University admissions -- A foot in the door

来源: http://www.economist.com/news/britain/21711523-rising-share-pupils-state-schools-disguises-fact-many-parts-country

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[1] OXFORD: One of the world’s best universities has long struggled to attract students from the poorest parts of Britain. That may be about to change

[2] WHILE at school, the idea of going to Oxford University “might as well have been like going to Mars,” says Varaidzo Kativhu, an 18-year-old from Brierley Hill, a town in the West Midlands. Yet now she is on a foundation year at Lady Margaret Hall, one of the university’s 38 colleges. The scheme, introduced this year, offers smart pupils from tough backgrounds who don’t have the requisite grades a free, year-long course before they go through the regular application process for entry the following year. After the political revolts of 2016, “I think all institutions have to ask what we’re doing to include black, Muslim and white working-class people,” says Alan Rusbridger, a former editor of the Guardian who became principal of Lady Margaret Hall last year.

单词：

oxford [ˈɑ:ksfərd]
n.牛津鞋（一种系鞋带的皮鞋）oxfords;
[例句]At present he has become a Professor of Chemistry at Oxford.
他现在已是牛津大学的化学教授了。

Mars [mɑ:rz]
n.<天>火星;<罗神>战神
[例句]Mars and Earth have orbits which change with time
火星与地球的运行轨道随着时间而变化。

foundation [faʊnˈdeʃən]
n. 基础; 地基; 粉底; 基金（会）;
[例句]Best friends are the foundation of my life
好朋友是我生命的支柱。

scheme [skim]
vt. 策划，图谋;
n. 计划; 体系; 阴谋;
vt. 设计，计划; 谋划，图谋;
[例句]The company was pouring around$ 30 million into the scheme.
该公司要向该计划注资约3,000万美元。

requisite [ˈrɛkwɪzɪt]
n. 必需品; 要素，要件;
adj. 需要的，必要的;
[例句]She filled in the requisite paperwork.
她完成了必要的书面工作。

revolt [rɪˈvoʊlt]
vt. （使） 厌恶;
vi. 反叛，背叛; 厌恶，反感;
n. 造反，起义;
[例句]It was undeniably a revolt by ordinary people against their leaders
不可否认，这是一场平民百姓反抗领导人的起义。

Muslim [ˈmʌzləm]
n. 穆斯林，伊斯兰教信徒;
adj. 穆斯林的，伊斯兰教信徒的;
[例句]Friday is a holiday in Muslim countries.
在穆斯林[回教]国家星期五是假日。

principal [ˈprɪnsəpəl]
adj. 主要的; 本金的; 最重要的; 资本的;
n. 本金; 首长，负责人; 主要演员，主角; [法] 委托人，当事人;
[例句]The principal reason for my change of mind is this.
这是我改变主意的最主要原因。

长难句：

The scheme, introduced this year, offers smart pupils from tough backgrounds who don’t have the requisite grades a free, year-long course before they go through the regular application process for entry the following year.
这句话的主语the scheme，scheme其实就是program项目的意思，这个项目指的就是前文这个乡下女孩正在享受的foundation year（预科一年）。明显这一句就要特别清晰的跟我们解释这个foundation year是怎么操作的，我们一起来看一下。
the scheme名词放在句首作主语，主语之后打逗号因为有插入语，插入语往往两个逗号隔开，直奔第二个逗号后面找到谓语动词offers。Offers后面的内容比较长比较恶心，但是其本质就是一个结构叫做offer sb sth，我们只需要去搞清楚我们的sb是谁，sth是什么不就很清楚了嘛？
这个结构里的sb就是smart pupils from tough backgrounds who don’t have the requisite grades来自贫困地区没有达到要求分数线的聪明娃娃们
sth就是a free, year-long course 免费的一年期课程，注意两个形容词修饰同一名词，直接用逗号隔开可以不分先后。所以这里free和year-long都是修饰course的形容词。
before引导的时间状语从句是offer sb sth整个句子的时间状语。安排在这些孩子开始申请学校之前。
这样分析完之后，句子就十分清晰了吧，大意就是今年施行的该方案，为来自贫困地区尚未达到录取分数线的优秀同学提供一年的免费课程，该课程安排在学生开始申请学校之前。所以这句话是解释了一下foundation year这个项目本身。

