Question

    The Professional Footballers’ Association will help to fund the initiative that will lead to the FA appointing up to 28 black, Asian and ethnic minority coaches to work with all England teams next season, including Gareth Southgate’s senior squad (小队).

The Times revealed details of the joint FA and PFA scheme yesterday, which could be finalised as soon as next week. Martin Glenn, the FA chief executive, is due to meet his counterpart at the PFA, Gordon Taylor, at Wembley before England’s friendly international against Italy next Tuesday. Chris Powell, the Southend United manager, has been identified as a potential addition to Southgate’s back-room staff after the World Cup, which would be welcomed by the England manager.

The FA has already held initial talks with several other coaches, including Jason Euell, Charlton Athletic’s under 23 coach, about taking on a role in the national coaching set-up at St George’s Park. The former Jamaica international has previously questioned the merit of the so-called Rooney Rule, which the FA implemented (执行) in January with a commitment to interview a BAME (black, Asian and minority ethnic) candidate for every coaching position. But Euell believes that the governing body’s decision to offer 28 positions is a more practical way to bring about change.

The FA has begun offering opportunities to BAME coaches, with the former Everton striker Danny Cadamarteri, who is currently a youth coach with Burnley, working with England’s under-18 squad this week. It will extend the programme after it has been approved by the FA Board. The PFA has been instrumental in developing the proposals through the work of their sponsors Brendon Batson, Garth Crooks and Paul Elliott, and have promised to provide funds to make it a success.

“This is integral (完整的) to the modernization of the FA,” Taylor told The Times. “If it’s implemented correctly, with meaningful roles, it will show the FA really means football is for all.”

However, Crooks added that it was a “monumental error of judgment” by Southgate not to take a black coach to Russia for the World Cup finals to support England’s black players in the event of racial abuse from fans.

The FA’s plans received a cautious welcome from many in the game, with the former England defender Viv Anderson saying that coaches from BAME backgrounds have been hindered (阻碍) by a lack of access. The 61-year-old was the first black player to represent England in 1978 and went on to manage Barnsley before joining Middlesbrough as an assistant coach.

“There are only a handful of black managers so there’s clearly a problem,” Anderson said. “If you go up and down the country there are black and ethnic minority players in every squad, but very few go on to become coaches, which is down to a lack of opportunity and access. There are still a lot of negative perceptions about black managers and coaches, which are totally false.” At least the FA is trying to do something, and it could make a difference.

1.What is the passage mainly about?

A.PFA has funded FA in the World Cup.

B.FA and PFA will work together to diversify the coach team.

C.PFA will take on black coaches for England teams.

D.FA has interviewed 28 BAME candidates for coaching positions.

2.We can infer that Jason Euell is            .

A.working in the national coaching set-up

B.in favor of the joint FA and PFA scheme

C.likely to be one of the Southgate’s back-room staff

D.sceptical about FA’s promise to interview BAME candidates

3.Why are many people cautious about the FA’s plans?

A.BAME coaches lack chances and access to England teams.

B.The FA Board hasn’t approved the plan for lack of sponsors.

C.Older coaches don’t possess qualifications for national coaches.

D.There are not enough BAME players to represent England teams.

4.The author holds the view that            .

A.there are still negative perceptions about black managers and coaches

B.black managers and coaches are superior in managing football teams

C.advantages in taking on black coaches outweigh disadvantages

D.attempts are being made to show the FA means football for all

Answer

1.B

2.B

3.A

4.D

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。本文介绍了职业球员协会和足球协会联合计划聘请28位黑人、亚洲人和少数族裔的教练，许多人士对这项计划做出了评论。对于黑人教练的负面看法仍然很多，这是完全错误的。这项计划表明足协正在做出努力，希望使足球成为所有人的足球并且消除种族歧视。

1.主旨大意题。根据第一段中的The Professional Footballers’ Association will help to fund the initiative that will lead to the FA appointing up to 28 black, Asian and ethnic minority coaches to work with all England teams next season(职业足球运动员协会将帮助资助一项计划，内容是下个赛季足球协会将任命多达28名黑人、亚洲人和少数民族教练与所有英格兰球队合作)可知，职业球员协会（PFA）将资助足球协会（FA）使教练队伍多样化的计划。接下来就是许多人士围绕这一计划做出了评论，因此B项（PFA和FA将共同努力，使教练队伍多样化）符合文章大意，故选B项。

2.推理判断题。根据第三段最后一句But Euell believes that the governing body’s decision to offer 28 positions is a more practical way to bring about change.(但是Euell认为，国际货币基金组织决定提供28个职位，是实现变革的一种更实际的方式)可知，Euell支持FA和PFA的联合计划。故选B项。

3.细节理解题。根据倒数第二段The FA’s plans received a cautious welcome from many in the game, with the former England defender Viv Anderson saying that coaches from BAME backgrounds have been hindered by a lack of access.(足球协会的计划受到了比赛中许多人的谨慎欢迎，前英格兰后卫维夫·安德森说，黑人、亚洲人和少数民族教练们缺乏机会，受到阻碍)可知，许多人谨慎对待FA计划是因为黑人、亚洲人和少数民族教练们缺乏机会进入英国球队。故选A项。

4.推理判断题。根据第五段Taylor的叙述This is integral to the modernization of the FA. If it’s implemented correctly, with meaningful roles, it will show the FA really means football is for all.(这是足协现代化不可或缺的一部分。如果实施得当，发挥出有意义的作用，这将显示足协意图证明足球是为所有人服务的)以及最后一段中的At least the FA is trying to do something, and it could make a difference.(至少足协正在努力做一些事情，而且可能会产生影响)可推知，作者是支持足协计划的，也就是支持Taylor的观点，即FA的计划意图证明足球对所有人都有意义，D项描述符合作者的观点描述。故选D项。