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.
The number of foreign students in Britain is decreasing possibly due to_____
- A.the increase of living cost
- B.the rising cost of schooling
- C.the impact of fmancial crisis
- D.the decrease of tuition subsidy
正确答案及解析
正确答案
解析
细节题。根据foreign students，Britain，decreasing等关键词定位到第二段首句：Yet foreign students,whether educated in British private schools or elsewhere,are decreasingly likely to go to English universities.而题目问的是原因，因此要注意本段体现因果关系的句子，该段整段都在举例说明英国留学生数量减少．down．drop．fell，declined都是关键词提示。而涉及因果的句子只有倒数第二句中的a result of-词，句中a result of=due to；probably=possibly；故该句为答案句：Student numbersrom the rest of the EU fell-probably aresult of the increase in annual tuition fees in England from 6,000 a year t0 9,000.答案关键为increase in annual tuition fees“每年学费上涨”。选项[A]the increase“living cost“生活成本增加”；[B]the rising cost of schooling“教育成本增加”；[C]the impact of financial cnsis"金融危机的影响”；[D]the decrease of tuition subsidy“学费补助减少”。与答案句同义替换的选项为[B]。其中，cost of schooling“教育成本”=tuition fees“学费”；nsing“上涨”=increase“增加”。