[3] Access is a problem in nearly all good universities, but Oxford, which is the world’s best according to a recent ranking by Times Higher Education magazine, and the alma mater of seven of the past ten British prime ministers, gets criticised for it more often than most. Defenders of the university say the problem lies beyond its ramparts: schools do not send it enough poor, bright candidates. Its critics argue that the admissions process is prejudiced against such children. As a new round of interviews gets under way this month, fresh initiatives are aiming to bring some diversity to its quads.

单词：

access [ˈæksɛs]
n. 入口，出口; 接近，进入; 增长; 爆发;
vt. 接近，进入; 使用，接近，获取;
[例句]The facilities have been adapted to give access to wheelchair users.
这些设施已经改造过以方便轮椅使用者进入。

ranking [ˈræŋkɪŋ]
n. 社会地位，社会阶层; 顺序，次序; 行列; 军队;
adj. 头等的; 高级的; 超群的;
[例句]Goellner has shot up the rankings.
戈尔纳的排名迅速上升。

alma mater
n. 母校;
[例句]He has fond feelings for his Alma Mater.
他对自己的母校有着深厚的感情。

Prime Minister
n. 总理；首相;
[例句]This had been a disastrous week for Prime Minister Major.
这对于梅杰首相来说是灾难性的一周。

criticise ['krɪtəˌsaɪz]
vt. 评论，批评;
[例句]Far be it from me to criticise, but shouldn't their mother take a share of the blame?
不是我要挑理，他们的母亲难道就不应该负点责任吗？

rampart [ˈræmpɑ:rt]
n. （城堡等周围宽阔的） 防御土墙; 防御，保护;
[例句]This step is necessary even if you include your Rampart configuration information in the WSDL.
这一步是必须的，即使您在WSDL中包含了Rampart配置信息。

candidate [ˈkændɪˌdet, -dɪt]
n. 报考者; 申请求职者; 攻读学位者; 最后命运或结局如何已显然可见者;
[例句]The Democratic candidate is still leading in the polls
民主党候选人的得票数依然领先。

prejudiced [ˈprɛdʒədɪst]
adj. 怀偏见的; 有成见的; 偏颇的;
v. 损害(prejudice的过去分词); 使抱偏见;
[例句]Some landlords and landladies are racially prejudiced
一些房东有种族偏见。

initiatives [ɪ'nɪʃətɪvz]
n. 主动性( initiative的名词复数 ); 主动的行动; 初步; 主动权;
[例句]Government initiatives to help young people have been inadequate
政府在积极帮助年轻人方面做得还不够。

quads [kwɑ:dz]
n. 四倍( quad的名词复数 ); 空铅; （大学的） 四周有建筑物围绕的方院; 四胞胎之一;
[例句]If that happens, your challenge is to learn to contract your quads without letting your knees hyperextend.
如果这个发生了，那你的任务就是如何学会收缩你的小腿而不让关节超伸。

长难句：

Access is a problem in nearly all good universities, but Oxford, which is the world’s best according to a recent ranking by Times Higher Education magazine, and the alma mater of seven of the past ten British prime ministers, gets criticised for it more often than most.
这是一个并列句，but是并列连词，前后都是完整的句子，前半部分句子简单讲Access is a problem in nearly all good universities所有的优秀学府都存在着录取问题，这里的录取问题指的是前文提到的从贫困地区招生的问题，but转折之后的句子内容比较复杂一些，我们单独来看
Oxford, which is the world’s best according to a recent ranking by Times Higher Education magazine, and the alma mater of seven of the past ten British prime ministers, gets criticised for it more often than most.
Oxford是这个句子的主语，主语之后打逗号是修饰语，which引导的从句
which is the world’s best according to a recent ranking by Times Higher Education magazine，在最新时代高等教育杂志排名中是世界最好的大学，逗号结束之后一个and并列连词，and后面the alma mater和前面which从句中的the world’s best并列，说牛津还是英国10位首相的什么，alma mater，这个词组源自拉丁文，原意是fostering mother，这时候大家再猜测一下，在该语境中其意思就应该是母校对吧，长长的修饰语结束之后给出谓语动词gets，句子的主干：Oxford gets criticized for it more often than most.这个句子中拿oxford和most其实就是most good universities比较，牛津因此受到的批判比大部分好大学多。

