“
牛津，如此家喻户晓又仿佛遥不可及，一位位杰出的人物都从曾那里走出来：卡梅伦、撒切尔夫人、培根、王尔德、霍金、钱钟书……
然而在崇高的学术地位之外，牛津也因录取生多为富家子弟，贫困的学生不易申请而被质疑。作为高级学府的牛津，会采取怎样的措施来改进呢？
”
University admissions：a foot in the door
大学申请：一只脚进门
【1】OXFORD: One of the world's best universities has long struggled to attract students from the poorest parts of Britain. That maybe about tochange.
Oxford：牛津大学
[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。
be about to：即将，将要
牛津大学是世界最好的大学之一，一直纠结于如何从英国最贫困的的地区招收学生，这种现象可能会改变。
【2】WHILE at school, the idea of going to Oxford University “might as well have been like going toMars,” says Varaidzo Kativhu, an 18-year-old from Brierley Hill, a town in theWestMidlands. Yet now she is on afoundationyear at Lady Margaret Hall, one of the university’s 38 colleges. [Thescheme, introduced this year, offers smart pupils from tough backgrounds who don’t have therequisitegrades a free, year-long course before they go through the regular application process for entry the following year.] After the politicalrevoltsof 2016, “I think all institutions have to ask what we’re doing to include black,Muslimand white working-class people,” says Alan Rusbridger, a former editor of theGuardianwho becameprincipalof Lady Margaret Hall last year.
Mars：火星
[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。
West Midlands： 西米德兰兹郡(英国英格兰中部的郡)
foundation：预科
scheme：计划; 体系
[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：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：造反，起义，叛乱
[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：穆斯林，伊斯兰教信徒
[例句]Friday is a holiday in Muslim countries.
在穆斯林[回教]国家星期五是假日。
Guardian：卫报（英国有影响的报纸，同时在伦敦和曼彻斯特出版）
principal：（英国）大学校长，学院院长
知识普及
foundation 预科课程
中英之间学制差了一年，英国的教育学制是由5岁到18岁完成小学至中学的课程。因此在他们进入大学之前就已经完成了13年的学业课程；大部分大学大约花费三年的时间来取得学士学位，完成从小学到大学的课程，一般是16年。而中国学生从小学到中学，只需花费12年的教育，高中毕业后就读4年的大学课程以完成16年的完整学业。
所以，如果是在中国读完高中以后，想去英国继续大学本科课程的话，为了弥补中学教育一年的不足，还为了适应中英之间的课程教学内容差异、语言和文化差异，学生可以在大学课程开学前至英国就读为期一年的预备/衔接课程，这称为大学本科预科课程。
一位来自布莱利山——西米德兰兹郡上一个小镇——的十八岁少女说，在学校的时候，去牛津这个想法“可能就像去火星一样”。但是现在她就在牛津38个学院之一的玛格丽特夫人学堂读预科。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。前卫报编辑，去年成为玛格丽特夫人学院院长的艾伦·罗斯布里奇说，在经历了2016年的政治动荡之后，“所有的机构都要认真审视自己为了包容黑人、穆斯林以及白人工薪阶层要做的事情。”
【3】[Access is a problem in nearly all good universities, but Oxford, which is the world’s best according to a recentrankingbyTimes Higher Educationmagazine, and thealmamaterof seven of the past ten Britishprime ministers, gets criticised for it more often than most.] Defenders of the university say the problem lies beyond itsramparts: schools do not send it enough poor, brightcandidates. Its critics argue that the admissions process isprejudicedagainst such children. As a new round of interviews gets under way this month, freshinitiativesare aiming to bring some diversity to itsquads.
ranking：排名，顺序，次序
[例句]Goellner has shot up the rankings.
