Every year, it costs British students more and more to attend university. Studen

Every year, it costs Britishstudents more and more to attend university. Students are graduating withlarger and larger debts. So is a college degree really worth it?

 In 2006, the UK government started to allow universities in England and Wales to charge British students

tuition fees (学费). As a result,more than 80 percent of students in England and Wales now take out a studentloan in order to go to university.

    They use the loan to pay fortuition fees and living expenses. Although the interest on student loans isquite low, it begins as soon as the student receives the loan.

    The average student inEngland and Wales now graduates from university with a debt of around ￡12,000(122,952 yuan). It means graduates have to struggle to pay rent on a flat,because they have to start paying back the student loan when they reach theApril after graduating. If you start to earn over ￡15,000(153,630 yuan) a year, the government takes repayments directly from yourmonthly salary.

    You might think that a personwith a degree would find it easy to get a well-paid job. However, most peoplein “white collar jobs” seem to have a degree, so there is a lot of competition.Also, British companies tend to value work experience over a piece of paper.

    All of the above is beginningto make British people question whether a university degree is really worth themoney. Even before the credit crisis started, the BBC stated: “The number ofBritish students at UK universities has fallen for the first time in recenthistory, from 1.97 million   in 2007 to 1.96 million last year[2008].”

    “Student poverty” is nowconsidered a real problem. Meanwhile, the British universities offer more andmore of the available places to richer international students rather thanpoorer British students. What does the future hold for British highereducation?

1.Whatmakes British students question the worth of a university degree?

　A.Higher university expenses.                 B. Lower education quality.

　C.A higher interest rate on student loans.        D. Greater difficulty obtaining student loans.

2.Accordingto the article, which of the following statements is TRUE?

　A.University tuition fees in all parts of Britain have been on the rise since2006.

　B.Interest on a student loan starts as soon as the student receives it.

　C.Britons have always questioned the worth of a university degree.

　D.University graduates need to pay off their loans right upon graduation.

3.Whichof the following is NOT a factor that concerns a British university graduate?

　A.Fierce competition in the job market.               B. The burden of a large debt.

　C.Lack of experience.                             D.Fewer job openings.　

试题答案

【答案】

1.A

2.B

3.D