Part B   College Crunch

 

Vocabulary Preparation:

 

crunch  n. adifficult situation caused by a lack of something, especially money or time（突发的）不足；短缺

stratosphere  n. avery high position, level, or amount 最上层；最高阶段

strain   n. a difficulty orproblem that is caused when a person, relationship, organization, or system hastoo much to do or too many problems to deal with 压力；重负

tuition   n. the money you payfor being taught 学费

inflation   n. a continuingincrease in prices, or the rate at which prices increase 通货膨胀

accessibility   n. being easy to obtainor use 易接近性；可达性

affordability   n. having enough moneyto buy or pay for something支付能力；负担能力

dip into to use some of an amount of money that you have 动用（款项等）

endowment   n. a sum of money givento a college, hospital etc to provide it with an income, or the act of givingthis money 捐赠；捐款

budgetary  adj. relating to theway money is spent in a budget 预算的

pinch   n. extremestress or need 压力；紧缺

faculty   n. all the teachers ina university 全体教员

upgrade   n. the act of improvingsomething and making it more modern, especially in order to provide a betterservice 提升；改良

revenue  n. money that a business or organization receives over a period oftime, especially from selling goods or services 收入；收益

hearing   n. a meeting of a courtor special committee to find out the facts about a case 听证会

transparency   n. the quality of beingeasy to understand or know about 透明度

make ends meet to have only just enough money to buy the things you need 收支相抵；勉强维持生计

 

Notes:

 

The GeorgeWashington University (GW or GWU) is a private,coeducational university located in Washington, D.C. The school was charteredon February 9, 1821 as The Columbian College in the District of Columbia by anAct of Congress and since that time has developed into a nonsectarian researchinstitution. 乔治·华盛顿大学（美国一所著名私立大学）

PrincetonUniversity, founded in 1746, is a privateuniversity located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one ofthe eight universities of the Ivy League and is considered one of the ColonialColleges. It is widely regarded as one of the world's leading universities. 普林斯顿大学（八大常青藤学校之一）

USA TODAY is anational American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. Founded byAllen 'Al' Neuharth, it comes second worldwide with the widest circulation of any newspaper in theUnited States. 《今日美国》（美国发行量第一的报纸）

 

Exercise:Listen to the news report and choose the best answer to the followingquestions.

 

1.       What’s the main reason for Reed to work at arestaurant?

A.     To afford a house.

B.      To finance his education.

C.      To maintain his family.

D.     To gain work experience.

 

2.       For each graduate, how much is the student debtat national average level?

A.     $50,000

B.      $40,000

C.      $33,000

D.     $20,000

 

3.       There’re various reasons that will result inhigh college tuition, but which reason is NOTmentioned in the news?

A.    the risingconsumer price index.

B.    competitive salariesof faculties among schools.

C.    the demand ofmore professors to keep class sizes small.

D.   constant updatesof teaching facilities for students and faculty.

 

4．  There’s a call in Congress and elsewhere for __________________________________.

A.   more decreases incost of college that moves out of reach.

B.    more care forthe graduates who cannot pay back their debts.

C.   more detailedanswers why a college education costs so much

D.   more high-qualityeducational approaches and teaching facilities

 

5． Accordingto the news, which of the following statements is NOT TRUE about the colleges and universities?

A.     It is reported that there’s a decade of declinein state tax support for the public colleges and universities.

B.      Rate of inflation rose more rapidly than thegrowing rate of tuition in both public and private colleges and universities.

C.      Those tuition increases are a key point ingrowing questions about pricing practices at the nation's private and publiccolleges and universities.

D.     Most public colleges and universities have hadno choice but to pass increased costs to families in the form of higher tuition.