Yes, that college tuition bill is bigger this year.Confirming what students and their pare

Yes, that college tuition bill was bigger this year.

Confirming what students and their parents already knew, an influential education think tank (智囊机构) says that states are passing along their budget woes (困难) to public university students and their families. Tuitions are rising by double digits in some states, while the amount of state-funded student aid is dropping.

The result, says the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education in San Jose, Calif., is "the worst fiscal news for public higher education institutions and their students in at least a decade."

Although incomes are rising by only 1% to 2 % in most states, tuition at four-year public schools leapt by 24% in Massachusetts, 20% in Texas and 7% nationally since the 2001-2002 school year, the center says.

State budget deficits (预算赤字) are the cause. Nationally, states spend about 48% of their revenue on education, or about $235 billion in 2001 for kindergarten through college, says the National Governors Association. Elementary and secondary education budgets are protected in many state constitutions, which means they are generally the last expense that states will cut. But higher education is vulnerable to budget cuts-- and tuition increases: After all, no one has to go to college.

Colleges and universities "have clients they can charge," says the National Center's president, Patrick M. Callan. Tuition "is the easiest money to get," he adds.

The pressure to raise tuition is particularly intense because states froze or even cut state university tuition during the 1990s. With its eye on the knowledge-driven economic boom, the University of Virginia cut tuition by 20% in 1999. This year, although per-capita income grew by less than 1% in Virginia, the state raised tuition at its four-year colleges by 9% and cut student aid by 8%, or about $10 million.

The rising cost of public education, and the fear that it is financially squeezing some students out of an education, has prompted some state universities to adopt a practice long used by private schools to attract students: tuition discounting. In tuition discounting, colleges turn around a share of the tuition paid by some students, and use it to pay for scholarships for others. Private colleges typically return $35 to $45 in scholarships for every $100 they collect in tuition revenue. But until recently, states have viewed discounting as politically unpopular.

There are a few steps students and their families can take to offset rising tuitions, but not many. Because colleges are always interested in raising academic quality, talented students can pit one college against another in hopes of raising their financial-aid offer. Some colleges now invite students to call and renegotiate their aid packages if they get a better offer from another institution.

College education becomes costlier because ______.

A．the state-funded student aid is increased

B．the budgets for elementary and secondary education are increased

C．colleges can no longer depend on states for fund

D．higher education budget will get cut by states

听力原文： The cost is going up for just about everything, and college tuition is no exception. According to a nationwide survey published by College Board's Scholarship Service, tuition at most American universities will be an average of 9 percent higher this year than last.

The biggest increase will occur at private colleges. Public colleges, heavily supported by tax funds, will also increase their tuition, but the increase will be a few percentage points lower than their privately sponsored neighbors.

As a follow up, the United Press International did its own study at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. At MIT advisors recommended that students have ＄8,900 available for one year's expenses. Ten years ago the tuition was ＄2,150.

An additional burden is placed on out-of-state students who must pay extra charges raging from ＄200 to ＄2,000, and foreign students who are not eligible for scholarships at state-funded universities.

On the brighter side, the survey revealed that college graduates are entering the best job market since the middle 1960s. Job offers am up 16 percent from last year, and salaries are good, at least for graduates in technical fields. For example, a recent graduate in petroleum engineering can expect to make as much as ＄20,000 per year. A student with a liberal arts degree might expect to make about half that salary.

(33)

A．Average tuition costs increased by 9 percent.

B．Average tuition costs increased by 15 percent.

C．Average tuition costs increased by 90 percent

D．Average tuition costs increased by 150 percent.

Nowadays, with the increasing costs of higher education, it has become an even bigger challenge.

(26)

A．Many Americans cannot afford higher education because of the soaring college tuition fees and expenses.

B．Sending their children to college is no longer a bigger challenge for millions of Americans.

C．The American government has set the goal that it will eventually stop funding higher education institutions.

D．Nowadays, American parents have to pay more to send their children to college.

听力原文： The cost is going up for just about everything, and college tuition is no exception. According to a nationwide survey published by the College Board's Scholarship Service, tuition at most American universities will be on average of 9 percent higher this year over last.

The biggest increase will occur at private colleges. Public colleges, heavily subsidized by tax funds, will also increase their tuition, but the increase will be a few percentages points lower than their privately-sponsored neighbors.

As a follow up, the United Press International did their own study at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. At M.I.T., advisors recommended that students have $8,900 available for one year's expenses, including $5,300 for tuition, $2,685 for room and board, $630 for personal expenses, and $285 for books and supplies. Ten years ago the tuition was only $2,150. To put that another way, the cost has climbed 150 percent in the last decade.

An additional burden is placed on out-of-state students who must pay extra charges ranging from $200 to $2, 000, and foreign students who are not eligible for scholarships at state-funded universities.

On the brighter side, the survey revealed that college graduates are entering the best job market since the middle 1960s. Job offers are up 16 percent from last year, and salaries are good, at least for graduates in technical fields. For example, a recent graduate in petroleum engineering can expect to make as much as $20,000 per year. A student with a liberal arts degree might expect to make about half that salary.

(30)

A．Average tuition costs increased by 9 percent.

B．Average tuition costs increased by 15 percent.

C．Average tuition costs increased by 90 percent.

D．Average tuition costs increased by 150 percent.

Many states plan to modify their prepaid college tuition programs ______.

A．under the mounting financial pressures

B．because of deficient college facilities

C．to ease overcrowding problems in college

D．to limit the participation of low-income families

ding to a nation- wide survey【21】by the College Board's Scholarship Service,【22】at most American universities will be【23】of 9 percent higher this year over last.

The biggest increase will occur at private colleges. Public colleges, heavily subsidized by rax funds, will also【24】their tuition, but the increase will be a few percentage points【25】than their privately sponsored neighbors.

As a follow-up, the United Press international did their own study【26】Massachussetts Institute of Technology. At M. I. T. advisors recommended that students have $ 8,900【27】for one year's expenses, including $ 5,300 for tuition, $ 2,685 for room and【28】, $ 630 for personal expenses, and $ 285 for books and supplies. Ten years ago the tuition was only $ 2,150. To【29】that another way, the cost has climbed 150 percent in the last【30】.

(61)

A．published

B．declared

C．written

D．quoted

Many states plan to modify their prepaid college tuition programs ______.

A．under the mounting financial pressures

B．because of deficient college facilities

C．to ease overcrowding problems in college

D．to limit the participation of low-income families