戈尔纳的排名迅速上升。
Times Higher Education：泰晤士高等教育
alma mater：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：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。
rampart：（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：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：怀偏见的; 有成见的; 偏颇的
[例句]Some landlords and landladies are racially prejudiced
一些房东有种族偏见。
initiatives：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：（大学的） 四周有建筑物围绕的方院
所有的优秀学府都存在着录取问题，但是牛津在泰晤士高等教育杂志最近的排名中被评为世界最好的大学，还是英国10位首相7位的母校，因此比起大部分名校，牛津受到更多的批评。这座学校的捍卫者说，问题不在大学可触及的范围，是高中没有送来足够的优秀的贫穷学生。批判者争论说是大学招生过程对贫困学生有偏见。随着本月新的一轮面试在进行，新的举措会给大学校园带来一些多样性。
【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.
今年大概59%的学生来自公立学校，这比公立学校的学生比例占全国学生的比例93%低太多。来自公立学校的学生有67%满足牛津大学入校标准——在A级考试中到拿三个A，而且这比过去多的多。
【5】But the increasing share of students from state schoolsdisguisesthe 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’sparliamentaryconstituencies—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.
disguise：掩盖; 化装; 隐瞒，掩饰; 伪装，假装;
[例句]You'll have to travel in disguise
你只能乔装出行。
parliamentary：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：（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。
但是公立学校增加的学生比例掩盖了一个事实：有一些地区几乎没有一个学生能进入牛津，尽管成绩满足要求。根据经济学人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。作为对比，有20个选区，尽管合格学生人数只有9%，录取学生却占比16%。
【6】Many poor, bright pupils choose not to apply. Doing so is needlesslytricky, particularly for those whose school sends few people to university, says Sir Peter Lampl of the SuttonTrust, an education charity.Whereasmost universities accept applications until January, Oxford (like Cambridge and most medical schools) demands them by October. It sets extra tests, which schools mustinvigilate. Its interviews are astomach-lurchingprospect.
tricky：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。
Trust：信托
Whereas：鉴于，但是，然而
invigilate：监考
[例句]I've taught sixth formers and invigilated exams.
我教过六年级学生并监考。
stomach-lurching：反胃的，让人恶心的
教育慈善机构萨顿信托的彼得·兰普尔先生说，许多优秀但贫穷的学生选择不申请，因为这样做显得自己很可笑，尤其是对于那些每年只有几个学生上大学的学校的学生。鉴于大多数学校在一月停止接受申请，牛津（像剑桥和大多数医学院）则是要求在10月份前。还会设置额外的考试，学校必须监考。它的面试让很多考生想想就胆颤。
【7】Even those poor students who do apply have lower offer-rates than average. Last year one in six candidates from a poorlocalitywas offered a place, compared with one in five of all applicants. That is partly because poor pupils aredisproportionatelylikely to apply for the mostsoughtaftercourses, such as law and medicine. They are also less likely to get the top “A*” grades that a place may depend on.
locality：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：不匀称，不相称
sought after：很吃香的，广受欢迎的
即使贫苦的学生申请了，录取通过率也低于平均。去年，来自贫困地区的报考者以六分之一比例被录用，而全体申请者的录取比例是五分之一。穷这也许是因为学生不成比例的申请最吃香的专业，比如法律和医学。他们也很少能达到录取需要的顶尖成绩。
【8】The university uses increasinglysophisticateddata analysis to put applicants’ academic records intoperspective,upgradingthe results inGCSEs(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 haspumpedcash into sendingoutreachofficers around the country in an attempt to changeperceptions. 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 withconventionalforms of outreach,” says Andrew Bell, the senior tutor at University College.
sophisticated：复杂的; 精致的; 富有经验的
[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：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。
upgrade：更新，升级
GCSE：普通中等教育证书(General Certificate of Secondary Education)
pumped：大量投入；大量注入
outreach：扩大服务的，外展服务
[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：知觉; 观念; 觉察（力）
[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：传统的; 习用的，平常的; 依照惯例的
为了使得录取变得公平，牛津大学开始使用一些复杂的数据分析把学生的学业成绩也考虑进来，升级普通中等教育证书考试的成绩结果。他试图尽可能透明化面试过程，在网上发布面试样题（“面试应该用于选拔吗？”就是其一）。牛津还投入大量资金派遣外联人员到偏远地区，旨在改观人们的观点。但是更贫困的孩子还是很少会申请牛津，也不容易被学校接受或考出一个合格的成绩。大学学院的高级导师安德鲁·贝尔说，“我们无法用传统的外展方式来解决这个问题，”
【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 onedonputs 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 atTrinity College Dublin, which found that students from tough backgrounds with low grades did as well as their peers after a year’scatch-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.
