Reading Comprehension Text 2
Grade inflation-the gradual increase in average GPAs (grade-point averages) over the past few decades-is often considered a product of a consumer era in higher education, in which students are treated like customers to be pleased. But another, related force-a policy often buried deep in course catalogs called “grade forgiveness”-is helping raise GPAs.
Grade forgiveness allows students to retake a course in which they received a low grade, and the most recent grade or the highest grade is the only one that counts in calculating a student’s overall GPA.
The use of this little-known practice has accelerated in recent years, as colleges continue to do their utmost to keep students in school (and paying tuition) and improve their graduation rates. When this practice first started decades ago, it was usually limited to freshmen, to give them a second chance to take a class in their first year if they struggled in their transition to college-level courses. But now most colleges, save for many selective campuses, allow all undergraduates, and even graduate students, to get their low grades forgiven.
College officials also tend to emphasize that the goal of grade forgiveness is less about the grade itself and more about encouraging students to retake courses critical to their degree program and graduation without incurring a big penalty. “Ultimately,” said Jack Miner, Ohio State University’s registrar, “we see students achieve more success because they retake a course and do better in subsequent courses or master the content that allows them to graduate on time.”
That said, there is a way in which grade forgiveness satisfies colleges’ own needs as well. For public institutions, state funds are sometimes tied partly to their success on metrics such as graduation rates and student retention-so better grades can, by boosting figures like those, mean more money. And anything that raises GPAs will likely make students-who, at the end of the day, are paying the bill-feel they’ve gotten a better value for their tuition dollars, which is another big concern for colleges.
Indeed, grade forgiveness is just another way that universities are responding to consumers’ expectations for higher education. Since students and parents expect a college degree to lead to a job, it is in the best interest of a school to turn out graduates who are as qualified as possible-or at least appear to be. On this, students’ and colleges’ incentives seem to be aligned.
26. What is commonly regarded as the cause of grade inflation?
27. What was the original purpose of grade forgiveness?
28. According to Paragraph 5, grade forgiveness enables colleges to
29. What does the phrase “to be aligned” (Para. 6) most probably mean?
30. The author examines the practice of grade forgiveness by
答案与解析 (Answers)
26. [D] The influence of consumer culture.
解析：第一段首句明确提到成绩通胀通常被认为是“a product of a consumer era in higher education”，即高等教育消费时代的产物，对应选项D。
27. [A] To help freshmen adapt to college learning.
解析：第三段提到该做法最初“usually limited to freshmen... to give them a second chance... if they struggled in their transition”，即帮助大一新生适应大学课程的过渡，对应选项A。
28. [A] obtain more financial support.
解析：第五段提到公立院校的“state funds are sometimes tied partly to their success on metrics such as graduation rates”，而提高成绩能提升这些指标，从而获得更多资金，对应选项A。
29. [C] To be identical with each other.
解析：最后一段提到学生和家长希望学位能换来工作，学校则希望产出看起来合格的毕业生，双方的“incentives（动机）”在这一点上是达成一致的、相同的，对应选项C。
30. [B] analyzing the causes behind it.
