—22 REFER TO THE FOLLOWING PASSAGE.TODAY, CHILDREN WHOSE P...

Questions 18—22 refer to the following passage.Today, children whose parents are deemed incapable of caring for them are put into foster care.These children are moved into strangers’ homes, where they are cared for until their own parentscan regain custody, which may not happen for years, if it happens at all. Although it means well,the current foster care program is so poorly funded, staffed, and managed that it cannot ensurethe safety and well being of the children in the system.The laudable idea behind foster care is that children will fare best if placed in a family set-ting until they can be reunited with their parents, even if it is a family of strangers. However, whilein foster care, children typically get shuffled between many different foster homes, preventing themfrom developing long-term, supportive relationships with their foster families. Foster care place-ments can also force siblings to be separated, further isolating these vulnerable children. When achild is moved to a new foster home, he or she may also have to enroll in a new school, a disrup-tive process that has a negative impact on the child’s education. The bureaucracy that oversees thissystem is overwhelmed to the point that social workers are unable to adequately screen potentialfoster parents and keep accurate track of the children placed in foster care.There must be a better means of caring for these children. Perhaps it is time to consider cre-ating special group homes as a means of providing these children with stable and safe environ-ments. A child could live in one group home for the duration of his or her time in foster care andbe supervised by a team of social workers and other lay people. Children would receive propermeals and healthcare, attend the same school, and develop relationships with others experienc-ing the trauma of being separated from their parents. In addition, social workers and staff wouldhave daily access to these children, enabling them to better determine if a child has a special phys-ical or psychological need and arrange for the necessary services.Would this approach be perfect? No, but it would solve many of the problems that plaguethe current system. For some, the idea of a government agency housing, clothing, and feedingneedy children may sound extreme, but it only suggests that we provide these children with thesame basic necessities that we give to prison inmates.18. Which of the following best expresses the main idea of this passage?a. The current foster care system is a failure.b. Government-run group homes would be a better option than foster care.c. Group homes for children are similar to prisons.d. Children in foster care need more stability.e. No childcare system is perfect.19. According to the passage, a group home system has all of the following advantages over the currentfoster care system EXCEPTa. children would be reunited with their parents more quickly.b. it is easier to keep track of children in the system.c. children would have daily contact with social workers.d. children would stay in the same school.e. children would have better access to special services.20. The passage suggests that the idea of creating group homes in lieu of foster carea. is long overdue.b. is the only viable option to foster care.c. is likely to meet with much resistance.d. should be researched extensively.e. is a basic right that should not be denied to children in need.21. It can be inferred from the passage that the authora. was once in prison.b. believes foster care parents are often too lenient.c. was a foster child.d. believes prison inmates are treated better than some children in foster care.e. believes group homes are essentially prisons for children.22. The passage states thata. children in group homes would get a better education than children in foster care.b. children in group homes would have more individual attention than children in foster care.c. children in groups homes would find comfort in being with other children who have been takenfrom their parents.d. group homes are more cost effective than foster care.e. a group home system is less likely to be bogged down by bureaucracy.