英格兰的顶尖大学被告知要大幅增加贫困家庭青少年的入学名额。英国高等教育监管机构 “学生办公室”（Office for Students）希望在五年内把富裕学生和贫困学生之间的 “入学率差距” 减半。

At present at Oxford, there are 15 students from better-off areas getting places for every one student from a disadvantaged background. At Cambridge, the ratio is 14-to-one.  The Office for Students says this gap will have to be cut in half over the next five years, and is calling for more places for students from the north of England, the Midlands and deprived coastal towns.  

目前在牛津大学，来自富裕地区的学生和来自贫困家庭的学生比是15比1。在剑桥大学，这个比例是14比1。“学生办公室”（Office for Students，英国高等教育监管机构）表示，在未来五年内，这一差距必须缩小一半，并呼吁为来自英格兰北部、中部地区和贫困沿海城镇的学生提供更多的名额。

The targets have been backed by the Universities Minister, Chris Skidmore. But as Oxford and Cambridge are not planning to increase the overall student numbers, it’s likely to mean a reduction in places for middle-class and London students. 

这些目标得到了大学部长克里斯·斯基德莫尔的支持。但由于牛津和剑桥不打算增加学生总数，这可能意味着来自中产阶级家庭和来自伦敦的学生入学名额将减少。

Private school leaders have warned universities not to discriminate against their pupils, claiming it would be unfair to rob some students of a future, to award it to others.

私立学校的领导者已经警告大学不要歧视他们的学生，声称剥夺一些学生的未来，再将其未来授予其他人是不公平的。

词汇

better-off 境况较好的，富裕的
disadvantaged 处于劣势的
deprived 贫寒的
backed 受到支持
middle class 中产的
discriminate 歧视
rob 剥夺，使失去
award 把……授予

阅读理解：请在读完上文后，回答下列问题 。

1. How many students from a disadvantaged background attend Cambridge University compared with those from a better-off area?

2. In the next five years, what does the Office for Students want to happen to the ratio between better off students and those from disadvantaged areas attending university?

3. True or false? There’s going to be a reduction of middle-class students at Oxford and Cambridge as overall student numbers increase.

4. What do private school leaders fear will happen to some of their students if the ratio is changed?

答案

1. How many students from a disadvantaged background attend Cambridge University compared with those from a better-off area?
The ratio between students from well-off backgrounds to disadvantaged backgrounds is 14-to-one.

2. In the next five years, what does the Office for Students want to happen to the ratio between better off students and those from disadvantaged areas attending university?
The Office for Students says the ratio will have to be cut in half over the next five years.

3. True or false? There’s going to be a reduction of middle-class students at Oxford and Cambridge.
True. It’s likely there will be a reduction in places for middle-class and London students.

4. What do private school leaders fear will happen to some of their students if the ratio is changed?
Private school leaders fear some of their students will be robbed of a future.