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David Cameron refused to answer a maths question - in case he got it wrong. 为了防止自己回答错，英国首相卡梅伦拒绝回答一道数学题。 The Prime Minister backed plans for every child to be tested on their times table when they leave primary school. But he ducked a question on what is nine times eight, hours after Education Secretary Nicky Morgan also insisted: "I'm not going to answer any maths questions." 首相支持让每一位孩子在小学毕业之前都要测试乘法表口诀的计划。但是有人问他9乘以8是多少的时候，他避而不答，而几个小时之前教育部长尼基·摩根也坚持说：“我不会回答任何数学问题。” The Tories have declared "war on illiteracy and innumeracy" as part of a new Conservative drive to improve standards. Headteachers who fail to ensure the standards are met face being sacked if the Tories Conservatives are returned to power. 英国保守党党员们声称将和文盲和数学盲斗争到底，这一举措是新保守党为了提高教育标准的一部分。若保守党卷土重来重新掌权，没有执行教育标准的校长们将面临着解雇的危险。 As well as demonstrating mathematical skills, pupils will have to pass a writing test by showing they can use accurate punctuation, spelling and grammar. By the time they leave primary school all 11 year-olds will be able to read a novel, write a short story and recite their times tables up to 12. | 
