BEIJING — China’s education authority will tighten the widely criticized policy of “extra credits” for the national college entrance examination to ensure a fairer chance for all exam-takers.
Under the policy, high school students who win awards in national Olympic competitions could get ‘‘extra credits’ up to 20 points for the national college entrance exam. Students with talent in sports and students who are from ethnic groups can also benefit from this policy. The extra credits have increased these students’ chances of being admitted by famous universities. Some parents were found to have helped their children fabricate(伪造)award experiences or falsify qualifications to get extra credits.
“It has harmed education equality，” the ministry said.
Xiong Bingqi, vice-chief of the 21st Century Education Research Institute, said the policy is designed to help students who have special talents but may be weak in academic performance to have a chance to receive higher education. uIt will still be needed but it is time to make the rules fairer," he said.
The ministry said it will reduce the range of competitions whose winners can get extra credits, and limit the winners, privileges(优先权).
The new policy will apply to students who begin high school in 2011, it said.
Chen Lei, a mother of a 10-year-old girl, said she welcomed the ministry's policy adjustment as she does not want her daughter to become an Olympic competition geek.
But not all the Chinese parents welcomed the new policy. “It is like a thunderbolt for me. My - 13-year-old son has spent so much time studying Olympic math，and participated in so many technological competitions during vacations. It is useless now,” said Dong Wen, a 43-year-old mother.
A student said, “Many students have changed the current study plan, and they can abandon the competition. I will be interested in learning the courses which can improve my abilities.”
Yuan Guiren, minister of education, told China Daily that the reform is an attempt to consider the overall quality of an applicant. “But the country will not stop the national college entrance examination as it is still the most objective way to evaluate talent in China，” lie said.
小题1:It can be inferred from the passage that_____.
A．high school students with talent in sports are weak in academic performance
B．students who win awards in Olympic competitions can’t get extra credits in 2011
C．the number of competitions whose winners can get extra credits will be smaller
D．the extra credits have reduced students' chances of being admitted by famous colleges小题2:What does the underlined word “geek” probably mean?
A．a winner
B．a smart learner
C．a competitor
D．a dull student小题3:Which person in the passage was strongly against the new policy?
A．Xiong Bingqi
B．Chen Lei
C．Dong Wen
D．Yuan Guiren小题4:What might be the best title for the text?
A．“Extra credits policy in China to be adjusted
B．Promotion of national Olympic competitions
C．Advice on the national college entrance exam
D．Chinese government to push education reform
