<s>
Standardized_JJ testing_NN1 exists_VVZ both_RR in_II China_NP1 and_CC the_AT west_ND1 ,_, and_CC is_VBZ a_AT1 simple_JJ and_CC effective_JJ way_NN1 to_II gauge_NN1 students_NN2 knowledge_NN1 and_CC ability_NN1 ._. 
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It_PPH1 is_VBZ also_RR an_AT1 integral_JJ part_NN1 of_IO Chinese_JJ culture_NN1 ._. 
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<s>
After_II all_DB ,_, one_PN1 could_VM draw_VVI connections_NN2 between_II current_JJ examination_NN1 systems_NN2 in_II China_NP1 ,_, and_CC the_AT Imperial_JJ Examinations_NN2 established_VVD nearly_RR two_MC thousand_NNO years_NNT2 ago_RA in_II the_AT Sui_JJ dynasty_NN1 ._. 
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As_II such_DA ,_, I_PPIS1 do_VD0 not_XX believe_VVI that_CST such_DA standardized_JJ testing_NN1 should_VM be_VBI abolished_VVN ._. 
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However_RR ,_, the_AT testing_NN1 system_NN1 clearly_RR has_VHZ faults_NN2 which_DDQ could_VM be_VBI rectified_VVN ._. 
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<s>
One_MC1 of_IO the_AT largest_JJT problems_NN2 with_IW tests_NN2 such_II21 as_II22 the_AT National_JJ Higher_JJR Education_NN1 Entrance_NN1 Examination_NN1 ,_, or_CC Gao_NP1 Kao_NP1 ,_, is_VBZ that_DD1 throughout_II high_JJ school_NN1 ,_, it_PPH1 places_VVZ emphasis_NN1 on_II test-taking_NN1 ,_, not_XX on_II practical_JJ skills_NN2 and_CC abilities_NN2 that_CST students_NN2 will_VM need_VVI after_II graduation_NN1 ._. 
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<s>
For_REX21 instance_REX22 ,_, foreign-language_NN1 ,_, usually_RR English_JJ ,_, is_VBZ a_AT1 large_JJ part_NN1 of_IO the_AT test_NN1 ._. 
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However_RR ,_, the_AT vast_JJ majority_NN1 of_IO students_NN2 can_VM not_XX actually_RR communicate_VVI with_IW that_DD1 language_NN1 ,_, other_II21 than_II22 to_TO say_VVI a_AT1 few_DA2 rudimentary_JJ introductions_NN2 and_CC statements_NN2 ._. 
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<s>
Furthermore_RR ,_, because_CS the_AT focus_NN1 of_IO foreign_JJ language_NN1 learning_NN1 is_VBZ to_TO pass_VVI a_AT1 test_NN1 that_CST revolves_VVZ around_RP reading_VVG and_CC writing_NN1 ,_, most_RGT high_JJ school_NN1 graduates_NN2 comprehend_VV0 little_RR if_CS any_DD spoken_JJ English_NN1 ,_, and_CC have_VH0 difficulty_NN1 expressing_VVG themselves_PPX2 verbally_RR ._. 
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It_PPH1 is_VBZ does_VDZ little_DA1 good_JJ for_IF students_NN2 to_TO spend_VVI huge_JJ amounts_NN2 of_IO time_NNT1 memorizing_VVG vocabulary_NN1 that_CST they_PPHS2 will_VM not_XX and_CC in_II fact_NN1 can_VM not_XX use_VVI after_II graduation_NN1 ._. 
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The_AT issue_NN1 of_IO placing_VVG too_RG much_DA1 emphasis_NN1 on_II test-taking_NN1 also_RR exists_VVZ in_II the_AT west_ND1 ,_, such_II21 as_II22 is_VBZ the_AT case_NN1 with_IW the_AT American_NN1 SAT_VVD Reasoning_VVG Test_NN1 ._. 
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Unfortunately_RR there_EX is_VBZ no_AT simple_JJ way_NN1 to_TO eliminate_VVI the_AT problem_NN1 ,_, other_II21 than_II22 to_TO change_VVI the_AT format_NN1 of_IO the_AT test_NN1 ,_, or_CC to_TO change_VVI the_AT importance_NN1 of_IO the_AT test_NN1 ._. 
