in first grade and beyond, Japanese schools do not teach reading, writing, and math emetics, but rather skills such as persistence, concentration, and the ability to function as a member of a group. The vast majority of young Japanese children are taught to read at home by their parents.
In the recent comparison of Japanese and American preschool education, 91 percent of Japanese respondents chose providing children with a group experience as one of their top three reasons for a society to have preschools. Sixty-two percent of the more individually oriented (强调个性发展的) Americans listed group experience as one of their top three choices. An emphasis on the importance of the group seen in Japanese early childhood education continues into elementary school education.
Like in America, there is diversity in Japanese early childhood education. Some Japanese kindergartens have specific aims, such as early musical training or potential development. In large cities, some kindergartens are attached to universities that have elementary and secondary schools.
Some Japanese parents believe that if their young children attend a university-based program, it will increase the children's chances of eventually being admitted to top-rated schools and universities. Several more progressive programs have introduced free play as a way out for the heavy intellectualizing in some Japanese kindergartens.
11. We learn from the first paragraph that many Americans believe
A)Japan's higher education is superior to theirs
B) Japan's economic success is a result of its scientific achievements
C) Japanese preschool education emphasizes academic instruction
D) Japanese parents are more involved in preschool education than American parents
12. Most Americans surveyed believe that preschools should also attach importance to
A) parental guidance
B) problem solving
C) group experience
D) individually-oriented development
13. In Japan's preschool education, the focus is on
A) tapping children's potential
B) shaping children's character
C) preparing children academically
D) developing children's artistic interests
14. Free play has been introduced in some Japanese kindergartens in order to
A) enrich children's knowledge
B) cultivate children's creativity
C) broaden children's horizon
D) lighten children's study load
15. Why do some Japanese parents send their children to university:based kindergartens?
A) They can do better in their future studies.
B) They can be individually oriented when they grow up.
C) They
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