College and university graduations in the United States are arriving earlier each year as the average length of school year gets shorter．
The school year has fallen by nearly six weeks，from 197days in 1964to 156days in 1994，according to the National Association of Scholars． 1 ，most American kindergarten，elementary（初等的）and high school students are 2 to spend 180days a year in their schools．The length of the average class period also has 3 ，from more than 57minutes to less than 54，the Association reports．
“The 4 has to be that students are simply 5 less，”said the director of the Association．“If you count the actual 6 of contact hours，you'll find they are 7 four years in college getting an education that would have taken about 8 years in 1964．”
The universities argue that they are simply teaching more 9 ．“The traditional idea that learning 10 in the classroom and through reading and writing 11 based on seat time is out of date，” said a spokesman for the American Council on Education． 12 than attending lectures，students now chat with their professors on their computers or use other types of 13 technology，allowing for a shorter school year，he said．“It is very 14 that，in many schools，they are going to spend less time 15 than they used to．”
1．A．By comparison B．In particular C．Strangely enough D．As a result
2．A．intended B．required C．requested D．inquired
3．A．fallen B．declined C．oppressed D．lowered
4．A．reason B．cause C．conclusion D．condition
5．A．playing B B．learning C．working D．paying
6．A．number B．times C．need D．arrangement
7．A．spending B．given C．living D．asked
8．A．five B．two C．three D．six
9．A．quickly B．thoroughly C．wisely D．efficiently
10．A．came B．took place C．started D．appeared
11．A．questions B．books C．assignments D．texts
12．A．Rather B．More C．Less D．Easier
13．A．knowledge B．information C．message D．intelligence
14．A．possibly B．probably C．lovely D．likely
15．A．at home B．in the laboratory C．in the classroom D．on computer