Question

Next autumn, studying for a degree in Britain will become more expensive, and the results are already clear. This week, figures from UCAS(the Universities and College Admissions service)show a 15-percent downturn in applications(申请) from this time last year. With fees having reached ￡9,000 a year, some students are beginning to consider other ways of getting higher education—including distance learning, which allows them to get a degree while still living, and earning money, at home.

That is important, because fees are only part of the picture. The National Union of Students says that UK students pay an average of ￡4,900 a year for basics such as rent, food, books, equipment, field trips and the like. If those costs can be reduced, the burden of fees will be lessened. Therefore, many people are thinking not only about what and where to study, but how—that is, whether they have to be on campus to get a degree.

Distance learning is best suited to certain subjects and to ultra-motivated(极有主动性的)student, according to Carrie-Anne Rice of Resource Development International(RDI).“The advantage is that the fee system is more flexible(灵活的), and you can have full-time work while studying, Rice says.”“You graduate three years ahead of possible competitors(竞争对手)— with the same degree, but with three years of work experience and without the debt.”

“I left school and went straight into work. But at the age of 23, I changed career and soon realized I needed a degree to advance. Because of lack of money ad time, full-time university wasn’t a good choice, but I discovered that distance learning was financially flexible and enabled me to work and gain skills from my workplace without affecting the quality of my life,” Andy Cain, a distance learning student says.

Although distance learning has many advantages, a campus-based university experience remains the dream of most school-leavers. There is no question that “being there” is not only fun, but rich in shared experience, pooled knowledge, and—perhaps most importantly—friendships that will go on long after the degrees have been awarded.

1.The number of students applying to universities    compared to this time last year.

A．has increased greatly                    B．has decreased

C．hasn’t shown any change                D．has become zero

2.Students who study on campus spend      each year, on average.

A．￡9,000          B．￡4,900           C．￡13,900          D．￡4,100

3.Which of the following is NOT the benefit of distance learning?

A．Lower debt levels                       B．A head start on the job market.

C．Valuable friendships                     D．A flexible fee system.

4.Which of the following statements is TRUE?

A．The change in fees has had no effect on school-leavers.

B．Distance learning has the same advantages as campus-based learning.

C．Distance learning is so attractive that nobody wants to go to university any more.

D．Distance learning doesn’t suit all subjects or all students.

Answer

1.B

2.C

3.C

4.D

【解析】

试题分析：本文叙述了在英国因为人们要想取得学位想在大学学习的费用提高，人们报名申请的人数有所下降，因此有些人开始想在网上进行远程学习，这样学习的费用降低，文中分析了远程学习的好处，但是远程学习并非适合任何人。

1.细节理解题。根据This week, figures from UCAS(the Universities and College Admissions service)show a 15-percent downturn in applications(申请) from this time last year.学生的数量明显减少，故选B。

2.细节理解题。根据With fees having reached ￡9,000 a year, 和pay an average of ￡4,900 a year for basics ，故选C。

3.细节理解题。根据The advantage is that the fee system is more flexible(灵活的)和distance learning was financially flexible and enabled me to work and gain skills from my workplace without affecting the quality of my life,故选C。

4.细节理解题。根据Although distance learning has many advantages, a campus-based university experience remains the dream of most school-leavers.远程教育并非对每个人对使用，故选D。

考点：教育类短文阅读。