发布时间 : 星期六 文章大学英语Book2 Unit 2更新完毕开始阅读27c0363276eeaeaad0f3301a
outstanding：a. extremely good or impressive 杰出的；出众的；显著的
His performance in charitable activities was outstanding. 在公益活动方面，他的表现非常出色。
36Who knows how famous YOU might become! (Para. 10)
Meaning：No one can tell how famous you will be!
Section B
Background information
1 colleges in the United States
Colleges in the United States include a variety of institutions of higher education. Strong research and funding have helped elevate US colleges and universities among the world’s most prestigious, making them particularly attractive to international students, professors and researchers in the pursuit of academic excellence. According to Shanghai Jiao Tong University Academic Ranking of World Universities, more than 30 of the highest-ranked 45 institutions are in the United States (as measured by awards and research output). Public universities, private universities, liberal arts colleges, and community colleges all have a significant role in higher education in the United States. According to UNSECO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization), the country also has the second largest number of higher education institutions in the world, with a total of 5758, an average of more than 115 per state.
2 post-secondary education in the United States
Post-secondary education in the United States is known as college or university and commonly consists of four years of study at an institution of higher learning. Students traditionally apply for admission into college. Once admitted, students engage in undergraduate study, which consists of satisfying university and class requirements to achieve a bachelor’s degree in a field of concentration known as major.
Professional degrees such as law, medicine, pharmacy, and dentistry, are offered as graduate study after earning at least three years of undergraduate schooling or after earning a bachelor’s degree depending on the program. These professional field do not require a specific undergraduate major, though medicine, pharmacy, and dentistry have set prerequisite courses that must be taken before enrollment.
Some students choose to attend a community college for two years prior to further study at another college or university. Community colleges typically offer two-year associate’s degrees, although some community colleges offer a limited number of bachelor’s degrees. Some community college students choose to transfer to a four-year institution to pursue a bachelor’s degree. Community colleges are generally publicly funded and offer career certifications and part-time programs.
Detailed study of the text
1 The case for college has been accepted without question for more than a generation.
(Para.1)
Meaning: It is beyond question that the perceived need for a college education has been accepted for more than one generation.
Note The word case, from the context, refers to the” general consensus” mentioned in this paragraph: All high school graduates ought to go to college...
2 These has been a general consensus that all high school graduates ought to go to
college because college will help them get a job, earn more money, become “better” people, and learn to be more responsible citizens than those who don’t go. (Para.1) Meaning: It has been generally accepted that all high school graduate should go to college because doing so will enable them to get a job, earn more money, become so-called “better” people, and learn how to be more responsible than those who don’t go to college.
consensus: n. [sing., U] agreement among all the people involved 一致同意
We have reached a consensus after a long discussion.我们经过长时间的讨论后已经达成了共识。
3 However, given the huge cost of attending a university and the shrinking job
market, should we not re-examine the case for college? (Para.1)
Meaning: However, considering the huge cost of attending a university and the worsening job market, should we evaluate the case for going to college again? shrink: (shrank, shrunk)
vi. become smaller in amount, value, or range （数量、价值、范围）减少，下降，缩小
The company’s profits have shrunk from ￡5.5 million to ￡1.25 million. 公司的利润已经从550万英镑缩水到125万英镑。
v. become smaller or make sth. smaller in size （使）收缩；（使）缩小
Your sweater will shrink if you wash it at too high a temperature. 你的毛衣如果在过高的温度下洗涤，就会缩水。
4 The reality is that college has never been magical for everyone. (Para.2)
Meaning: The real situation is: Not all the students can benefit from college, or college is never meant for everyone.
Meaning beyond words: College only fits those who really want to study. For some others, it may be a waste of their time and money.
5 Now that close to half our high school graduates are attending college, those who
don’t fit the pattern are becoming more numerous. (para.2)
Meaning: Since nearly half of our high school graduates are attending college, more and more students now realize that college is not really a proper place for them.