[4] Around 59% of Oxford’s students arrived from state schools this year. That is much lower than the 93% of pupils who are educated by the state nationwide. Yet it is not so far below the 67% of students achieving three “A” grades in A-level exams, the minimum for entrance to Oxford, who come from state schools. And it is far more than in the past (see chart)

[5] But the increasing share of students from state schools disguises the fact that there are parts of the country from which almost no one gets into Oxford, despite having the grades required. Figures seen by The Economist show that between 2010 and 2015, 156 of the UK’s parliamentary constituencies—a quarter of the total—got on average less than one pupil a year into Oxford, despite being home to 12% of all those who got at least three “A” grades in their A-levels and supplying 7% of all applicants to the university. By contrast, the 20 top-performing constituencies accounted for 16% of all successful applicants, despite having just 9% of the students who got three “A” grades.

单词：

minimum [ˈmɪnəməm]
n. 最低限度; 最小量; 最低消费; [数] 极小值;
adj. 最小的; 最低的; 最少的;
[例句]The basic needs of life are available with minimum effort
稍加努力就能满足生活的基本需求。

disguise [dɪsˈɡaɪz]
vt. 掩盖; 化装; 隐瞒，掩饰; 伪装，假装;
n. 伪装; 伪装品; 用作伪装的东西; 托辞，借口;
[例句]You'll have to travel in disguise
你只能乔装出行。

parliamentary [ˌpɑ:rləˈmentri]
adj. 议会的，国会的; 议会制度的; 根据议会的;
[例句]He used his influence to make sure she was not selected as a parliamentary candidate.
他利用自己的影响力阻挠她当选议员候选人。

constituency [kənˈstɪtʃuənsi]
n. （选举国会议员的） 选区; 选区的全体选民; （政客或政党的） 支持者; 赞助者;
[例句]Mr Jackson had a natural constituency among American blacks
杰克逊先生在美国黑人中拥有自发的支持。

长难句：

Figures seen by The Economist show that between 2010 and 2015, 156 of the UK’s parliamentary constituencies—a quarter of the total— got on average less than one pupil a year into Oxford, despite being home to 12% of all those who got at least three “A” grades in their A-levels and supplying 7% of all applicants to the university.
主句主干就是figures show sth，我们主要看宾语从句中的内容。从句中，主语是156 of the UK’s parliamentary constituencies，这里面说一下这个parliamentary constituencies也就是选区的意思，英国一共有382个选区。回到句子中，谓语动词是got，宾语less than one pupil a year into Oxford,主干表达的意思是156个英国选区中考入牛津大学的学生数量少于1。后面是补充信息，指出12%合格的学生以及7%的申请者都来自这156个选区。破折号中是补充说明，句子分析完之后，整体的意思就是，2010年至2015年的数据显示，尽管12%的合格学生以及7%的申请者都来自英国156个选区（占比1/4），这些选区中考入牛津大学的学生平均数量小于1。By contrast,相比之下，读之前可以先进行推测，既然是对比，那么就可能是另外的一些地区虽然符合条件的学生比例低但是最终被录取的比例高，这样才能够体现出对比吧。后半句就是通过数据上的对比，指出有20个选区，合格学生人数占比9%，然而录取学生却占比16%。很显然，该段的后半部分就是通过用数据说话，支撑首句提出的观点，即有的地方几乎无人考入牛津。

[6] Many poor, bright pupils choose not to apply.  Doing so is needlessly tricky, particularly for those whose school sends few people to university, says Sir Peter Lampl of the Sutton Trust, an education charity. Whereas most universities accept applications until January, Oxford (like Cambridge and most medical schools) demands them by October. It sets extra tests, which schools must invigilate. Its interviews are a stomach-lurching prospect.

