Education: Too Tough

Which of the following was not one of the outstanding men in ancient Greece: Cicero, Pericles, Plato, Socrates?

Show how the political principles of Sun Yat-sen were different from those of the Manchu Dynasty.

In New York City last week, 18,000 high-school students wrestled for three hours with questions like these. They were taking the state's semi-annual history examination, required for graduation. Usually 5% fail to make the passing mark of 65; this time there were twice as many flunks. And graders had marked the pa pers as tolerantly as they could.

Could it be that this year's class was less bright or...

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