# PTE RW FIB #9: Analysis of School Attendance...

Reading & Writing: Fill in the Blanks #9 - Level 1 - Feeds Reading

> Below is a text with blanks. Click on each blank, a list of choice will appear. Select the appropriate answer choice for each blank.

Children who skip school are increasingly on family holidays, government figures revealed today. ____ children played truant this spring term compared with the spring term last year. Children missed 3m unauthorised days of school last term, compared with 3.7m days of school in the same period last year. But a ____ group of truants - 6% of the school population - who account for more than three-quarters of all those on unauthorised absence, are more likely to be on a family holiday than they were in the same ____ last year. Some 1.2% of all absence was for family holidays not ____ by their school last term, compared with 0.9% for the same term last year. More than 60% of all absences were for illness, the same figure as last year.

## Answer

Children who skip school are increasingly on family holidays, government figures revealed today. **Fewer** children played truant this spring term compared with the spring term last year. Children missed 3m unauthorised days of school last term, compared with 3.7m days of school in the same period last year. But a **hardcore** group of truants - 6% of the school population - who account for more than three-quarters of all those on unauthorised absence, are more likely to be on a family holiday than they were in the same **period** last year. Some 1.2% of all absence was for family holidays not **agreed** by their school last term, compared with 0.9% for the same term last year. More than 60% of all absences were for illness, the same figure as last year.

## Explanation

Blank 1 comes before the plural countable noun "children," so you need "Fewer." "Less" goes with uncountable nouns. "More" is wrong because missed days drop from 3.7m to 3m. For blank 2, "hardcore" describes a small, stubborn group behind most absences. "Mere" and "flimsy" suggest the group is unimportant.

## Hints

- Look for comparative markers in the text that contrast the current term with the previous one.
- Consider the specific terminology used to describe persistent truancy and formal school permissions.

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