单词：

tricky [ˈtrɪki]
adj. 狡猾的; 微妙的; （形势、工作等） 复杂的; 机警的;
[例句]It's a very tricky problem, but I think there are a number of things you can do.
那是个非常棘手的问题，但我想有几样事你是可以做到的。

charity [ˈtʃærɪti]
n. 慈善（行为）; 施舍，捐助; 慈善机关; 仁爱，宽容;
[例句]The National Trust is a registered charity.
全国托管协会是个已注册的慈善机构。

invigilate [ɪnˈvɪdʒɪleɪt]
vt. 监考;
[例句]I've taught sixth formers and invigilated exams.
我教过六年级学生并监考。

stomach [ˈstʌmək]
n. 胃; 腹部; 食欲; 欲望;
vt. 容忍; 吃…吃得津津有味; 〈古〉对…发怒;
[例句]He had an upset stomach
他胃不舒服。

lurching ['lɜ:tʃɪŋ]
n. 东倒西歪的行驶，不稳行驶;
[例句]He ran lurching down the steep slope to the road.
他蹒跚着冲下陡峭的山坡，来到公路上。

prospect [ˈprɑ:spekt]
n. 前景; 期望; 眺望处; 景象;
vi. 勘探; 勘察; （矿等） 有希望; 有前途;
vt. 找矿; 对…进行仔细调查;
[例句]Unfortunately, there is little prospect of seeing these big questions answered
不幸的是，几乎不可能看到这些重大问题得到回复。

[7] Even those poor students who do apply have lower offer-rates than average. Last year one in six candidates from a poor locality was offered a place, compared with one in five of all applicants. That is partly because poor pupils are disproportionately likely to apply for the most sought after courses, such as law and medicine. They are also less likely to get the top “A*” grades that a place may depend on.

单词：

locality [loʊˈkæləti]
n. 地区; 位置; 产地;
[例句]Following the discovery of the explosives the president cancelled his visit to the locality
发现炸药后，总统取消了对该地的访问。

disproportionately [ˌdɪsprə'pɔ:ʃənətlɪ]
adv. 不匀称，不相称;
[例句]Health spending tends to rise disproportionately as countries become richer; but even adjusting for this, America is a case apart.
随着国家愈加富有，医疗保健费用增加的幅度却往往与之不成比例；但即使美国为此作出调整，还是与别国不同。

sought [sɔt]
v. 试图; 寻找，探寻( seek的过去式和过去分词 ); 企图; 探索;
[例句]I sought legal advice on this.
我就此进行了法律咨询。

[8] The university uses increasingly sophisticated data analysis to put applicants’ academic records into perspective, upgrading the results in GCSEs (the exams taken at 16) of candidates from bad schools. It has tried to make interviews as transparent as possible, publishing sample questions online (“Should interviews be used for selection?” is one). And it has pumped cash into sending outreach officers around the country in an attempt to change perceptions. Yet poorer children remain less likely to apply, slightly less likely to be made an offer and to get the necessary grades. “We haven’t been able to fix that with conventional forms of outreach,” says Andrew Bell, the senior tutor at University College.

单词：

sophisticated [səˈfɪstɪˌketɪd]
adj. 复杂的; 精致的; 富有经验的; 深奥微妙的;
v. 使变得世故; 使迷惑; 篡改(sophisticate的过去分词形式);
[例句]Honeybees use one of the most sophisticated communication systems of any insect.
蜜蜂之间所用的交流方式是昆虫中最为复杂的方式之一。

perspective [pərˈspektɪv]
n. 透镜，望远镜; 观点，看法; 远景，景色; 洞察力;
adj. （按照） 透视画法的; 透视的;
[例句]He says the death of his father 18 months ago has given him a new perspective on life
他说18个月前父亲的去世让他对人生有了新的认识。

