Reading test #1 for 8th grade. School in the Slums ▪ Slums – impoverished areas ▪ Locks – security locks ▪ Guards — security

Reading test #1 for 8th grade. School in the Slums ▪ Slums – impoverished areas ▪ Locks – security locks ▪ Guards — security personnel ▪ Permission — authorization Mellish school is located in the impoverished district of Brooklyn and caters to students aged twelve to fifteen. There are approximately 1500 students and 90 teachers at this school. It poses significant challenges, possibly being one of the most challenging schools in the United States. The white teachers cannot walk to the school due to safety concerns, so they all drive to school, using cars equipped with special security locks. There is always a black police officer stationed at the school’s entrance who maintains radio contact with the school’s security personnel. To use the restroom, students must obtain written authorization from a teacher, and there is a guard stationed outside the washroom. Only one child is allowed inside the washroom at a time, and they cannot stay for an extended period. All the students attending this school are from the local district, and they are predominantly black children. However, why do the teachers choose to work there? «It’s undoubtedly very challenging,» says Jane Flinch, a forty-five-year-old teacher. Many children face difficulties at home, including physical abuse by their parents, exhaustion from working at night, and sometimes even illness due to a lack of breakfast or meals for a day or two. The teachers remain at this school out of a deep sense of commitment to their work. They see their role as educators and social workers, believing they are making a positive impact on children in need. «There’s also the issue of potential violence,» mentions one of the teachers. «Sometimes, when I enter a classroom, I can sense that some of the children are very volatile. However, I feel reasonably safe, confident that other students will come to my aid.» The school faces severe budget constraints, leaving them unable to provide food for the students. The school principal has been in his position for many years, and his optimism has waned. «No, I’m not optimistic about the future. Just look around,» he says, gesturing towards the high wall surrounding the school. «It’s not a promising sight: buildings with broken windows, closed shops, and groups of people sitting on the steps of houses with nowhere to go and nothing to do.» «We need financial support,» he asserts, «money is the only way to assist this school and its community, along with job opportunities for the residents.»

Exercise 1:
1. Mellish school is for a) older children.
2. The white teachers can’t walk to school because a) it’s dangerous for them.
3. There’s a policeman a) at the door of the school.
4. The white teachers work there because b) they love their job.
5. The school needs a) more money.

Exercise 2:
1. False
2. True
3. True
4. Not mentioned
5. True
6. False

Exercise 3:
1. Mellish school is situated in the impoverished district of Brooklyn.
2. There are approximately 1500 pupils in the school.
3. It’s hard for the teachers to work in this school.
4. Some of the pupils sleep during the lessons because they had to work at night.
5. The principal is not optimistic.

Exercise 4:
1. Mellish school is one of the most difficult schools in America.
2. The teachers can’t walk to the school because they may be attacked.
3. Pupils must have a written permission from the teacher if they want to go to the toilet.
4. The teachers teach and do social work.

Exercise 5: Write about the problems of Mellish school.
Mellish school faces numerous challenges, primarily stemming from its location in an impoverished area. The school struggles with safety concerns, forcing white teachers to commute by car with special security locks. The presence of a black police officer and security guards highlights the heightened security needed. Additionally, students require written permission to access the restroom, and only one child can enter at a time. The student population mainly consists of black children who often face domestic problems, such as abuse, exhaustion from night work, or lack of meals. Despite these difficulties, dedicated teachers persevere, driven by their commitment to the students. Violence is also a concern, but teachers remain hopeful. The school’s financial situation is dire, leaving it unable to provide food for the students. The principal, while devoted, lacks optimism for the future, emphasizing the need for financial support and job opportunities in the community.