PerhapsitwashisownlackofadequateschoolingthatinspiredHoraceManntoworksohardfortheimportantreformsineducationthatheaccomplished.Whilehewasstillaboyhisfatherandelderbrotherdiedandhebecameresponsibleforsupportinghisfamily.Likemostofthechildreninhistownheattendedschoolonlytwoorthreemonthsayear.LaterwiththehelpofseveralteachershewasabletostudylawandbecomeamemberoftheMassachusettsbarbutheneverforgotthoseearlystruggles.

WhileservingintheMassachusettslegislature（立法机关）hesignedahistoriceducationbillthatsetupastateboardofeducation.Withoutregrethegaveuphissuccessfullegalpracticeandpoliticalcareertobecomethefirstsecretaryoftheboard.ThereheexercisedanenormousinfluenceduringthecriticalperiodofreconstructionthatbroughtintoexistencetheAmericangradedelementaryschoolasasubstitutefortheolderdistrictschoolsystem.Underhisleadershipthecurriculum（课程）wasrestructuredtheschoolyearwasincreasedtoaminimumofsixmonthsandmandatoryschoolingwasextendedtoagesixteen.Hewasalsoinstrumental（起作用的）inimprovingsalariesforteachersandcreatingschoollibraries.

Mann’sideasaboutschoolreformweredevelopedanddistributedintwelveannualreportstothestateofMassachusettsthathewroteduringhistenure（任期）assecretaryofeducation.ConsideredquiteradicalatthetimetheMassachusettsreformslaterservedasamodelforthenation.Mannwasrecognizedasthefatherofpubliceducation.

DuringhislifetimeHoraceMannworkedtirelesslytoextendeducationalopportunitiestothechildrenofpoorlaborers.Inoneofhislastspeecheshesummeduphisphilosophyofeducationandlife:“Beashamedtodieuntilyouhavewonsomevictoryforhumanity.”Surelyhisownlifewasanexampleofthatphilosophy.

1.Whichofthefollowingtitleswouldbestexpressthemaintopicofthepassage?

A.TheFatherofAmericanPublicEducation

B.PhilosophyofEducation

C.TheMassachusettsStateBoardofEducation

D.PoliticsofEducationalInstitutions

2.WhichofthefollowingdescribesHoraceMann’searlylife?

A.Heattendedschoolsixmonthsayear.

B.Hesupportedhisfami