don：源自西班牙语中的“dominus”，意为主人，现在的意思演化为先生，也特指牛津剑桥大学学院的导师。
Trinity College Dublin：都柏林大学圣三一学院
catch-up：追赶; 急起直追; 赶超
所以一些学校在尝试新的方法。大学的招生主任萨米纳·卡恩说，大学系统的一个优点是它鼓励革新。像一个大学教师所说，让牛津的学院们改变的唯一方法就是让他们开始竞争。玛格丽特夫人学堂的预科课程是以都柏林大学圣三一学院的体系为基础，他们发现那些背景艰辛成绩稍差的学生，在一年的补习之后可以和他们的同龄人水平相当。拉斯布里杰先生说，这是低风险的，因为学院不是在接受任何本来不被允许进入的人。参与者很担心会需要再次申请，但也充满希望。那位18岁的姑娘说：“我在过去七个星期里学到的东西，比以往两年学到的还多。”
【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 willhonetheir skills.Tutorsat other colleges are paying close attention.
hone：磨炼（技能）;开发（产品）；锤炼（观点）
[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。
tutor： (英国大学或学院中的)导师
牛津大学会采取不同的办法，明年它计划增加10%的名额，留给那些过去因微小差距而错过机会的同学，或是那些来自某地区一个不好的学校——每年只能送几个学生上大学的那种——的同学。为期一个月的暑期学校将会磨练他们的能力。其他大学的导师对这个计划密切关注。
【11】[Meanwhile, outreach efforts are increasingly focused on raisingattainmentin school, rather than merely awareness of the university.]PembrokeCollege has developed five specialist subject centres in sixth-form colleges in London and northwest England tofamiliarisepupils 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.
attainment：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！
Pembroke：彭布罗克郡（英国郡名）
familiarise：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。
同时，那些被派出去的外联人员也开始把重心放在了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。彭布罗克大学在伦敦的第六学院和英国西北部开发了五个专门的学科中心，让学生熟悉大学的学习方式。自2009以来，牛津已为第六学院开设了暑期学校。它与目标牛津剑桥——旨在让黑人学生进入牛津和剑桥慈善机构——及INTO教育集团合作，为来自贫困家庭的900个孩子的“学习中心”。
【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 assymptomaticof socialimmobilityif a prime minister passes through Oxford on her way toWestminster.
symptomatic：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：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。
Westminste：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。
批评者指出牛津在实施与幼儿一起工作的长期方案——研究显示的最利于增加参与度的方案——时行动缓慢。几个大学甚至开办了学校。但是有迹象表明牛津大学肯定这次任务的规模。几十年后，首相在去威斯敏斯特议会的路上经过牛津，不会再觉得它是社会等级的标志了。
各阶级之间的鸿沟是难以逾越的，然而社会的稳定需要各阶级之间的矛盾维持在一个范围内，以保持平衡不会出现动乱。上层阶级为了维持这种稳定，会采取一些不触及根本的变革来保持阶级流动，安抚下层阶级的情绪。
牛津本身也是一种阶级固化的标志，这种帮助贫困生的方案也不会改变其本质，但不是说这种变革毫无意义。想要改变社会的不公需要所有阶级共同努力，这种变革累积起来是有积极意义的，从关注贫困学生的权益，一步步扩大到各个阶层的公平性，如古往今来的变革一样，从点滴到江河，这条道路艰难而漫长，但依然有希望。
英文原文：
http://www.economist.com/news
讲解：霞姐 / Tiassa / Angel
编排 / 校对：Angel
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