Up to 60 Shanghai maths teachers are to be brought to England to raise standards in an exchange arranged by the Department for Education. The announcement comes as a campaign is launched to raise adult maths skills. A survey of 2,300 adults for the numeracy campaign found that over a third thought their level of maths had held them back. An accompanying economic analysis said that a lack of maths skills cost the UK 20 billion pounds per year.
The plan to bring 60 English­speaking maths teachers from Shanghai is an attempt to learn from a city that has been the top performance in the OECD's Pisa tests. The OECD says that children of poor families in Shanghai are on average better at maths than middle class children in the UK. The Shanghai teachers, expected to arrive from the autumn, will help share their teaching methods, support pupils who are struggling and help to train other teachers.
“We have some smart maths teachers in this country but what I saw in Shanghai—and other Chinese cities—has only strengthened my belief that we can learn from them，” said education minister, Elizabeth Truss, who has recently visited Shanghai, accompanied by head teachers from England.“They have a can­do attitude to maths—and I want us to match that, and their performance.” She stressed the economic significance of raising maths standards, for individuals and the country.“As part of our long­term economic plan, we are determined to drive up standards in our schools and give our young people the skills they need to succeed in the global race. Good maths qualifications have the greatest earnings potential and provide the strongest protection against unemployment，” said the education minister.　
【解题导语】　本文是一篇新闻报道。上海将近60名数学老师将于秋季赴英国分享他们的教学方法、帮助培养学数学困难的学生、培训数学老师来提升英国学生的数学水平。
25．Poor maths skills have caused serious          
consequences in England.
A．academic   B．economic
C．cultural   D．political
解析：选B　细节理解题。根据第一段最后一句“An accompanying economic analysis said that a lack of maths skills cost the UK 20 billion pounds per year.”可知，数学技能的缺乏给英国经济带来了严重后果。故B项正确。
26．What is the main factor behind Shanghai teachers' success in maths teaching?
A．Their students are from poor families.
B．Their students have a talent for maths.
C．They have a positive attitude to teaching.
D．They teach in a highly developed city.
解析：选C　推理判断题。根据第三段第二句“They have a can­do attitude to maths—and I want us to match that, and their performance.”可以判断，是因为他们对数学教学有积极的态度。故C项正确。
27．According to Elizabeth Truss, raising maths standards can be helpful in         .
A．equipping young people with global competitiveness
B．promoting the pupils' international test performance
C．teaching how to earn money in the global market
D．discovering one's maths talent at an early age
解析：选A　细节理解题。根据最后一段倒数第二句“As part of our long­term economic plan, we are determined to drive up standards in our schools and give our young people the skills they need to succeed in the global race.”可知，提高数学水平有助于年轻人具备全球竞争力。故A项正确。
28．What can be the best title for the passage?
A．Good Maths Skills Are about Hard Work
B．Why Are English Maths Standards Left Behind?
C．Why Are Shanghai Maths Teachers Getting Popular?
D．Chinese Teachers Bring the Art of Maths to English Schools　
解析：选D　标题归纳题。通读全文可知，文章主要讲述了上海近60名数学老师将于秋季赴英国分享他们的数学教学方法、帮助培养学数学困难的学生、培训数学老师。D项“中国老师为英国学校带来数学技巧”最能概括本文大意，适合作标题。故D项正确。