补全短文的设计思路是，给出一篇300～450词的短文，其中有5处空白，文章后面有6段文字，要求应试者根据文章的内容选择5段文字，将其放回文章原有位置，以恢复文章原貌。这种题型重在考查应试者把握文章结构、掌握作者思路的能力。这是一种较高层次的阅读理解能力，要求考生能够从宏观的角度把握文章的内容和结构，要想做好这类题，必须从语篇的角度，搞清楚文章的脉络，吃透文章的意思。请看短文：
Home Schooling
All children in the United States have to receive an education, but the law does not say they have to be educated at school. A number of parents prefer not to send their children to school. ………………… (1). There are about 300,000 home-schoolers in the United States today. Some parents prefer teaching their children at home because they do not believe that public schools teach the correct religious values; others believe they can provide a better educational experience for their children by teaching them at home …………………… (2)
David Guterson and his wife teach their three children at home. Guterson says that his children learn very differently from children in school. ………………….(3) For example, when there is heavy snowfall on a winter day, it may start a discussion or reading about climate, snow removal equipment, Alaska, polar bears, and winter tourism. Or a spring evening when the family is out watching the stars is a good time to ask questions about satellites and the space program. ………………………… (4)
Home schooling is often more interesting than regular schools, but critics say that home-schoolers are outsiders who might be uncomfortable mixing with other people in adult life. ……………….. (5) However, most parents don't have the time or the desire to teach their children at home, so schools will continue to be where most children get their formal education.
A Interestingly, results show that home-schooled children quite often do better than average on national tests in reading and math.
B Critics also say that most parents are not well qualified to teach their children.
C Learning starts with the children's interests and questions.
D Children who are educated at home are known as "home-schoolers."
E In some countries, there are children who are educated by their parents at home instead of by teachers at school.
F If the Brazilian rain forests are on the TV news, it could be a perfect time to talk about how rain forests influence the climate，how deserts are formed，and how the polar ice caps affect ocean levels
这篇文章的主题是，近年来，美国时兴这样一种潮流，很多家长不愿把自己的孩子送到学校念书，而是把他们留在家里亲自教育孩子，给孩子上课。
文章的开头讲到，在美国，法律规定孩子必须接受教育。而很多家长不愿把孩子送到学校里去接受教育。接下来是一处空白。再接下来的一句话说，目前在美国有30多万儿童在家里接受教育……根据这几句话的信息，第一个空白处应该填哪句话呢?后面的选项D说：那些在家里接受教育的孩子被称作“home-schoolers”。把这句话放到一个空白处意思上讲得通。所以选项D为正确答案。注意，这里有一个很重要的线索，就是“home-schooler”。在空白处后面的一句话中也出现了，选项D是对这个词的解释。
文章接着说，有些家长喜欢在自己的家里教孩子，因为他们认为公立学校不能教给孩子正确的宗教价值观；有的家长认为在家里，孩子接受的教育会更好一些。接下来，又有一处空白。至此，这一段结束。在短文后的几个句子中，选项A的意思是：有意思的是，调查结果表明，在全国举行的阅读和数学考试中，在家里接受教育的孩子的成绩普遍好一些。联系上下文，把这句话放到文中第二个空白处，文意连贯。所以此处答案应为选项A。
文章第二段的意思是，David Guterson和他的妻子在家里教授他们的三个孩子。Guterson认为，孩子在家里的学习方式与在学校里有很大不同。接下来是第三处空白。空白后的内容是举例。大意是：冬天下雪时，他们与孩子讨论有关气候问题、除雪设备问题，讨论阿拉斯加、北极熊、冬季旅游等话题。在春天的夜晚，举家出去看星星，然后问孩子一些有关卫星、太空项目等方面的问题。接下来又是一处空白。至此，本段结束。
根据上面几句话的意思，第三个空白处应插入的句子为选项C，其意思是：学习要从孩子们感兴趣的问题开始。第四个空白应插入选项F。因为选项F进一步举例说明如何通过孩子们感兴趣的话题来教育他们。
文章的最后一段的意思是，家庭教育比正规的学校教育更有意思，但也有人对此持批评态度，认为孩子游离于学校之外，与成人交往，可能有些不适应的地方。接下来是一处空白。文章的最后一句说，多数家长没有时间，也不想在家里教育自己的孩子，所以学校还要办下去，孩子还要接受正规教育。显然，选项B应该填入第五个空白处。该句的意思是，也有批评者认为多数家长并不称职来教育他们的孩子。