transparent [trænsˈpærənt]
adj. 透明的; 清澈的; 易识破的; 显而易见的;
[例句]I looked at his thin face with its almost transparent skin.
我看着他清瘦的脸，脸上肌肤几近透明。

pumped [pʌmpt]
adj. <俚>喘得上气不接下气的;
v. 用抽水机汲水( pump的过去式和过去分词 ); 给…打气; 用泵（或泵样器官等）输送; 涌出;
[例句]A number of beaches in the region have been polluted by sewage pumped into the Irish Sea.
这一地区的一些海滩已被排放到爱尔兰海的污水污染了。

outreach [aʊtˈritʃ]
v. 到达顶端，超越;
n. 延伸，拓广; 扩大服务范围;
adj. 扩大服务的;
[例句]Their brief is to undertake outreach work aimed at young African Caribbeans on the estate.
他们的任务是为该住宅区年轻的非洲裔加勒比海人提供外展服务。

perception [pərˈsepʃn]
n. 知觉; 观念; 觉察（力）; （农作物的） 收获;
[例句]He is interested in how our perceptions of death affect the way we live.
他感兴趣的是我们对死亡的看法如何影响我们的生活。

conventional [kənˈvɛnʃənəl]
adj. 传统的; 习用的，平常的; 依照惯例的; 约定的;
[例句]It is simpler and quicker to use than conventional methods.
这比通常的做法更简单、更快捷。

[9] So some colleges are trying new approaches. One advantage of the college system, says Samina Khan, the university’s director of admissions, is that it encourages innovation. As one don puts it: “The only way to get Oxford colleges to change is to make them compete.” The Lady Margaret Hall foundation year was based on a scheme at Trinity College Dublin, which found that students from tough backgrounds with low grades did as well as their peers after a year’s catch-up. It is low risk, says Mr Rusbridger, since the college is not accepting anyone it would not otherwise have let in. Participants are nervous about reapplying, but hopeful. “I’ve learnt more in the past seven weeks than I did in the previous two years,” says Ms Kativhu.

单词：

approach [əˈproʊtʃ]
vt. 接近，走近，靠近;
vt. 接近; 着手处理; 使移近; 试图贿赂（或影响，疏通）;
n. 方法; 途径; 接近;
[例句]He didn't approach the front door at once
他没有马上走向前门。

innovation [ˌɪnəˈveʃən]
n. 改革，创新; 新观念; 新发明; 新设施;
[例句]The vegetarian burger was an innovation which was rapidly exported to Britain.
素食汉堡是一种迅速传到了英国的新开发食品。

don [dɑ:n]
n. 大学教师，（牛津、剑桥大学的）导师，特别研究员;
vt. 穿上，披上;
[例句]The crowd threw petrol bombs at the police, who responded by donning riot gear.
人群向警察扔汽油弹，警察则穿上了防暴衣。

catch-up 追赶; 急起直追; 赶超;

[10] University College will take a different approach. Next year it plans to add 10% more places, reserved for those who would previously have just missed out on a spot, and who come from a bad school in an area that sends few children to university. A one-month summer school will hone their skills. Tutors at other colleges are paying close attention.

单词：
reserved [rɪˈzɜ:rvd]
adj. 预订的; 矜持的; 储藏着的;
v. 保留[储备]某物( reserve的过去式);
[例句]He was unemotional, quite quiet, and reserved
他感情淡漠，沉默寡言，性格内敛。

spot [spɒt]
n. 地点，场所; 斑点，污点; [股票] 现货; 职位，职务;
v. 弄上污渍，弄上斑点; 污辱，玷污; 认出，发现; 散步;
adj. 现场的; 现货的; 插播的;
[例句]The leaves have yellow areas on the top and underneath are powdery orange spots
叶子的表面有黄色斑块，背面则有桔色粉状圆点。

hone [həʊn]
vt. 用磨刀石磨; 磨孔放大;
n. 磨刀石;
[例句]Leading companies spend time and money on honing the skills of senior managers
龙头公司会在磨砺高层管理人员的技能上付出时间和金钱。

[11] Meanwhile, outreach efforts are increasingly focused on raising attainment in school, rather than merely awareness of the university. Pembroke College has developed five specialist subject centres in sixth-form colleges in London and northwest England to familiarise pupils with the style of learning at university. Since 2009, Oxford has put on summer schools for sixth-formers. It works with Target Oxbridge, a charity which aims to get black pupils into Oxford and Cambridge, and Into University, which runs “learning centres” for 900 children from poor families.

