【分析】复合句。句子主干为 Reform has been...opposed...。where 引导非限定性定语从句，修饰 education。

【译文】改革一直遭到强烈反对，最让人惊讶的可能是在教育业，其中的特许学校、学会和绩效工资都面临着持久的斗争。

【点拨】1) egregiously “惊人的”。2) merit“功绩，价值”。

28. Even though there is plenty of evidence that the quality of the teachers is the most important variable, teachers' unions have fought against getting rid of bad ones and promoting good ones.

【分析】多重复合句。主句主干是 teachers' unions have fought against...。 even though 引导让步状语从句，该从句中含有 that 引导的同位语从句，对 evidence 作进一步解释说明。动名词短语 getting rid of...good ones作 against 的宾语。

【译文】虽然有充分的证据表明，教师的素质是最重要的可变因素，但是教务工会却反对开除差教师、提拔好教师。

【点拨】1）variable 作形容词时意为“可变的，易变的”，作名词时意为“变量，可变因素”。2）promote“提拔，提升”。

【临摹】首先必须根除那些先入为主的想法。

临摹答案

28. First it is essential to get rid of preconceived notions.