奇速英语官网—英语在线学习平台_让学英语更快乐_更快速

To help more disadvantaged students get into higher education, the College Board has come up with a scoring metric beyond its own SAT test, which measures only verbal and math skills. The new tool is designed to help admissions officers detect if applicants have risen above limitations in their social or economic circumstances by expressing a particular character trait: resourcefulness.

The new metric, called the Environmental Context Dashboard, has been tried by 50 colleges over the past year and will be rolled out to 150 institutions this fall. Relying on public data, it looks at 15 factors in neighborhoods and schools that might negatively influence a candidate’s college readiness. These statistics include crime rates, education levels, joblessness, and the number of households that receive food stamps. If applicants come from a highly adverse background yet have decent but perhaps not high SAT scores, a college might then admit them.

This predictor of resourcefulness highlights more than tenacity or resilience. Resourcefulness shows an ability to seek support outside one’s self. It requires a clear purpose in learning. The new tool “shines a light on students who have demonstrated remarkable resourcefulness to overcome challenges and achieve more with less,” says David Coleman, the College Board’s chief executive.

The “dashboard” also has the advantage of not taking race into consideration in admissions, a practice being increasingly closed off by the Supreme Court and many states. At the same time, in emphasizing a key quality for academic success, it may help prevent discrimination in admissions.

The tool is not an absolute measure of resourcefulness. It misses other types of circumstances, such as personal or family problems. Colleges must weigh many factors in admissions. Still, it could lead to a greater focus on character in education beyond the traditional pursuit of knowledge and career skills. Graduates who have excelled despite their hardships are highly desired by today’s employers.

1.Who may benefit from the new tool?

A The students with great verbal skills.

B The students who are good at math.

C The students from the poor families.

D The students who have much money.

解析：选C。推理判断题。根据文章第一段第二句The new tool is designed to help admissions officers detect if applicants have risen above limitations in their social or economic circumstances...新的考量是为了帮助那些来自社会地位不高或者经济条件不好的家庭的学生，故选C。

2.What does the new metric use when judging the candidates?

A The marks from 50 colleges.

B The difficulties candidates will face.

C The equipment of schools.

D The institutions candidates will study in.

解析：选B。细节理解题。根据文章第二段第一句...it looks at 15 factors in neighborhoods and schools that might negatively influence a candidate’s college readiness可知新的考量要看那些会让那些学生感觉到不能顺利学习的逆境，故选B。

3.What is the advantage of the dashboard?

A It will help treat participates equally.

B It will help improve the ability of races.

C It will help make participates successful.

D It will help provide clear learning purposes.

解析：选A。推理判断题。根据文章第四段最后一句At the same time, in emphasizing a key quality for academic success, it may help prevent discrimination in admissions可以得知这样能够减少歧视，让学生在入学的时候能得到公平的对待，故选A。

4.What kind of graduates are welcomed by employers?

A Those with excellent characters.

B Those making progress in difficult situations.

C Those who have experienced the hardships.

D Those with the traditional pursuit of knowledge.

解析：选B。细节理解题。根据文章最后一段最后一句Graduates who have excelled despite their hardships are highly desired by today’s employers.可以得知那些经历困难还能取得优异成绩的学生会受到老板们的青睐，故选B。