B
It’s reported that the American College Board has made several changes to the SAT test to help more poor students receive higher education. It offers a scoring criterion beyond its own SAT test,which measures only oral and math skills. The new tool is designed to help admissions officers find if applicants have risen above limitations in their social or economic circumstances by expressing a particular characteristic: resourcefulness(足智多谋).
The new criterion, called ECD, has been tried by 50 colleges over the past year and will be carried out by 150 institutions this fall. Relying on public data , it looks at 15 factors(因素) in neighborhoods and schools that might passively influence a candidate’s college readiness. These
statistics include crime rates, education levels, joblessness, and the family members that receive food stamps. It applicants come from a highly disadvantaged background yet have proper but perhaps not high SAT scores , a college might then admit them.
Resourcefulness shows an ability to seek support outside one’s self. It requires a clear purpose in learning. The new tool “shines a light on students who have shown remarkable resourcefulness to overcome challenges and achieve more with less,” says David Coleman, the College Board’s president.
The ECD also has the advantage of not taking race into consideration in admissions, a practice being increasingly closed off by the Supreme Court and many states. At the same time, in stressing a key quality for academic success, it may help prevent discrimination in admissions.
The tool is not an absolute measure of resourcefulness. It misses other types of circumstances, such as personal or family problems. Colleges must weigh many factors in admissions. Still, it could lead to a greater focus on character in education beyond the traditional pursuit (追求) of knowledge and career skills. Graduates who have stood out despite their hardships are highly desired by today’s employers.
24. Which people can benefit from the new criterion?
A. Students from poor families. B. Students doing well at maths.
C. Students having much money. D. Students with good spoken skills.
25. What are the new criteria when judging a candidate?
A. The attitudes to schools. B. The remarks from colleges.
C. The difficulties a candidate will face. D. The institutions a candidate will study in.
26. What is the advantage of ECD?
A. It can make applicants successful. B. It can improve the ability of races.
C. It can provide clear learning purposes. D. It can treat applicants equally.
27. Which graduates do employers prefer?
A. Those with excellent qualities.
B. Those having experienced hardships.
C. Those making progress in difficult situations.
D. Those with the traditional pursuit of knowledge.
B
24.A 推理判断题。 根据文章第一段第二句The new tool is designed to help admissions officers find if applicants have risen above limitations in their social or economic circumstances.. 新的考量是为了帮助那些来自社会地位不高或者经济条件不好的家庭的学生,故选A。
25.C 细节理解题。根据文章第二段第一句…it looks at 15 factors in neighborhoods and schools that might negatively influence a candidate’s college readiness 可知新的考量要看那些会让那些学生感觉到不能顺利学习的逆境，故选C。
26.D 推理判断题。根据文章第四段最后一句At the same time, in stressing a key quality for academic success, it may help prevent discrimination in admissions可以得知这样能够减少歧视,让学生在入学的时候能得到公平的对待,故选D。
27.C 细节理解题。根据文章最后一段最后一句Graduates who have stood out despite their hardships are highly desired by today’s employers.可以得知那些经历困难还能取得优异成绩的学生会受到老板们的青睐,故选C
