A school has punished more than 20 pupils after it considered their shiny black leather Kickers against its uniform regulation.

Within minutes of arriving at Outwood Academy in Acklam, Middlesborough, on Friday, several pupils had been sent back home for wearing “incorrect” footwear. The secondary school, which has 860 pupils, states that only plain black shoes are allowed and trainers, boots, pumps or canvas shoes are banned. 

It decided to revise its policy as part of a drive to improve standards at the previously failing school and a letter was sent out reminding parents what it considered to be “correct” footwear, last week. But parents have criticized the school, saying their children’s shoes were plain black and from the store selling for school wear. 

The letter, issued on Wednesday, read: “Students should be wearing black shoes that can be polished. Any other colors of shoes, trainers or boots of any description are not permitted.”

Maddie Hayes, 14, was among a number of students excluded on Friday, despite having worn the same brand of plain black shoe for the last three years. Her mother, Jackie Hayes, a travel agent from Coulby Newham, said her daughter was one of more than 20 pupils either sent home or put in isolation for wearing the wrong school uniform. “Attendance at the school is already a major issue yet they are sending kids home. Fair enough if the shoes were brightly colored or had high heels, but Maddie’s are plain, basic, black shoes.”

But executive principal, Rob Tarn, said some of the shoes were boots, which is against the school’s rules. He said: “We have always been clearly regarding our requirements with uniform and our school has high expectations of student behavior. Students whose footwear does not meet the requirements are asked if they wish to borrow a pair of shoes bought by the school until they can purchase a more appropriate pair for themselves, a request which we think to be reasonable. ”

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1.Why were these students punished?

A Their shoes were not from the store selling school wear.

B They didn’t wear plain black shoes.

C They were wearing the “incorrect” uniform to school.

D They were late for school that day.

解析：选B。B 细节理解题。根据文章第2段可知，这些学生之所以受罚，原因在于他们没有按照要求穿普通的黑色鞋子。

2.What was the purpose of the school by changing its regulations about uniform?

A The school wanted to tell the parents about the correct footwear.

B The school intends to attract more students to attend the classes.

C The school attempts to make more parents satisfied with their work.

D The school decided to improve the standards of the students.

解析：选D。D 细节理解题。根据文章第3段It decided to revise its policy as part of a drive to improve standards at the previously failing school可知，该校目前正面临学生成绩下滑的难题，为了挽救学校于失败和危难之间，提高学校学生的学习水平，学校方面改变并严格执行校服纪律。

3.What does the underlined word most probably mean in Paragraph Five?

A Keep out.

B Get out.

C Put out.

D Cut out.

解析：选A。A 猜测词义题。根据文章中的sent back home可以判断，exclude在文章中意为“驱逐”。

4.What can we infer from the passage?

A Jackie Hayes worried about her daughter’s attending her class.

B Jackie Hayes felt happy that her daughter was wearing the right shoes.

C Jackie Hayes thought it unfair to send her daughter home.

D Jackie Hayes felt sorry for the punishment of the students.

解析：选C。C 推理判断题。根据文章第5段Fair enough if the shoes were brightly colored or had high heels, but Maddie’s are plain, basic, black shoes可以判断，曼迪的妈妈认为自己女儿的鞋子符合学校的要求，这样处罚女儿是不公平的。

5.What will be done if a student’s shoes don’t meet the requirements?

A They should buy a more suitable pair for themselves immediately.

B They will be either put in isolation or sent home for breaking the rule.

C They can wear a pair of shoes provided by the school for that day.

D Their parents will be reminded to buy a more appropriate pair for them.

解析：选C。C 细节理解题。根据文章最后1段Students whose footwear does not meet the requirements are asked if they wish to borrow a pair of shoes bought by the school until…可知，如果学生的鞋子不合要求，可以首先借穿学校提供的鞋子，直到自己购买到符合要求的鞋子为止。故选C。