Some American children struggled to keep up with schoolwork in the first half of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, many states saw large increases in the number of students who had to repeat grades.

Traditionally, experts say that repeating a grade can hurt a child’s social life and academic future. But many parents have asked for their children to repeat grades to help them recover from the difficulties of online learning, quarantines(隔离) and school worker shortages.

The Associated Press examined data from 26 states on the most recent academic year. It found that 22 of the states saw an increase in the number of students who were retained(留级), or held back a year. Three of those states — South Carolina, West Virginia and Delaware — saw the number of retained students more than double. Pennsylvania passed a law during the pandemic permitting parents to let their children redo classes. The following year, the number of retained students in the state increased by about 20,000.

Kristi Price is the mother of a student in Pennsylvania who repeated a grade. She said it was a great decision for him. “At first I didn’t really want to do it,” said her son Braylon, now 13. “But then later in the year I thought it would probably be better for me if I did.”

On his repeat of sixth grade, Braylon had an individualized(个性化的) education program that helped him be more focused. Having more one-on-one attention from teachers helped too. Socially, he said the change was easy. Most of his friends had been in lower grades or attended different schools already.

Education research, however, has been critical of making students repeat grades. Arthur Reynolds is a professor at the University of Minnesota. He said students who are retained are twice as likely to drop out of school. Kids see it as a punishment, Reynolds said. “It reduces their academic motivation, and it doesn’t increase their instructional advancement.”

1.Why do many parents support repeating grades?

A Because it is good for students’ social life and academic future.

B Because they don’t want their children to leave home too early.

C Because it is good for students’ recovery from many difficulties.

D Because their children can’t keep up with their schoolwork.

解析：选C。C 细节理解题。根据第二段第二句“But many parents have asked for their children to repeat grades to help them recover from the difficulties of online learning, quarantines(隔离) and school worker shortages.”可知，许多父母让孩子留级是为了帮助他们克服各种困难。故选C。

2.What happened in Pennsylvania?

A The number of retained students doubled.

B A law allowing repeating classes was passed.

C The number of retained students reduced by 20,000.

D Students were prohibited from redoing classes.

解析：选B。B 细节理解题。根据第三段倒数第二句“Pennsylvania passed a law during the pandemic permitting parents to let their children redo classes.”可知，宾夕法尼亚州通过了一项允许父母让孩子留级的法律。故选B。

3.What was Braylon’s first reaction to repeating a grade?

A He thought it was a great idea.

B He was excited about it.

C He was opposed to it.

D He blamed his mother for it.

解析：选C。C 推理判断题。文章第四段第三句的“ ‘At first I didn’t really want to do it,’ said her son Braylon”可知，刚开始Braylon不愿意留级，由此推断他对留级的第一反应是反对的。故选C。

4.What is the function of the last paragraph?

A To offer the opposite opinion.

B To provide more examples.

C To change to a new topic.

D To give background information.

解析：选A。A 推理判断题。文章前面说的是留级的好处，最后一段说的则是留级的弊端，即提出和前文相反的观点。故选A。