On the reform of college entrance exam
“College entrance exam” has been carried out for over 30 years. It has once undoubtedly played a very positive role. But with the society developing, its disadvantages gradually manifest and the reform has been on the agenda.
Why the reform becomes so urgent? Firstly, the single and unified exam, with the exam-oriented education deriving from it, has detrimental effects on training innovative talents with comprehensive qualities. Secondly, the current examination has aggravated tough competition among students, resulting in heavy study load and even psychological stress.
Then where is the way out? I think the solution lies in a “diversification scheme”. More diversified examination contents testing not only knowledge, but also abilities and practical skills, more diversified examination modes including written test, interview, experiment, etc, and more diversified admission criteria. In this way, we will bid fare well to the past rule that “a single exam determines all”. However, the reform on college entrance exam is definitely no easy task. It is rather a social problem than an educational one. The successful solution depends on the efforts from all walks of life.
注释
① on the agenda 提上日程
② exam-oriented education 应试教育
③ have detrimental effects 不利于(比do harm to更出彩)
④ aggravate 使恶化，使更严重
⑤ we will bid fare well to the past rule… 我们将告别过去的……规则
10
Should Peking opera be set as part of the compulsory courses?
Recently, the ministry of education launched a new reform, specifying that the Peking Opera be set as part of the compulsory courses at primary and middle school.
The reform has caused an enormous amout of controversy in society. Many people in favor of it agree that it may contribute a lot to the traditional culture. But even more people are against it for they think that it is not quit feasible in teaching practice.
As to this issue, my view is that Peking Opera should step into classroom, not as a compulsory course, but as a optional one. On the one hand, teaching Peking Opera at school could popularize traditional art so that more people will know and love it. On the other hand, however, to some extent, setting a new compulsory course will add to students’ academic burden which has been already heavy enough. Therefore, be setting Peking Opera as a optional course, students may have more freedom to decide whether to take it or not. In a word, promoting and developing traditional culture can not merely depend on “revitalizing Peking Opera”. The key lies in improving the culture awareness of the whole nation substantially.
注释
① launch a new reform 推行一项新的改革
② an enormous amount of controversy 很大的争议
③ popularize 推广，使受欢迎
④ revitalize 使……重生
⑤ substantially 充分地