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<s>
Standardized_JJ testing_NN1 is_VBZ probably_RR the_AT best_JJT way_NN1 to_TO get_VVI an_AT1 overview_NN1 of_IO a_AT1 given_JJ students_NN2 progress_NN1 and_CC potential_NN1 ._. 
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<s>
But_CCB perhaps_RR other_JJ criteria_NN2 should_VM be_VBI met_VVN ._. 
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<s>
For_REX21 instance_REX22 ,_, in_II some_DD High_JJ Schools_NN2 in_II America_NP1 ,_, a_AT1 requirement_NN1 for_IF graduation_NN1 is_VBZ the_AT Senior_JJ Project._NP1 This_DD1 is_VBZ a_AT1 long_JJ and_CC complicated_JJ project_NN1 tailored_VVN to_II each_DD1 students_NN2 knowledge_NN1 ,_, skills_NN2 ,_, ability_NN1 ,_, and_CC interests_NN2 ._. 
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<s>
For_REX21 instance_REX22 ,_, a_AT1 student_NN1 who_PNQS is_VBZ interested_JJ in_II music_NN1 might_VM compose_VVI and_CC perform_VVI a_AT1 new_JJ piece_NN1 ,_, whereas_CS a_AT1 student_NN1 more_RGR interested_JJ in_II literature_NN1 might_VM write_VVI a_AT1 book_NN1 ._. 
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<s>
Students_NN2 are_VBR required_VVN to_TO document_VVI the_AT time_NNT1 they_PPHS2 spend_VV0 on_II the_AT project_NN1 ,_, which_DDQ must_VM be_VBI at_RR21 least_RR22 20_MC hours_NNT2 ._. 
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<s>
The_AT project_NN1 also_RR includes_VVZ a_AT1 long_JJ research_NN1 paper_NN1 ,_, as_II31 well_II32 as_II33 a_AT1 10-minute_JJ presentation_NN1 to_II a_AT1 Board_NN1 of_IO educators_NN2 ._. 
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<s>
Projects_NN2 like_II this_DD1 shift_NN1 emphasis_NN1 from_II facts_NN2 and_CC figures_NN2 ,_, to_II more_RGR practical_JJ matters_NN2 such_II21 as_II22 creativity_NN1 ,_, critical_JJ thinking_NN1 ,_, problem_NN1 solving_NN1 ,_, etc_RA ._. 
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<s>
Some_DD critics_NN2 say_VV0 that_CST eliminating_VVG testing_NN1 will_VM breed_VVI such_DA problems_NN2 as_CSA discrimination_NN1 ,_, corruption_NN1 ,_, etc_RA ._. 
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<s>
However_RR ,_, these_DD2 problems_NN2 already_RR exist_VV0 ,_, and_CC will_VM exist_VVI no_DDQV31 matter_DDQV32 what_DDQV33 system_NN1 is_VBZ used_VVN ._. 
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<s>
The_AT most_RGT important_JJ matter_NN1 at_II hand_NN1 is_VBZ to_TO foster_VVI a_AT1 higher_JJR level_NN1 of_IO thinking_VVG among_II high_JJ school_NN1 students_NN2 ,_, and_CC that_DD1 is_VBZ something_PN1 that_CST preparing_VVG for_IF and_CC taking_VVG tests_NN2 does_VDZ not_XX do_VDI ._. 
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<s>
Tests_NN2 should_VM definitely_RR not_XX be_VBI abolished_VVN ,_, but_CCB they_PPHS2 should_VM be_VBI reexamined_VVN ._. 
</s>
<s>
By_II shifting_JJ focus_NN1 from_II answering_JJ questions_NN2 ,_, to_II more_RGR abstract_JJ and_CC relevant_JJ skills_NN2 such_II21 as_II22 problem-solving_NN1 ,_, critical_JJ thinking_NN1 ,_, and_CC creativity_NN1 ,_, students_NN2 will_VM be_VBI much_RR more_RRR prepared_VVN to_TO become_VVI responsible_JJ citizens_NN2 and_CC productive_JJ members_NN2 of_IO society_NN1 ._. 
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