英格蘭的頂尖大學被告知要大幅增加貧困傢庭青少年的入學名額。英國高等教育監管機構 “學生辦公室”（Office for Students）希望在五年內把富裕學生和貧困學生之間的 “入學率差距” 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，來自富裕地區的學生和來自貧困傢庭的學生比是15比1。在劍橋大學，這個比例是14比1。“學生辦公室”（Office for Students，英國高等教育監管機構）表示，在未來五年內，這一差距必須縮小一半，並呼籲為來自英格蘭北部、中部地區和貧困沿海城鎮的學生提供更多的名額。
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.
這些目標得到瞭大學部長克裡斯·斯基德莫爾的支持。但由於牛津和劍橋不打算增加學生總數，這可能意味著來自中產階級傢庭和來自倫敦的學生入學名額將減少。
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.
私立學校的領導者已經警告大學不要歧視他們的學生，聲稱剝奪一些學生的未來，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 處於劣勢的
deprived 貧寒的
backed 受到支持
middle class 中產的
discriminate 歧視
rob 剝奪，使失去
award 把……授予
閱讀理解：請在讀完上文後，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.
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