6 Excess college graduates are selling shoes and driving taxis. (Para.2)
Meaning: Too many college students end up selling shoes and driving taxis.
Meaning beyond words: Too many college graduates don’t necessarily use the knowledge they learned from school, so what’s the point of going to college if the college can’t help them locate a decent job?
7 Some adventuresome educators and campus watchers have openly begun to suggest
that we revise our attitudes and reform the system. College may not be the best, but the proper or even realistic place for every young person after the completion of school. (Para.3)
Meaning: The suggestions that we change our viewpoints and improve the college system have been made by some creative education and campus observers, who also argue that college may not be the best or the proper or even practical place for every young person after they complete high school. revise: vt.
1) change your opinion or judgment of sb. or sth. 改变（观点、判断）
His behavior today has made me revise my original impression of him.他今天的行为改变了我原来对他的印象。
2）change, improve, or make additions to sth. such as a book, law, or piece of writing修改；订正；校订
You have to listen to the feedback from an audience before you revise what you have written. 在修改你写的东西之前，先听听观众的反馈意见。 reform:
vt. improve a situation by correcting things that are wrong or unfair, or make a system work more effectively 改革；革新；改进
Plans to reform the health-care system have failed more than once. 改革医疗保健系统的计划已经不止一次遭遇了失败。
n. [C,U] a change intended to correct a situation that is wrong or unfair or make a system work more effectively 改革；革新；改进
Some reforms of/to the system will be necessary. 对该系统进行一些改革是必要的。 realistic: a. based on facts and situations as they really are 实际的；现实可行的 They are still some students who don’t have realistic expectations regarding their career opportunities in today’s economy. 在现在的经济形势下，还是有一些学生对他们的就业机会抱有不切实际的期望。
8 Critics suggest we may have been looking at all those surveys and statistics upside
down through the rosy glow of our remembered college experiences. (Para.3)
Meaning: Skeptical people think that the way we have been viewing all those surveys
and statistics might be wrong, for we are motivated by the wonderful memory of our own college experiences.
Meaning beyond words: People might be biased when viewing all the surveys and statistics because of their own college experience. critic: n.[C]
1 sb. who does not like sth. and states their opinion about it 批评者
Critics of the scheme have said that it will not solve the problem of teenage crime. 此项计划的批评者说它解决不了青少年犯罪问题。
2 sb. whose job is to write or broadcast their opinions about things such as books, films, or plays （书、电影、戏剧等的）评论家，评论员
The play has been well received by the critics. 该剧受到了评论家的赞赏。
Usage NOTE
critic, critical
1 critic 是名词，意为“批评者；评论家”；critic不能用作形容词。
What did the New York critics have to say about the production? 纽约的评论家们对该产量有何说法？
critical是形容词，表示“审慎的；严谨的；一丝不苟的”之义时，只能用在名词前，作修饰语。
In his book, Laurence takes a critical look at modern life. 在他的书中，劳伦斯对现代生活作了严谨的阐述。
2 形容词critical表示“批评的；批判的；决定性的；关键性的；危急的”，既可
作名词修饰词，也可用在系动词后作表语。
Whole groups of nations adopted a more critical attitude toward apartheid.各民族都对种族隔离制度持批判态度。
The problem of food supplies is bound to be critical.粮食供应的问题肯定是决定性的。
survey: n. [ C ] a set of questions that you ask a large number of people or organizations 调查
The result of the online survey about the new products has proved to be positive.对新产品的网络调查结果是可喜的。
upside down: ad. with the top part at the bottom or lower than the bottom part 颠倒地;倒置地
To mix the contents well, turn the jar upside down and shake it.要把里面的东西搅拌好，你可以把罐子倒过来，并摇动一下。 Note In English, the word rosy is used when describing something likely to be successful or happy such as\future\However, something the word implies that it seems better than it really is. For example:
Politicians still paint a rosy picture of the American economy although most people know from their own experience that this is not so. 政客们依然描述着美国经济的大好前景，虽然大多数人从自己的经验得知事实并非如此。