VOA慢速英语20060309a

EDUCATION REPORT - New Version¹ of Test for Graduate School Is DelayedBy Nancy Steinbach

Broadcast: Thursday, March 09, 2006

I'm Steve Ember with the VOA Special English Education Report.

The Educational Testing Service has delayed³ the new version of its Graduate Record Examinations⁴ test. Use of the new G.R.E. General Test was supposed to begin this October. Now it will not start until the fall of two thousand seven.

The test is required to get into many graduate schools in the United⁵ States, especially in the arts and sciences.

The testing service is moving to end the paper version of the G.R.E., so students take it only by computer. But officials say the problem is not enough testing centers worldwide to administer⁶ the new Internet-based version.


Vermont high school student Dustin Thomas takes a computerized test offered by Educational Testing Service, February 1, 2006

The new G.R.E. will be given only thirty times a year. Now it is given on many more days. The new test will take four hours, up from three. And it will cost more. Another difference will involve the way questions are asked on the computer-based test.

Now, if a student answers a difficult question correctly, the next question becomes more difficult. The more correct answers, the more difficult the questions become.

The new test will end this system for security⁷ reasons. Everyone who takes the G.R.E. on the same day will answer the same questions in the same order. Different questions will be used on the next test date.

Each year about five hundred thousand students take the G.R.E. About twenty-five percent are foreign students who want to attend graduate school in the United States.

Already there are criticisms⁸ that changes in the verbal⁹ section could make the new test more difficult for non-native English speakers. E.T.S. officials say it is true that the new test asks more questions that require reasoning and understanding of the language. But they say this will better show universities which students are most prepared for graduate work.

As a result of the delay², many educators are advising students to take the G.R.E. before it changes in the fall of two thousand seven.

The delay in the Internet-based version is based on lessons learned¹⁰ as the testing service makes the same move with the TOEFL. TOEFL is the Test of English as a Foreign Language.

This VOA Special English Education Report was written by Nancy Steinbach. Read and listen to our reports at www.unsv.com.

And if you have a question about education in the United States, send it to [email protected]. We cannot answer mail personally, but we might be able to use your question on our program. I'm Steve Ember.

1 version   

n.版本；型号；叙述，说法

参考例句：

• His version of the events is pure supposition.他对这件事的说法纯属猜测。
• What is your version of this matter?你对这件事情的看法 怎么样？

2 delay   

v./ n.拖延，延误，延迟，延期；耽搁

参考例句：

• The strike caused a great delay in the delivery of the mail.这次罢工严重地延误了邮件的投递。
• I couldn't judge whether the delay was good or bad.我不能断定这样延迟是好还是坏。

3 delayed   

adj.延时的，定时的v.（使）耽搁，延误( delay的过去式和过去分词 )；推迟；使延期；使延迟

参考例句：

• Deliveries of mail could be delayed because of cost-cutting. 由于削减成本，邮件的递送可能会延迟。
• The most likely explanation is that his plane was delayed. 最可能的解释是他的飞机晚点了。

4 examinations   

n.检查( examination的名词复数 )；考试；考查；试题

参考例句：

• He had been forced to incriminate himself in cross-examinations. 他在盘问中被迫受到牵连。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Examinations are hanging over her head—that's why she can't sleep at nights. 她大脑里想的都是考试，所以晚上无法入睡。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 united   

adj.和谐的；团结的；联合的，统一的

参考例句：

• The whole nation is closely united.全国人民紧密团结。
• The two men were united by community of interests.共同的利益使两个人结合在一起。

6 administer   

v.施行，实施，掌管，料理···的事务，给予

参考例句：

• It takes brains to administer upon a large corporation.管理一家大公司需要智慧。
• They had the right to administer their own internal affairs.他们有权料理自己的事务。

7 security   

n.安全，安全感；防护措施；保证(金)，抵押(品)；债券，证券

参考例句：

• A security guard brought him down with a flying tackle.一名保安人员飞身把他抱倒。
• There was tight security at the airport when the President's plane landed.总统的专机降落时，机场的保安措施很严密。

8 criticisms   

批评( criticism的名词复数 )； 批判； 评论； 评论文章

参考例句：

• His criticisms of the president stirred up a hornet's nest. 他对董事长的批评造成众愤难平。
• It would be wise not to give undue importance to his criticisms. 最好不要过分看重他的批评。

9 verbal   

adj.口头的，用言辞的，用文字的，动词的

参考例句：

• Verbal statements are no guarantee.口说无凭。
• I delivered a verbal protest against their brutal acts.我对他们的暴行提出口头抗议。

10 learned   

adj.有学问的，博学的；learn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He went into a rage when he learned about it.他听到这事后勃然大怒。
• In this little village,he passed for a learned man.在这个小村子里，他被视为有学问的人。