Education is broadly divided into general and special education; our topic now is the difference and the relationship between the two. The term, general education, is somewhat vague and colorless; it does not mean some airy education in knowledge in general (if there be such knowledge), nor does it mean education for all in the sense of universal education. It is used to indicate that part of a student's whole education which look first of all to his life as a responsible human being and citizen, while the term, special education, indicates that part which looks to the student's competence in some occupation. These two sides of life are not entirely separable;and it would be false to imagine education for the one as quite distinct from education for the other. Clearly, general education has somewhat the meaning of liberal education. If one clings to the root meaning of liberal as that which benefits or helps to make free men, then general and liberal education have identical goals.

It is most unfortunate if we envisage general education as something formless—that is to say. the taking of one course after another; and as something negative, namely, the study of what is not in a field of concentration. Just as we regard the courses in concentration as having definite relations to one another, so should we envisage general education as an organic whole whose parts in expounding a ruling idea and in serving a common aim. It may be objected that we are proposing to limit the liberty of the student in the very name of liberal education. Such an objection would only indicate an ambiguity in the conception of liberal education. We must distinguish between liberalism in education and education in the liberalism. The former, based as it is on the doctrine of individualism, expresses the view that the student should be free in his choice of courses. But education in liberalism is an altogether different matter; it is education which has a pattern associated with the liberal outlook. In this view, there are truths which none can be free to ignore, if one is to have that wisdom through which life can become useful. These are the truths concerning the structure of the good life and concerning the factual conditions by which it may be achieved, truths comprising the goals of the free society.

1.What is the main idea of the passage?

A. Difference and relationship between general and special education.

B. Difference and relationship between general and liberal education.

C. Difference and relationship between liberalism in education and education in liberalism.

D. All of the above.

Best Answer: D

详解：答案D。从本文第一句看出，原文首先谈及普通教育与特殊教育的关系与区别；原文第一段末尾谈及普通教育与自由教育的联系；接着第二段谈及这两者的区别；原文第二段第五句作者言道“我们必须区分开教育中的自由主义与自由教育”，由该句可推论出这二者之间必有其相关与不同之处，因此才须区分。D项正确。

2.According to the author, what does the term "general education" mean?

A. Education for making students become responsible.

B. Education for making students become competent in any occupation.

C. Education for making students study courses freely.

D. Education for making students study useful things in our society.

Best Answer: A

详解：答案A。从原文第三句可知，普通教育这一术语是用来指出通过这种教育，使学生成为有责任感的人。A项选项符合原文;B项、C项、D项与原文不符。

3. What is the relationship between general and special education?

A. Both general and special education make students study universal knowledge.

B. Both general and special education make students become free.

C. Both general and special education look to the future life of students.

D. Both general and special education have some limitation.

Best Answer: C

详解：答案C。从原文第一段可知，普通教育的目的在于将学生变成有责任感的人；特殊教育是使学生对于将来所从事的某种工作有胜任能力。C项正确。

4. What does the word "namely" mean?

A. The word something or someone is called.

B. That is to say.

C. An offensive title for someone.

D. The opinion others have of someone.

Best Answer: B

详解：答案B。在第二段的第一句话里，作者说“如果我们把普通教育想象为是无形的或是具有负面影响的话，这就是更不幸的。”作者在formless and negative后分别用that is to say和namely对其作进一步的补充说明。根据猜词技巧，namely即是that is to say，因此，选择B项。

5. What is the difference between liberalism in education and education in liberalism?

A. They have different stands.

B. they have different purposes

C. They have different conditions.

D. They have different objects.

Best Answer: A

详解：答案A。从原文第二段的后半部分可知，教育中的自由主义是基于个人主义学说；而自由主义教育则是与自由观点相联系的教育模式；其立足点不同。A项符合原文；B项、C项、D项与原文不符。