解析：全文探讨了“成绩宽恕”政策的背景、动机（包括帮助学生、满足学校资金需求、回应消费者期待），属于分析其背后的原因，对应选项B。
全文翻译
分数通胀——过去几十年来平均学分绩点（GPA）的逐渐上升——通常被认为是高等教育消费时代的产物，在这个时代里，学生被当作需要取悦的顾客。但另一个相关的力量——一项常常深藏在课程目录中的政策，称为"分数宽恕"——正在帮助提升GPA。分数宽恕允许学生重修一门他们得分较低的课程，而最近的或最高的分数是唯一计入学生总GPA的成绩。随着大学不断尽最大努力留住学生（并让他们继续缴纳学费）并提高毕业率，这种鲜为人知的做法近年来加速普及。当这种做法几十年前刚开始时，通常仅限于大一新生，给他们第二次机会，如果他们在过渡到大学水平课程的过程中遇到困难，可以在第一年重修一门课。但现在大多数大学，除了许多选拔性校园外，允许所有本科生甚至研究生获得低分宽恕。大学官员们也倾向于强调，分数宽恕的目标与其说是分数本身，不如说是鼓励学生重修对其学位课程和毕业至关重要的课程而不受到重罚。俄亥俄州立大学教务长杰克·迈纳说："最终，我们看到学生取得了更多的成功，因为他们重修了一门课程，在后续课程中表现更好，或者掌握了能让他们按时毕业的内容。"话虽如此，分数宽恕也以一种方式满足了大学自身的需求。对于公立大学而言，州拨款有时部分地与其在毕业率和学生保留率等指标上的成功挂钩——因此更好的成绩可以通过提升这些数字来带来更多的资金。而且任何提高GPA的事情都可能让学生——最终买单的人——觉得他们的学费花得更值，这是大学另一个重要的关切。实际上，分数宽恕只是大学回应消费者对高等教育期望的另一种方式。既然学生和家长期望大学学位能带来工作，那么培养出尽可能合格的——或者至少看起来合格的——毕业生符合学校的最大利益。在这一点上，学生和大学的激励似乎是一致的。
核心长难句精解 (Highlighted Sentences)
1. 复杂的定语从句结构：
"Grade inflation... is often considered a product of a consumer era in higher education, in which students are treated like customers to be pleased."
【解析】in which 引导定语从句，修饰 consumer era。这句话揭示了教育产业化的核心逻辑：学生被视为“待取悦的顾客”。
【翻译】成绩通胀——即过去几十年平均GPA的逐渐上升——通常被认为是高等教育消费时代的产物，在这个时代里，学生被当作需要被取悦的顾客来对待。
"Grade inflation... is often considered a product of a consumer era in higher education, in which students are treated like customers to be pleased."
【解析】in which 引导定语从句，修饰 consumer era。这句话揭示了教育产业化的核心逻辑：学生被视为“待取悦的顾客”。
【翻译】成绩通胀——即过去几十年平均GPA的逐渐上升——通常被认为是高等教育消费时代的产物，在这个时代里，学生被当作需要被取悦的顾客来对待。
2. 因果逻辑与伴随结构：
"For public institutions, state funds are sometimes tied partly to their success on metrics such as graduation rates... so better grades can, by boosting figures like those, mean more money."
【解析】be tied to 意为“与...挂钩”。by boosting... 是介词短语作方式状语。揭示了学校推行该政策的财务动机。
【翻译】对于公立机构而言，州政府的拨款有时部分地与其在毕业率和学生留存率等指标上的表现挂钩——因此，通过提升这类数据，更好的成绩可以意味着更多的资金。
"For public institutions, state funds are sometimes tied partly to their success on metrics such as graduation rates... so better grades can, by boosting figures like those, mean more money."
【解析】be tied to 意为“与...挂钩”。by boosting... 是介词短语作方式状语。揭示了学校推行该政策的财务动机。
【翻译】对于公立机构而言，州政府的拨款有时部分地与其在毕业率和学生留存率等指标上的表现挂钩——因此，通过提升这类数据，更好的成绩可以意味着更多的资金。
3. 让步与对比结构：
"Since students and parents expect a college degree to lead to a job, it is in the best interest of a school to turn out graduates who are as qualified as possible-or at least appear to be."
【解析】turn out 意为“培养/产出”。as qualified as possible 是原级比较。破折号后的补充说明“或者至少看起来合格”带有一种讽刺意味。
【翻译】由于学生和家长期望大学学位能通向一份工作，那么培养出尽可能合格的——或者至少看起来合格的——毕业生，才最符合学校的利益。
"Since students and parents expect a college degree to lead to a job, it is in the best interest of a school to turn out graduates who are as qualified as possible-or at least appear to be."
【解析】turn out 意为“培养/产出”。as qualified as possible 是原级比较。破折号后的补充说明“或者至少看起来合格”带有一种讽刺意味。
【翻译】由于学生和家长期望大学学位能通向一份工作，那么培养出尽可能合格的——或者至少看起来合格的——毕业生，才最符合学校的利益。