英语听力精选进阶版 6350

According to a forecast from the OECD (The Organisation¹ for Economic Co-operation and Development) 40% of the world's young graduates will be from China and India by the year 2020.

This shows a far-reaching shift in the balance of graduate numbers from around the world. The rising Asian economies push ahead of the United States and Western Europe, which together are likely to account for little more than 25% of the graduates aged² between 25 and 34. The UK, however, is bucking³ the trend, as it is projected to increase its share from 3% to 4% in 2020.

Analysts⁴ also see a trend in Asian economies which are beginning to veer⁵ in a new direction: rather than offering low-cost manufacturing they now want to compete for highly-skilled, high-income employment. This could bring about an expansion in the demand for professionals with a background in science and technology.

But the new kids on the block from the Asian economies might have a big challenge ahead. Although many businesses have jumped on the information technology bandwagon, the West still holds up its position of strength through cultural dominance by controlling various institutions. A team at the University of Oxford⁶'s Internet Institute has produced a set of maps showing the 'geography of the world's knowledge'. It evaluated levels of user-generated material in Google, academic activity and the geographical⁷ focus of Wikipedia articles.

Professor Viktor Mayer-Schonberger, from the Oxford Internet Institute, observed: "Each era has its own distinct geography. In the information age, it's not dependent on bases of knowledge. Instead of coal and steel it will be about universities and innovation."

He continued, "There are more students in China than ever before - but they still use Western mechanisms⁸ to publish results, they accept the filters. The big question will be whether the Chinese researchers can be as insightful as their Western counterparts - we don't know yet."

Quiz 测验

1. What areas of the world are likely to see their share of graduates reduced?

The US and Western Europe.

2. Look at the article. What sort of professional might have more job opportunities in the future?

A professional who works in science and technology-related areas.

3. What expression in the article relates to newcomers?

New kids on the block.

4. What verb means 'assessed the situation and gave an opinion about it'?

Evaluated.

5. What word means that something has great repercussions⁹?

Far-reaching.

Glossary 词汇表

to a forecast 预测

a far-reaching shift 一个影响深远的转变

to account for （在数量方面）占，说明（原因）

is bucking the trend 与大趋势背道而驰

projected 预测

share 份额

a trend 一个趋势

veer in a new direction 转向新的方向

rather than 而不是

to bring about 带来

the demand for （对什么的）需求

new kids on the block 新手，新人

jumped on the bandwagon 跟上时尚潮流

holds up 保持，站住脚

dominance 统领地位

evaluated 衡量，评估

insightful 具洞察力的，有深刻见解的

1 organisation   

n.组织，安排，团体，有机休

参考例句：

• The method of his organisation work is worth commending.他的组织工作的方法值得称道。
• His application for membership of the organisation was rejected.他想要加入该组织的申请遭到了拒绝。

2 aged   

adj.年老的，陈年的

参考例句：

• He had put on weight and aged a little.他胖了，也老点了。
• He is aged,but his memory is still good.他已年老，然而记忆力还好。

3 bucking   

v.（马等）猛然弓背跃起( buck的现在分词 )；抵制；猛然震荡；马等尥起后蹄跳跃

参考例句：

• a bucking bronco in the rodeo 牛仔竞技表演中一匹弓背跳跃的野马
• That means we'll be bucking grain bags, bustin's gut. 那就是说咱们要背这一袋袋的谷子，得把五脏都累坏。 来自辞典例句

4 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。

5 veer   

vt.转向，顺时针转，改变；n.转向

参考例句：

• He is unlikely to veer from his boss's strongly held views.他不可能背离他老板的强硬立场。
• If you fall asleep while driving,you'll probably veer off the road.假如你开车时打瞌睡，可能会驶离道路。

6 Oxford   

n.牛津（英国城市）

参考例句：

• 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。
• This is where the road to Oxford joins the road to London.这是去牛津的路与去伦敦的路的汇合处。

7 geographical   

adj.地理的；地区(性)的

参考例句：

• The current survey will have a wider geographical spread.当前的调查将在更广泛的地域范围內进行。
• These birds have a wide geographical distribution.这些鸟的地理分布很广。

8 mechanisms   

n.机械( mechanism的名词复数 )；机械装置；[生物学] 机制；机械作用

参考例句：

• The research will provide direct insight into molecular mechanisms. 这项研究将使人能够直接地了解分子的机理。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He explained how the two mechanisms worked. 他解释这两台机械装置是如何工作的。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 repercussions   

n.后果，反响( repercussion的名词复数 )；余波

参考例句：

• The collapse of the company will have repercussions for the whole industry. 这家公司的垮台将会给整个行业造成间接的负面影响。
• Human acts have repercussions far beyond the frontiers of the human world. 人类行为所产生的影响远远超出人类世界的范围。 来自《简明英汉词典》