Text 4 Britain's private schools are one of its most successful exports.The children of the well-heeled flock to them,whether[rom China,Nigeria or Russia:the number of foreign pupils rose by l.4%in the last year alone.One headmaster recendy asked a room full of pupils whether they flew business class to Britain.Only a few hands went up,sugSesting they were not quite as spoiled as he had thought.Then a boy explained:many of the pupils fly first class instead.Yet foreign studenLs,whether educated in British pnvate schools or elsewhere,are decreasingly likely to go to English universities.According Lo the Higher Education Funding Council for England,307,200 0verseas students began their studies in the country in 2012-2013,down from 312,000 two years earlier and the first drop in 29 years.Student numbers from the rest of the EU fell-probably a result of the increase in annual tuition fees in England from 6,000 a year 10 9,000.But arrivals from India and Pakistan declined mosL sharply.In conLrast to the visa regime for private schools,which is extremely lax（the Home Office counts private schools as favoured sponsors）,student visas have been tightened.Foreign students used to be allowed to work for up to two years after graduating.They now have only four months to find a job paying upwards of 20,600 if they want to stay in Britain.This change was intended to deal with sham colleges ihat were in effect offenng two-year work visas.BuL it seems to have put off serious students too.Nick HiUman of the Higher Education Policy Institute says the government has sent unclear messages about the sort of immigration it wants to restrict.An emphasis on holding down net immigration influences young Indians and Pakistanis in particular.Australia 8nd America,which have more relaxed entry criteria for students,are becorrung more favoured destinations.Colin Riordan,Cardiff University's vice-chancellor,adds that Britain's student-visa regime has become more strict and difficult.As a result,Britain is losing oul to other counLries in the contest for Lalent-an oddity,given how often the prime minister bangs on about the"global race".Its unwelcoming standpoint will harm its long-term prospects.And the drift of foreign studenLs from leadinS;British private schools to American colleges may have another,somewhat happier,consequence:America might become raLher better at cricket.

Compared with the student visa,the visa for private schools is_____

• A.fairly difficult
• B.extremely strict
• C.surprisingly loose
• D.extraordinarily similar