Question

    Educators across the US are calling for major changes to the admission process in higher education. The National Center for Educational Statistics reported that U.S. colleges and universities received more than 9 million applications between 2013 and 2014. The schools admitted more than 5 million students in that time.

But a new report says that the problem is not about the number of students that are being admitted, but rather how students are selected. The Harvard School of Graduate Education, along with 80 other schools and organizations, released the report in January 2016, called “Turing the Tide---Making Caring Common”. The report argues that the process schools use to choose students causes major problems.

David Hawkins, the Executive Director for Educational Policy, says that most colleges and universities require many things from students when they apply. Schools usually ask for an essay describing a student’s interests or why they want to study at that school. The schools also ask for letters from teachers or other responsible adults describing why a student is a good candidate. But, Hawkins says, the area that schools are most concerned with a student’s high school grades and standardized test results.

The report suggests that paying attention to academic success over other qualities works well for some students but hurts others. In addition, academic success is not the most important quality a student should have. More attention should be paid to showing whether or not a student wants to do good in the world. The report also suggests that schools should ask for evidence that students care about other people. Moving attention away from academic ability will make process less about competition, the report says. Students will feel less stress about meeting higher and higher expectation.

But the report does have its critics. Bob Schaeffer, Public Education Director, said that every few years, someone makes the same argument for change. He said that no real change has happened yet and that even many of the schools that agree with the report still make no changes. “Many of the institutions that have supported the findings in the report are the very institutions that have the most competitive admission processes in the country," Schaeffer said.

1.What is the problem of the admission process according to the report?

A.The schools ask social responsibilities from the applying students

B.The schools attach importance to students’ academic records

C.The number of students getting admitted is too small

D.Admission officers only consider personal qualities

2.Which of the following do colleges ask of applicants except   ?

A.Their reasons to attend the school.

B.A description of their interests.

C.Recommendation letters from adults

D.Evidence that students care about others

3.What does the author’s attitude to the report of the admission process?.

A.Supportive. B.Doubtful C.Neutral D.Negative

4.The critic, Bob Schaeffer, thinks that    .

A.some schools don't do what they believe is right

B.the largest schools are expected to make changes first

C.not enough schools currently agree with the report

D.history has proved that all changes are good

Answer

1.B

2.D

3.C

4.A

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。美国各地的教育工作者呼吁对高等教育招生过程进行重大改革。在录取过程中出现了问题，即学校重视学生的学业成绩。与其他素质相比更注重学业成绩对某些学生来说效果不错，但却伤害了其他学生。此外，学业上的成功并不是学生应该具备的最重要的素质。应该更加注意显示一个学生是否想在世界上做好事。虽然有的学校提出变革，但却没有真正的变化。

1.细节理解题。根据第四段第一句“The report suggests that paying attention to academic success over other qualities works well for some students but hurts others.” 报告指出，与其他素质相比更注重学业成绩对某些学生来说效果不错，但却伤害了其他学生。由此可知录取的过程中出现的问题就是注重了学生的学业成绩。故选B项。

2.推理判断题。根据第四段中的“The report also suggests that schools should ask for evidence that students care about other people.” 可知，报告还指出，该报告还建议，学校应该要求学生提供证明他们关心他人的证据。由此判断出大学对申请人并没有要求学生提供证明他们关心他人的证据。故选D项。

3.推理判断题。通读全文可知，作者只是对于录取过程中的问题进行了描述，没有进行自己的评论，由此判断出，作者对录取过程的报告持中立的态度。故选C项。

4.推理判断题。根据最后一段中的“He said that no real change has happened yet and that even many of the schools that agree with the report still make no changes.” 可知，他说，每隔几年，就有人对变革提出同样的观点。目前还没有真正的变化，甚至许多同意这份报告的学校仍然没有改变。由此判断出有些学校并没有做他们认为正确的事。故选A项。