雅思词汇课文（27）· Education and Inequality 教育与不平等

教育与社会主题，约 350 词，融入 30 个雅思核心词。

🎧 课文朗读音频（约 1 分钟）

📖 课文 Text

Education and Inequality

Education was once called the great equaliser. In theory, any child, regardless of birth, could climb the social ladder through hard work and schooling. In practice, the link between family background and educational achievement has proven remarkably stubborn. Children born into the poorest fifth of households are far less likely to attend university than those from the wealthiest fifth.

The reasons begin before birth. Parents who went to university tend to value education, speak more words to their infants, and own more books. Wealthier families can afford tutoring, extracurricular activities and homes in well-funded school districts. They can also pay for private education, which, despite its high cost, remains a pathway to elite universities and professional careers.

The consequences are self-reinforcing. Graduates earn more, buy houses in better areas, and raise children who then succeed in the same system. Meanwhile, schools in low-income neighbourhoods struggle to attract experienced teachers, offer fewer advanced courses, and have fewer resources. The achievement gap widens each year.

Policy responses have varied. Some countries, such as Finland, have emphasised equalising school quality through well-paid teachers and a national curriculum. Others, such as the United States, rely on parental choice and charter schools, with mixed results. Bursaries and affirmative action aim to compensate for historical disadvantage, though they remain controversial.

The digital age adds a new dimension. Online courses have democratised access to lectures from top universities, but completing them requires self-discipline and reliable internet. Students from privileged backgrounds are more likely to use these tools to advance; disadvantaged students often lack the support to benefit.

Education alone cannot erase inequality. It can mitigate it, but only when paired with broader policies on housing, taxation and childcare.

📝 生词表 New Words and Expressions

🧠 课文理解 Comprehension

1. The passage says the link between family background and educational achievement is...

• A. weak
• B. remarkably stubborn
• C. disappearing
• D. non-existent

2. Wealthier families can afford all of the following EXCEPT...

• A. tutoring
• B. extracurricular activities
• C. homes in well-funded school districts
• D. guaranteed university admission

3. Finland's approach to education emphasises...

• A. parental choice
• B. equalising school quality with well-paid teachers
• C. charter schools
• D. affirmative action

4. Online courses have democratised access, but...

• A. they are too expensive
• B. completing them requires self-discipline and reliable internet
• C. they are not available in English
• D. top universities don't offer them

5. The writer concludes that education...

• A. alone can erase inequality
• B. can mitigate inequality but needs broader policies
• C. has no effect on inequality
• D. increases inequality

✏️ 词汇练习 Vocabulary Practice

Fill in the blanks with the correct word from the list. Change the form where necessary.

| regardless / stubborn / elite / resource / gap / curriculum / compensate / mitigate |

1. ______ of the weather, the match will go ahead.
2. The stain proved surprisingly ______ and refused to come out.
3. Only a small ______ group is selected for the training programme.
4. The library has limited ______ for acquiring new books.
5. There is a widening ______ between the rich and the poor.
6. The school follows the national ______ for science.
7. The company agreed to ______ passengers for the delayed flight.
8. New measures were introduced to ______ the effects of the recession.

✅ 答案 Answers

Comprehension

1. B　2. D　3. B　4. B　5. B

Vocabulary

1. Regardless　2. stubborn　3. elite　4. resources　5. gap　6. curriculum　7. compensate　8. mitigate