Children in Guinea started their school year in January. Schools were closed there for five months because of Ebola. In Liberia, the schools are to reopen February 16, 2015.

The change shows progress on ending the epidemic for both countries. However, not everyone is sure the countries should reopen their schools.

Sampson Wesseh’s kids ask him every day. “Papa, when will we return to school?” Mr. Wesseh is glad the Liberian government plans to reopen schools in February. Authorities shut them in July 2014 when the number of Ebola cases increased quickly. “My kids have been sitting home doing nothing, playing, running here and there. Nothing like education has been going on...The more the children sit home, the more they get dull.”

Officials say schools will have safety measures in place. They will provide thermometers to check children’s temperature and chlorine for hand washing.

But some Liberian parents say they may keep their children home a while longer. Mother Christine Thomas says she wants the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare Liberia Ebola-free before she returns her children to school. “My fear here is that if the children go to school and they come down with Ebola, it will not be too good for the parents. We are hoping and praying that there will be a little bit of debate on the opening of schools.”

In Guinea, teachers are also concerned. They worry about the crowding in their schools. It is hard to prevent contact between children.

Teacher Amadou Diallo says the children play together during breaks at school. No one can stop them from doing that. The students also share food. He thinks it is too dangerous to reopen schools at this time.

Civil society groups said they would protest if the schools did not reopen. These groups say they will go out to schools and check on safety measures. They will make sure there are hand-washing stations. The groups will check to see that schools are taking students’ temperatures every day. A high temperature is an early sign of Ebola.

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1.Why did Sampson Wesseh’s kids ask him when they would return to school?

A Because they didn’t like to go to school.

B Because they felt dull at home doing nothing for so long.

C Because the number of Ebola cases increased quickly.

D Because many people don’t think it the right time to reopen school.

解析：选B。B 细节理解题。根据文章第3段最后一句The more the children sit home, the more they get dull可知，孩子们在家里呆烦了，因此才希望重返校园。

2.What safety measures have schools taken for the kids?

A Food is offered in the schools for kids to eat.

B Contract between children has been prevented.

C Chlorine is provided for pupils to wash hands.

D Temperatures are taken every day.

解析：选C。C 细节理解题。根据文章第4段可知，政府提供的安全物资保障包括温度计和洗手液。

3.What can we infer from the passage?

A People think the WHO statement is more reliable.

B People believe that their country is free from Ebola.

C People would rather their kids were educated at home.

D There is a public debate over the reopening of schools.

解析：选A。A 推理判断题。根据文章第5段Mother Christine Thomas says she wants the World Health Organization(WHO) to declare…可知，人们希望世界卫生组织有一个正式发文，宣布他们国家解除埃博拉疫情，孩子们上学没有风险。由此判断，人们认为只有世卫组织的通知更为可信。

4.What makes Guinean teachers concerned?

A Children play too much when they are at school.

B The school gives the children too much freedom.

C The school is a dangerous place for children to stay at.

D Sharing food between children might cause Ebola.

解析：选D。D 细节理解题。根据文章第7段The students also share food可知，孩子们相互之间在一起吃饭，接触增多，容易导致交叉传染，这正是老师们最担心的。

5.What can be implied in the last paragraph?

A Civil society groups argued that schools should remain closed.

B Civil society groups would provide schools with safety measures.

C Civil society groups will help check children’s temperatures daily.

D Civil society groups held support for the reopening of schools.

解析：选D。D 推理判断题。根据文章最后一段Civil society groups said they would protest if the schools did not reopen可知公民组织宣称如果再不开学，他们将进行抗议，由此判断，他们对于重新开学是持支持态度的。