单词：

attainment [əˈtenmənt]
n. 达到; 成就，造诣; 学识;
[例句]A six-year-old child with such an amazing attainment! It is indeed something rare and deserving praise.
一个6岁的男孩有这样惊人的造诣，真是难能可贵！

awareness [əˈwerənəs]
n. 察觉，觉悟，意识;
[例句]The aim of the festival is to increase awareness of Hindu culture and traditions.
该节庆日的目的在于增强人们对印度文化和传统的认识。

familiarise [fə'mɪljəˌraɪz]
vt. 使（某人）熟悉，使通晓;
[例句]I was expected to familiarise myself with the keyboard
对我的要求是熟悉键盘。

长难句：

Meanwhile, outreach efforts are increasingly focused on raising attainment in school, rather than merely awareness of the university.
Meanwhile表示并列，意为同时，那该段就是给出了另外一个方法吧。那些被派出去的外联人员也开始把重心放在了raising attainment in school，注意这里的school指的都是高中，提升他们在高中的成就。而不仅仅是去提升他们对大学的认知。

[12] Critics say Oxford has been slow to put in place the long-term programmes working with young children which research suggests are the best way to increase participation. Several universities even run schools. But there are signs that Oxford appreciates the scale of the task. In a couple of decades, it may no longer be seen as symptomatic of social immobility if a prime minister passes through Oxford on her way to Westminster.

单词：

appreciates [əp'ri:ʃɪeɪts]
v. 欣赏; 感激( appreciate的第三人称单数 ); （充分） 意识到; 对…作（正确）评价;
[例句]He appreciates that co-operation with the media is part of his professional duties.
他懂得与媒体合作是自己工作职责的一部分。

scale [skel]
n. 规模; 比例（尺）; 鱼鳞; 级别;
vt. 测量; 攀登; 刮去…的鳞片;
vi. 衡量; 攀登; （鳞屑） 脱落; 生水垢;
[例句]However, he underestimates the scale of the problem
然而，他低估了问题的严重性。

symptomatic [ˌsɪmtəˈmætɪk, ˌsɪmp-]
adj. 有症状的; 症候的; 根据症状的;
[例句]The city's problems are symptomatic of the crisis that is spreading throughout the country.
该市的问题是正在全国蔓延的危机的征兆显现。

immobility [ˌɪmoˈbɪlətɪ]
n. 固定性，静止;
[例句]This decentralized economic system relied on the legal immobility of the serf.
这种分散的经济制度依赖于农奴在法律上的固定性。

Westminster [ˈwɛstˌmɪnstɚ]
[词典] 威斯敏斯特（伦敦市的一个行政区，英国议会所在地） 议会，议会政治;
[例句]The British pavilion is an impressive steel and glass construction the size of Westminster Abbey.
这座英式亭阁是令人赞叹的钢和玻璃建筑，大小和威斯敏斯特教堂相当。

长难句：

Critics say Oxford has been slow to put in place the long-term programms working with young children which research suggests are the best way to increase participation.
这个句子又是一个长难句。Critics say是主句，后面是宾语从句，宾语从句的主干是Oxford has been slow to do sth，oxford作某事太慢了。后面put in place the long-term programms这里put后面出现了宾语后置的使用，因为宾语programs后面的修饰语太长了，正常的语序是put the long-term programms in place。
Oxford has been slow to put the long-term programms in place
working with young children 是分词修饰progrmms，which research suggests are the best way to increase participation 这里which引导的定语从句也是修饰programms的，定语从句中的research suggests是插入语，可以删掉.
有些批评者指出牛津在实施长期方案，即研究指出能够增加参与率的方案时，行动缓慢。

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