英格蘭的頂尖大學(xué)被告知要大幅增加貧困家庭青少年的入學(xué)名額。英國高等教育監(jiān)管機構(gòu) “學(xué)生辦公室”（Office for Students）希望在五年內(nèi)把富裕學(xué)生和貧困學(xué)生之間的 “入學(xué)率差距” 減半。

At present at Oxford, there are 15 students from better-off areas getting places for every one student from a disadvantaged background. At Cambridge, the ratio is 14-to-one.  The Office for Students says this gap will have to be cut in half over the next five years, and is calling for more places for students from the north of England, the Midlands and deprived coastal towns.  

目前在牛津大學(xué)，來自富裕地區(qū)的學(xué)生和來自貧困家庭的學(xué)生比是15比1。在劍橋大學(xué)，這個比例是14比1?！皩W(xué)生辦公室”（Office for Students，英國高等教育監(jiān)管機構(gòu)）表示，在未來五年內(nèi)，這一差距必須縮小一半，并呼吁為來自英格蘭北部、中部地區(qū)和貧困沿海城鎮(zhèn)的學(xué)生提供更多的名額。

The targets have been backed by the Universities Minister, Chris Skidmore. But as Oxford and Cambridge are not planning to increase the overall student numbers, it’s likely to mean a reduction in places for middle-class and London students. 

這些目標得到了大學(xué)部長克里斯·斯基德莫爾的支持。但由于牛津和劍橋不打算增加學(xué)生總數(shù)，這可能意味著來自中產(chǎn)階級家庭和來自倫敦的學(xué)生入學(xué)名額將減少。

Private school leaders have warned universities not to discriminate against their pupils, claiming it would be unfair to rob some students of a future, to award it to others.

私立學(xué)校的領(lǐng)導(dǎo)者已經(jīng)警告大學(xué)不要歧視他們的學(xué)生，聲稱剝奪一些學(xué)生的未來，再將其未來授予其他人是不公平的。

詞匯

better-off 境況較好的，富裕的
disadvantaged 處于劣勢的
deprived 貧寒的
backed 受到支持
middle class 中產(chǎn)的
discriminate 歧視
rob 剝奪，使失去
award 把……授予

閱讀理解：請在讀完上文后，回答下列問題 。

1. How many students from a disadvantaged background attend Cambridge University compared with those from a better-off area?

2. In the next five years, what does the Office for Students want to happen to the ratio between better off students and those from disadvantaged areas attending university?

3. True or false? There’s going to be a reduction of middle-class students at Oxford and Cambridge as overall student numbers increase.

4. What do private school leaders fear will happen to some of their students if the ratio is changed?

答案

1. How many students from a disadvantaged background attend Cambridge University compared with those from a better-off area?
The ratio between students from well-off backgrounds to disadvantaged backgrounds is 14-to-one.

2. In the next five years, what does the Office for Students want to happen to the ratio between better off students and those from disadvantaged areas attending university?
The Office for Students says the ratio will have to be cut in half over the next five years.

3. True or false? There’s going to be a reduction of middle-class students at Oxford and Cambridge.
True. It’s likely there will be a reduction in places for middle-class and London students.

4. What do private school leaders fear will happen to some of their students if the ratio is changed?
Private school leaders fear some of their students will be robbed of a future.