In many countries, schools have long summer holidays, with shorter holidays in between.However, a new report suggests shortening school holidays to stop children forgetting what they have learnt during the long summer break.Instead of three school terms, it says, there should be five eight-week terms.And there should be just four weeks off in the summer, with a two-week break between the other terms. 

Sonia Montero has two children at primary school and works full-time.She supports the idea."The kids," she says, " have much longer holidays then and I can't afford to take several weeks off work, so I need someone to take care of them.But nobody wants the work in the summer holidays -- they all have holidays of their own. 

Not surprisingly, some young people disagree.Student Jason Panos says , "It's a stupid idea.I would hate staying at school in the summer.It's unfair, too.The people who suggest this had long school holidays when they were young, but now they want to stop us enjoying the summer.The kids in Spain and American have much longer holidays than here, but they don't forget everything they've learnt in a few months." 

Nadia Salib agrees."Sure," she says, "the first week at school after the summer is never easy, but you soon get back into it.The real problem round here is that kids get bored after so many weeks out of school, and then some of them start causing trouble.But the answer is to give them something to do, not make everyone stay in school longer." QUESTIONS:

Q1:
1. What organizations have long summer holidays?
2. Who benefits from long summer holidays?
3. What body gives long summer holidays?
Q2:
1. Are some proposing shorter holidays for students?
2. Has the prospect of shortened holidays been brought up?
3. Are some suggesting that school holidays should be shortened?
Q3:
1. What is the name of the woman with two kids?
2. Who in the article is mother to two children?
3. Who is the woman with two children?
Q4:
1. What does Sonia Montero have to say about the prospect of shortening holidays?
2. Why does Sonia Montero think shorter holidays would be a good thing?
3. For what reason is Sonia Montero in favor of shorter holidays?
Q5:
1. Who disagrees with Sonia Montero?
2. Who is not in favor of shorter holidays?
3. Who does not share Sonia Montero's position on shorter holidays?
Q6:
1. What did Jason Panos have to say about shorter holidays?
2. What was the opinion of Jason Panos with regards to shorter holidays?
3. How did Jason Panos feel about the prospect of shortened holidays?
Q7:
1. Which countries have long summer vacations?
2. What countries in particular have long summer holidays?
3. Where does Jason Panos note that students are given long holidays?
Q8:
1. What kinds of people agree with Jason Panos?
2. Who is generally in agreement with Jason Panos?
3. What group of people shares Jason Panos's point of view?
Q9:
1. Do the other students disagree with Jason Panos?
2. Do others think it would be useful to shorten vacation, alongside Sonia Montero??
3. Is there a chorus of people who believe vacation should be shortened?
Q10:
1. How long is the new report suggesting that summer vacation should last?
2. For how many weeks does the news report believe summer vacation should last?
3. How long would summer holidays last, if the suggested changes are made?
