College Entrance Exam Starts across China

　　This year marks the first time children of migrant workers are allowed to sit the exam in the places where they live, instead of where they are registered. [Photo: cqjj.net]

 

　　The 2013 national college entrance exam starts Friday across China.

 

　　It marks the first time children of migrant workers are allowed to sit the exam in the places where they live, instead of where they are registered.

 

　　CRI's Chen Mei takes a closer look.

 

　　Friday arrived with heavy rain here in Beijing as the first day of the 2013 national college entrance exam starts across China.

 

　　But examinees seemed confident about the upcoming challenge.

 

　　"I think I will be accepted by my ideal university. My ideal university is Xi'an Jiaotong University."

 

　　"I am confident because I have been preparing for a long time. My teacher and classmates also helped a lot. My ideal university is Peking University."

 

　　ome 9-million students are sitting this year's gaokao nationwide.

 

　　That's a 30-thousand drop from 2012.

 

　　It is the fifth consecutive¹ drop in recent years.

 

　　Analysts² say it is due to a lower birth rate, as well as more students now seeking overseas educations.

 

　　Xiong Bingqi, vice³ President of the Beijing-based 21st Century Education Research Institute, says the enrolment rate is expected to be expanded as a result.

 

　　"30-thousand fewer examinees, plus a larger number of students will be admitted to colleges. In addition, some students will give up the chance even after being admitted. So an 80 percent enrolment rate may be expected this year compared to last year's 75 percent."

 

　　On the other hand, this year's gaokao marks the first time that children of migrant workers are allowed to sit the exam where they live, instead of having to go back to the place they are registered.

 

　　Some 20 provinces have introduced the new policy, benefiting thousands of high schools students across the country.

 

　　Zhang Lu is one of them.

 

　　"I'm so excited that I don't have to go back to where I was born to take the exam, that saved me a lot of trouble."

 

　　However, major cities including Beijing, Shanghai and Guangdong have so far failed to give their blessing⁴ to the changes.

 

　　A man surnamed⁵ Guan living in Beijing complained.

 

　　"We don't have a local household registration⁶, that's why we have to send our daughter back to our hometown for senior school despite she had being going to school for 9 years here. We have nothing to do. We have being expecting the policy for so many years, but it hasn't come true yet."

 

　　The new gaokao rules were initiated⁷ in 2012 as a major effort by the central government to provide equal rights in education opportunities for migrant worker's children.

 

　　But it has triggered⁸ a heated debate as some argue that the major cities are already overloaded⁹ and cannot handle more newcomers.

 

　　Experts say it will take time to strike a balance.

 

　　For CRI, I'm Chen Mei.

1 consecutive   

adj.连续的，联贯的，始终一贯的

参考例句：

• It has rained for four consecutive days.已连续下了四天雨。
• The policy of our Party is consecutive.我党的政策始终如一。

2 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

3 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

4 blessing   

n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿

参考例句：

• The blessing was said in Hebrew.祷告用了希伯来语。
• A double blessing has descended upon the house.双喜临门。

5 surnamed   

vt.给…加姓（surname的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• He is surnamed Wang. 他姓王。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Alexander was surnamed "the Great". 亚历山大被加给“大帝”的封号。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

6 registration   

n.登记，注册，挂号

参考例句：

• Marriage without registration is not recognized by law.法律不承认未登记的婚姻。
• What's your registration number?你挂的是几号？

7 initiated   

n. 创始人 adj. 新加入的 vt. 开始，创始，启蒙，介绍加入

参考例句：

• He has not yet been thoroughly initiated into the mysteries of computers. 他对计算机的奥秘尚未入门。
• The artist initiated the girl into the art world in France. 这个艺术家介绍这个女孩加入巴黎艺术界。

8 triggered   

触发的

参考例句：

• An indiscreet remark triggered off a long and costly strike. 一次轻率的讲话导致长时间、代价高昂的罢工。
• The incident triggered an armed clash. 这起事件触发了一场武装冲突。

9 overloaded   

a.超载的，超负荷的

参考例句：

• He's overloaded with responsibilities. 他担负的责任过多。
• She has overloaded her schedule with work, study, and family responsibilities. 她的日程表上排满了工作、学习、家务等，使自己负担过重。