The Open University research was probably not flawed---but its conclusions are. This is because the team did not really compare areas having true competition (as just defined) with areas that do not.

　　But, let us all breathe a sigh of relief. Secondary schools had started of late to move in the marketing direction----considering allocating scarce resources of staff and money to persuading the pupils that their schools are the best in the area. No schools could afford to do that properly, so it is a relief to realize this research tells us we don't have to.

　　Competition? We haven't got time for it! Let's spend our small budget in teaching and learning, not in competing and marketing.

　　57. It is indicated in the passage that competition between schools results in .

　　A) higher enrollment rate

　　B) lower academic standard

　　C) higher marketing expenses

　　D) privatization of further education

　　58. Real competition can happen only when .

　　A) academic standard is improved

　　B) there are comparable schools with different educational qualities

　　C) students have different interests

　　D) schools of all areas have sufficient budget for their development

　　59. According to the passage, the free market in secondary education .

　　A) only provides consumers with more information

　　B) is more competitive than the higher education market

　　C) means there will be more intensive competition than in colleges

　　D) is a real surprise to Britain's recent government

　　60. The author of the passage feels relieved that .

　　A) secondary schools have to market themselves

　　B) most secondary schools have scarce resources of staff and money

　　C) the research by Open University proves that most secondary schools are the best in its area

　　D) schools needn't prove that they are the best

　　61. What might be the author's attitude towards competitions between nearby schools?

　　A) The author is in favor of various kinds of competition.

　　B) The author is indifferent to any competition and its result.

　　C) The author is not certain of the effect of competitions.

　　D) The author is against inter-collegiate competitions.