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Should swimming lessons be compulsory (强制的) in schools?
Guangdong province is set to make swimming lessons compulsory in primary schools staring from 2020, proposing the courses should be given from the fourth grade. Do we need to make swimming compulsory in schools? Forum (论坛) readers share their opinions.
White Bear (Poland)
In Poland swimming lessons are not compulsory, but most of the schools have them. I think that when it is only possible-there should be the swimming lessons for kids. It is a lifesaving skill.
Mister Panda (France)
I come from France where swimming lessons in school are compulsory (dating back to Charlemagne!). I even got my lifesaving certificate in school.
Boilermaker (Expert in China)
There are swimming lessons in my city, but I was very disappointed in how they were taught. The kids spent 45 minutes of the one hour lesson practicing strokes on dryland. They only spent 15 minutes in the water. All of the children panicked and sank immediately to the bottom. Then all of the parents scolded the children, telling them they weren’t paying attention to the teacher and that they were failures.
Yunzhang (China)
It is a pity that many Chinese: athletes have won world championships in swimming while most schools don’t have the swimming facilities. Swimming is an essential lifesaving skill that everyone should have access to. The earlier, the better. The government needs to put money into the popularity of the sport.
16. Who is doubtful about the effect of swimming lessons?
A. White Bear B. Minter Panda C. Boilermaker D. Yunzhang
17. What can we learn from the passage?
A. Swimming lessons are made compulsory in high schools in Guangdong.
B. Swimming lessons are not compulsory in Poland, but most schools have them.
C. In France only a few schools have swimming lessons.
D. Most of the readers think swimming is an unnecessary skill.
18. What is the attitude of Yunzhang to the proposal of swimming lessons?
A. Pitiful B. Positive C. Concerned D. Opposed
