PASSAGE 4 -done

ACADEMICS AREN’T THE PROBLEM

Studies about how students use their time might shed light on whether they face increased academic and
financial pressures compared with earlier eras.
Based on data about how students are spending time, academic or financial pressures don’t seem to be
greater now than a generation ago. The data show that full-time students in all types of colleges study
much less now than they did a generation ago - a full 10 hours a week less. Students are also receiving
significantly higher grades. So it appears that academic pressures are, in fact, considerably lower than
they used to be.
The time-use data don’t suggest that students feel greater financial pressures, either. When the time
savings and lower opportunity costs are factored in, college appears less expensive for most students than
it was in the 1960s. And though there are now full-time students working to pay while in college, they
study less even when paid work choices are held constantly.
In other words, full-time students do not appear to be studying less in order to work more. They appear to
be studying less and spending the extra time on leisure activities or fun. It seems hard to imagine that
students feeling increased financial pressures would respond by taking more leisure.
Based on how students are spending their time then, it doesn’t look as though academic or financial
pressures are greater now than a generation ago. The time-use data don’t speak directly to social
pressures, and it may well be that these have become more intense lately.
In one recent set of data, students reported spending more than 23 hours per week either socializing with
friends or playing on the computer for fun. Social activities, in person or on computer, would seem to
have become the major focus of campus life. It is hard to tell what kinds of pressures would be associated
with this change.
Question 1. The study’s conclusion that students’ workload now is not greater than before is based
on .
A. what students achieve with greater load B. how students spend their time
C. how students work through college D. what college demands from students
Question 2. Research studies have shown that pressures put on students nowadays are .
A. not greater than the past B. getting ever greater
C. much greater than the past D. more diversified
Question 3. Students get higher grades as .
A. students study much harder B. academic workload appears more attractive
C. academic workload appears less demanding D. college’s facilities are much better
Question 4. According to the author, the fact that students have more time for leisure is a proof
that .
A. financial pressure on students is not a problem B. academic work disinterests them
C. they are active with extra-curricular activities D. they cannot find extra jobs
Question 5. All factors considered, college now seems .
A. more costly B. ever more expensive
C. much more expensive D. less expensive

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Question 6. According to the author, the fact that more full-time students are working for pay .
A. does not change students’ campus life B. indicates that students are academically pressured
C. is not an indication of pressures D. shows that students are financially pressured
Question 7. Students nowadays seem to be studying less and .
A. spending more time on leisure B. spending more time doing odd jobs
C. giving more time to sports D. taking more extracurricular activities
Question 8. The word “focus” in the last paragraph can be replaced with .
A. central activity B. primary theme C. headline D. biggest importance
Question 9. The author finds it hard to point out .
A. how students’ campus life becomes subject to academic pressure
B. what is associated with the change in students’ campus life
C. the cause to students’ financial pressure
D. how the background of students’ campus life is built
Question 10. The word “Academics” in the title mostly means
A. students’ workload in college B. college students and tutors
C. professors and research students D. graduate students’ workload

DONE
ĐÁP ÁN
1-B 2-A 3-C 4-A 5-D
6-C 7-A 8-A 9-B 10-A

LỜI GIẢI CHI TIẾT

Question 1: B
Kết luận rằng khối lượng công việc của học sinh ngày nay không lớn hơn trước đâu dựa vào đâu?
Skimming bài khóa ta thấy lặp lại các câu như:
+ “Based on data about how students are spending time.....”
+ “Based on how students are spending their time then......”
-> Dựa vào cách học sinh sử dụng thời gian của họ.
Question 2: A
Các nghiên cứu chỉ ra rằng áp lực đặt lên học sinh hiện nay:
-> Scanning “ pressure” và “ nowadays”
“academic or financial pressures don’t seem to be greater now than a generation ago.”
-> Áp lực về học tập và tài chính có vẻ như không lớn hơn so với thế hệ trước đây.
Question 3: C
Những học sinh học được điểm cao hơn bởi vì:
-> Scanning “higher grades”
-> “Students are also receiving significantly higher grades. So it appears that academic pressures are, in
fact, considerably lower than they used to be.” => Việc học tập ít áp lực hơn trước đó nên học sinh
thường đạt điểm số cao hơn.
Question 4: A
Theo tác giả, thực tế là học sinh có nhiều thời gian vui chơi hơn là bằng chứng chứng minh rằng:
-> Scanning “ time” và “ leisure”
-> “They appear to be studying less and spending the extra time on leisure activities or fun. It seems hard
to imagine that students feeling increased financial pressures would respond by taking more leisure.”
-> Học sinh có vẻ học ít hơn và dành thời gian còn lại để vui chơi. Thật khó để tin rằng các học sinh cảm
thấy áp lực về tài chính tăng lên trong khi họ tham gia vui chơi nhiều hơn. => Áp lực về tài chính không
phải là vấn đề.
Question 5: D
=> Scanning “ college” và “now”
-> “college appears less expensive for most students than it was in the 1960s.” => chi phí học tập đại học
đã thấp hơn cho phần lớn học sinh so với những năm 1960.
Question 6: C
Theo tác giả, việc ngày càng nhiều học sinh học full time đang làm việc để kiếm tiền là:
-> Scanning “ full time students” và “ working for pay” -> “And though there are now full-time students
working to pay while in college, they study less even when paid work choices are held constantly.” =>
Sinh viên đi làm nhưng lại học ít hơn => Đi làm không phải là dấu hiệu của áp lực.
Question 7: A
Scanning “students” và “ studying less”
-> “They appear to be studying less and spending the extra time on leisure activities or fun.” => Học sinh
có vẻ học ít hơn và dành thời gian còn lại để vui chơi.
Question 8: A
Focus : tập trung, chủ yếu = central activity: các hoạt động chính, trọng tâm
Question 9: B
Scanning “ hard to point out”
-> Tác giả hấy khó có thể chỉ ra: cái liên quan đến sự thay đổi của cuộc sống sinh viên của học sinh.
-> “It is hard to tell what kinds of pressures would be associated with this change.”
Question 10: A
Academics = sudents’s workload in college: khối lượng công việc của sinh viên trong trường đại học.
Academics aren’t the problem: khối lượng công việc ở trường học không phải là vấn đề.