新西兰英语 712 End of school year

 　　First listen to November 12th 2012 to hear about NCEA.

　　NCEA exams started three weeks ago and most students finished last week but the last exam was Level 3 Spanish this afternoon. There were 120 different exams at the three levels. 143,000 students throughout the country sat exams. Results will be posted mid-January.

　　Most high schools held a prize-giving ceremony for their senior students in early November before exams began. Usually there is a speech by the principal¹ or an invited guest. Students often perform musical items, and parents attend. Prizes are for sporting, cultural or academic success. Years 9 and 10 have their prize-giving this week or next week and this is the end of the school year for them.

　　High schools must be open for teaching² for 190 days. Primary schools are open for 194 days.

　　Schools next year can start the year between January 28th and February 7th. If they start earlier, they can finish earlier. Waitangi Day is February 6th. This is a public holiday. Some schools prefer to start after Waitangi Day.

　　Vocabulary

　　musical items – music by a choir³, orchestra⁴ or band

　　cultural – drama, music, debate etc.

1 principal   

adj.主要的；n.负责人，校长，资本

参考例句：

• When he saw the principal,he raised his hand in salutation.他看到校长时举手敬礼。
• Their school gave a reception to their new principal.他们学校为新校长举办了一个招待会。

2 teaching   

n.教学，执教，任教，讲授；(复数)教诲

参考例句：

• We all agree in adopting the new teaching method. 我们一致同意采取新的教学方法。
• He created a new system of teaching foreign languages.他创造了一种新的外语教学体系。

3 choir   

n.唱诗班，唱诗班的席位，合唱团，舞蹈团；v.合唱

参考例句：

• The choir sang the words out with great vigor.合唱团以极大的热情唱出了歌词。
• The church choir is singing tonight.今晚教堂歌唱队要唱诗。

4 orchestra   

n.管弦乐队；vt.命令，定购

参考例句：

• He plays the violin in an orchestra.他在管弦乐队中演奏小提琴。
• I was tempted to stay and hear this superb orchestra rehearse.我真想留下来听这支高超的管弦乐队排练。