What makes a good school? Many people would agree that a good school is one that gets the best out of its pupils. Yet not every pupil can do well in his or her exams. What is most important is the individual development of the child and not the general academic success of the school. Yet how can this be measured and improvements made? This question has been at the heart of my work for the last 20 years. All the facts shows that the quality of an individual school can make a significant difference to its pupils' prospects (前途) in life. My definition (定義) of a good school is one in which students progress further than might be expected considering their social background. Inner-city school, for example, despite receiving many socially-disadvantaged pupils, can still be successful in encouraging their students to progress.

We should recognize that the effectiveness of a school can only be considered in relation to its typical intake. Researchers have discovered a number of factors commonly connected with good schools. There are few surprises among a collection which includes professional leadership, high expectations, and a concentration on teaching and learning. Recognition of the importance of pupils' rights and responsibilities and parental involvement is also important.

8. The underlined words "this question" refers to a search for ________.

A. what qualities make a good school

B. why we have to get the best out of pupils

C. the way to make a school the most academically outstanding

D. how to measure school effectiveness

9. According to the writer, a good school ________.

A. makes a significant difference to pupils' prospects

B. helps to encourage socially-disadvantaged students to progress

C. helps pupils to achieve their academic success

D. helps pupils progress beyond their natural abilities

10. The fact that some schools are less successful academically than others may be due in part to their ________.

A. complexity (復(fù)雜) of structure

B. mixture of policies

C. intake of less able students

D. poor standard of school staff(員工)