EDUCATION REPORT - The GED Certificate

EDUCATION REPORT - The GED Certificate¹
By Nancy Steinbach

Broadcast: Thursday, May 06, 2004

This is Steve Ember with the VOA Special English Education Report.

Another school year is nearing an end in the United² States. Students are preparing for their final examinations³ in the coming weeks. Those in their last year of high school are planning for their graduation ceremonies and parties.

But not all young people graduate from high school. The results of their decision to leave school early may follow them throughout⁴ their lives. Students who leave are not likely to be as successful in life as those who finish at least high school.

Since the nineteen-forties, students who do not complete high school have had another choice. This is a certificate called the G.E.D. G.E.D. is short for General Educational Development. People who have earned a G.E.D. can get admitted to college and continue their education.

 
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To earn a G.E.D., students must pass five examinations. These are in writing, social studies, science, reading and mathematics⁶. Testing officials say a person who passes the test is at the same level as sixty percent of graduating high school students. This is in the level of ability to read, write, work with numbers and understand information.

Each year, more than five-hundred-thousand people take the G.E.D. examinations. About seventy percent pass. But research has shown that only about eleven percent of G.E.D. holders⁷ complete a year or more of higher education.

Some critics⁸ say earning a G.E.D. is not as good as completing high school. They say the test does not force people to study the way they have to in order to graduate. Critics say this is one reason G.E.D. holders generally do not stay in college.

They also say the possibility of taking the G.E.D. test makes it easier for students to leave high school early. Critics argue that the easier it is to take the test, the higher the rate of students leaving school.

Testing officials have made changes in recent years designed to make the exams more difficult. And both critics and supporters⁹ of the G.E.D. agree that it performs a valuable service for those who can go on to complete college. Successful G.E.D. holders include the actor Bill Cosby, Senator¹⁰ Ben Nighthorse Campbell and Delaware Governor¹¹ Ruth Ann Minner.

This VOA Special English Education Report was written by Nancy Steinbach. This is Steve Ember.

1 certificate   

n.证书，证明书；vt.发给证明书，认可，鉴定

参考例句：

• She proudly displayed her degree certificate to her parents.她自豪地向父母展示了学位证书。
• No one had seen her marriage certificate.没人看到过她的结婚证书。

2 united   

adj.和谐的；团结的；联合的，统一的

参考例句：

• The whole nation is closely united.全国人民紧密团结。
• The two men were united by community of interests.共同的利益使两个人结合在一起。

3 examinations   

n.检查( examination的名词复数 )；考试；考查；试题

参考例句：

• He had been forced to incriminate himself in cross-examinations. 他在盘问中被迫受到牵连。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Examinations are hanging over her head—that's why she can't sleep at nights. 她大脑里想的都是考试，所以晚上无法入睡。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 throughout   

adv.到处，自始至终；prep.遍及，贯穿

参考例句：

• These magazines are sold at bookstores throughout the country.这些杂志在全国各地书店均有发售。
• Guilin is known throughout the world for its scenery.桂林以山水著称于世。

5 graphic   

adj.生动的，形象的，绘画的，文字的，图表的

参考例句：

• The book gave a graphic description of the war.这本书生动地描述了战争的情况。
• Distinguish important text items in lists with graphic icons.用图标来区分重要的文本项。

6 mathematics   

n.（用作单）数学；（用作单或复）计算(能力）

参考例句：

• He has come out in front in the study of mathematics.他在数学方面已名列前茅。
• She is working at a difficult problem in mathematics.她在做一道数学难题。

7 holders   

支持物( holder的名词复数 )； 持有者； （支票等）持有人； 支托（或握持）…之物

参考例句：

• Slaves were mercilessly ground down by slave holders. 奴隶受奴隶主的残酷压迫。
• It is recognition of compassion's part that leads the up-holders of capital punishment to accuse the abolitionists of sentimentality in being more sorry for the murderer than for his victim. 正是对怜悯的作用有了认识，才使得死刑的提倡者指控主张废除死刑的人感情用事，同情谋杀犯胜过同情受害者。

8 critics   

n.批评家( critic的名词复数 )；评论员；批评者；挑剔的人

参考例句：

• He felt no animosity towards his critics. 他对批评他的人并不心怀怨恨。
• The move was widely seen as an attempt to appease critics of the regime. 普遍认为，这一举措是试图安抚批评政权的人。

9 supporters   

n.支持者，拥护者，赞助者( supporter的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a battalion of supporters 由支持者组成的队伍
• Thousands of supporters converged on London for the rally. 成千上万的支持者从四面八方汇聚伦敦举行集会。

10 senator   

n.参议员，评议员

参考例句：

• The senator urged against the adoption of the measure.那参议员极力反对采取这项措施。
• The senator's speech hit at government spending.参议员的讲话批评了政府的开支。

11 governor   

n.统治者，地方长官(如省长，州长，总督等)

参考例句：

• The governor was an expert at fencing with reporters.这位州长是搪塞新闻记者的能手。
• He was elected governor of the state of California.他当选为加州州长。