A historic £7,000-a-year private school is stopping a new McDonald’s setting up. They fear parents will not send their children to be taught near the fast food giant.

Governors of the 400-year-old Haberdashers School are fighting the building of the new restaurant just 100 meters away because it would “discouraging potential parents”. They are appealing against a proposed shopping centre in Monmouth, South Wales, near their pre-prep school for three to seven-year-olds — whose families pay £2,265 per term.

The governors said the proposed McDonald’s, Costa Coffee, a public house and a Pets at Home store would be “inappropriate” and would lose the school money and teaching jobs. “We are concerned that such a highly visible and inappropriate sited development in such close distance to the school would be likely to have the harmful effect of discouraging potential parents from sending their children to the school,” they said. “Any reduction in pupil numbers could result in a reduction in the staff employed by the school.”

The governors expressed the concerns of an increase in traffic, road safety for pupils and too many parking in the school’s car park.

Haberdasher’s Monmouth School — whose motto is “Serve and Obey” — was founded under James I in 1614 as a grammar school for boys. It was rebuilt in 1865 and now boasts single-sex boarding schools for boys and girls, with annual fees of £25,000, as well as a prep school and pre-prep school.

Gary Whitcombe, 77, former Monmouth town councilor, said the shopping development by Avenbury Ventures LLP would help the rural town develop. He said the shops and restaurants would create 147 “much-needed” jobs for local people. He said: “I have spoken to many people who support the scheme. There are no jobs here and many people are forced to travel to other areas to work. This would be a huge boost for the town and another restaurant will give people more choice.”

The developer said the scheme will create 147 jobs while redeveloping a vacant site. The application has yet to be considered by Monmouthshire council’s planning committee.

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1.Why did the private school stop the new McDonald’s setting up?

A They feared the development would affect their traditions of this famous school.

B They feared the fast food restaurant had harmful effect on their students.

C The fast food restaurant was so close to the school that they would lose teaching jobs.

D They feared parents would not send their children to the school near the fast food giant.

解析：选D。D 细节理解题。根据文章第1段可知，这所私立学校之所以反对麦当劳快餐店建立是因为他们害怕快餐店离学校太近，家长们不敢将孩子送来读书了。

2.What was the school governors’ chief concern?

A There would be unemployment for the reduction of pupils.

B Road safety problems would arise with consumers coming.

C Too many cars would be parked in the school’s car park.

D The fast food restaurant could offer jobs to many local people.

解析：选A。A 细节理解题。根据文章第3段Any reduction in pupil numbers could result in a reduction in the staff employed by the school可知，快餐店的建立将带来很多问题，但最主要的问题是影响到私立学校招生，从而造成教师失业。

3.What can we infer from the passage?

A The town is not fully developed.

B The people in the town travel a lot.

C There are many rich people in Monmouth.

D The scheme will not be passed by the local council.

解析：选A。A 推理判断题。根据文章第6段中的rural town , “much-needed” jobs, forced to travel to other areas to work可以判断，这个小镇的经济是比较落后的。

4.What does the underlined word “boost” most probably mean?

A Influence.

B Opportunity.

C Growth.

D Encouragement.

解析：选C。C 词义猜测题。根据语境中的help the rural town develop与give people more choice可知，boost在此处意为“发展”的意思。

5.What can be the best title of the passage?

A Fast-food giant gives rural town a huge boost

B Private school stops new McDonald’s setting up nearby

C McDonald’s reduces student numbers of private school

D Shopping development brings harmful effect to education

解析：选B。B 主旨大意题。根据文章第1段，结合全文内容可知，本文的主要内容为私立学校担心学校发展受到影响阻止快餐店在学校附近设立连锁店。