经济学人204:常春藤联盟分数贬值 A等分数今非昔比光芒褪色

 　　Ivy¹ League grade inflation

　　常春藤联盟分数贬值

　　Grade expectations

　　分数期望

　　An “A” is not what it used to be

　　A等分数今非昔比，光芒褪色

　　“WE DO not release statistics on grade-point averages so we can't speak to the accuracy of the information you have.” That was a flack for Yale, but other Ivy League colleges—with the partial exception of Princeton—were equally reluctant to discuss their grading practices with The Economist².

　　“我们并不发布有关平均绩点的统计数据因此无法回应你所持有的信息的准确性。”这是耶鲁大学的宣传手段，但是其他的常春藤联盟高校，除了普林斯顿大学之外，都不愿与《经济学人》讨论他们的打分详情。

　　常春藤联盟分数.jpg

　　Are they trying to hide something? Perhaps. Stuart Rojstaczer, a critic of grade inflation, has estimated average grades over time by combining dozens of unofficial and official sources. The results are startling (see chart). In 1950, Mr Rojstaczer estimates, Harvard's average grade was a C-plus. An article from 2013 in the Harvard Crimson³, a student newspaper, revealed that the median grade had soared to A-minus: the most commonly awarded grade is an A. The students may be much cleverer than before: the Ivies⁴ are no longer gentlemen's clubs for rich knuckleheads. But most probably, their marks mean less.

　　他们是不是试图逃避什么？也许是吧！斯科特·罗伊斯塔柴尔这个对分数贬值进行批判的学者通过综合各种非官方和官方资源估计了平均分。结果令人震惊。1950年，罗伊斯塔柴尔估计哈佛的平均分是C+。来自《哈佛深红报》学生报纸的一篇文章透露该校的平均成绩已经遽升至A-；最常见的打分是A。或许现在的学生要比从前的聪明很多，常春藤联盟高校不再是富裕的笨孩子的绅士俱乐部。但更可能的是，他们的分数的含金量不如从前高。

　　Universities pump up grades because many students like it. Administrators⁵ claim that tough grading leads to rivalry⁶ and stress for students. But if that is true, why have grades at all? Brilliant students complain that, thanks to grade inflation, little distinguishes them from their so-so classmates. Employers agree. When so many students get As, it is hard to figure out who is clever and who is not.

　　高校提高分数是因为许多学生喜欢高分数。管理者声称严格的打分制会激化学生们的竞争意识会增加他们的压力。但是倘若这一假设属实，那我们干嘛还要分数？成绩优异的学生抱怨感谢分数贬值，他们不再能够在那些资质平平的学生中脱颖而出。招聘方也同意这种说法。当所有的学生都拿A时，实在是难以区分谁更聪明。

1 ivy   

n.常青藤，常春藤

参考例句：

• Her wedding bouquet consisted of roses and ivy.她的婚礼花篮包括玫瑰和长春藤。
• The wall is covered all over with ivy.墙上爬满了常春藤。

2 economist   

n.经济学家，经济专家，节俭的人

参考例句：

• He cast a professional economist's eyes on the problem.他以经济学行家的眼光审视这个问题。
• He's an economist who thinks he knows all the answers.他是个经济学家，自以为什么都懂。

3 crimson   

n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色

参考例句：

• She went crimson with embarrassment.她羞得满脸通红。
• Maple leaves have turned crimson.枫叶已经红了。

4 ivies   

常春藤( ivy的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• This is was green at a time when other ivies had pooped out. 这株常春藤在其他常春藤已凋谢时依然青翠。
• These Chinese ivies climbed upwards and covered the entire wall. 那些常春藤攀援而上，爬满了整面墙。

5 administrators   

n.管理者( administrator的名词复数 )；有管理（或行政）才能的人；（由遗嘱检验法庭指定的）遗产管理人；奉派暂管主教教区的牧师

参考例句：

• He had administrators under him but took the crucial decisions himself. 他手下有管理人员，但重要的决策仍由他自己来做。 来自辞典例句
• Administrators have their own methods of social intercourse. 办行政的人有他们的社交方式。 来自汉英文学 - 围城

6 rivalry   

n.竞争，竞赛，对抗

参考例句：

• The quarrel originated in rivalry between the two families.这次争吵是两家不和引起的。
• He had a lot of rivalry with his brothers and sisters.他和兄弟姐妹间经常较劲。