university system is at the top of the list in terms of its number of internationally top-ranked universities and in the percentage of overseas students it attracts each year. These are significant achievements, too often overlooked. They were not quickly or easily won. In an increasingly competitive world, they can be quickly and permanently lost.Within the U.K., universities deliver huge benefits; they are particularly well documented in science, technology, and medicine. Perhaps their greatest achievement is the flow of graduates into the workforce. The most remarked-upon, however, is the rapid expansion of their role as innovators who have demonstrated a significant economic impact. In recent years, high-technology and biotechnology clusters have sprung up around a number of research-intensive universities.Focusing only on what is most easily measured or on an immediate economic impact is to miss the deeper point, of course. Through the arts, humanities, and social sciences, this country’s universities contribute broadly to society, adding greatly to human well-being. Although universities are offering their best help in the economic downturn (衰退), as institutions they are intended, above all, to help the students of today become the workforce, citizens, and leaders of tomorrow. They are also responsible for the discoveries that will transform the future and the scholarly insights that will change the way the world thinks and acts.What has made the U.K. system so successful? I point to the quality of what it provides, the talent it attracts, and the diversity of strengths it offers. The diversity of U.K. universities is partially reflected in their differences in age, size, history, and governance, in the makeup of their student bodies, course offerings, the kinds of research they do, the combination of teaching and research, and the balance of academic and professional or pre-professional training.1. What do we learn about the U.K. university system from the passage?

The U.K. university system is at the top of the list in terms of its number of internationally top-ranked universities and in the percentage of overseas students it attracts each year. These are significant achievements, too often overlooked. They were not quickly or easily won. In an increasingly competitive world, they can be quickly and permanently lost. Within the U.K., universities deliver huge benefits; they are particularly well documented in science, technology, and medicine. Perhaps their greatest achievement is the flow of graduates into the workforce. The most remarked-upon, however, is the rapid expansion of their role as innovators who have demonstrated a significant economic impact. In recent years, high-technology and biotechnology clusters have sprung up around a number of research-intensive universities. Focusing only on what is most easily measured or on an immediate economic impact is to miss the deeper point, of course. Through the arts, humanities, and social sciences, this country’s universities contribute broadly to society, adding greatly to human well-being. Although universities are offering their best help in the economic downturn (衰退), as institutions they are intended, above all, to help the students of today become the workforce, citizens, and leaders of tomorrow. They are also responsible for the discoveries that will transform the future and the scholarly insights that will change the way the world thinks and acts. What has made the U.K. system so successful? I point to the quality of what it provides, the talent it attracts, and the diversity of strengths it offers. The diversity of U.K. universities is partially reflected in their differences in age, size, history, and governance, in the makeup of their student bodies, course offerings, the kinds of research they do, the combination of teaching and research, and the balance of academic and professional or pre-professional training. 1. What do we learn about the U.K. university system from the passage? A. The achievements of the U.K. university system can hardly be lost. B. Some achievements of the U.K. university system are too often ignored. C. It develops quickly by attracting the largest percentage of overseas students each year. D. It is at the top of the list in terms of the long history of its internationally top-ranked universities. 2. What is the most important contribution made by the U.K. universities according to the author? A. They make scientific discoveries. B. They supply a flow of quality graduates. C. They have biotechnological achievements. D. They promote technological improvements. 3. What should universities pay more attention to according to the author? A. The economic downturn of society. B. Current issues of human well-being. C. Discoveries that will change the future. D. Measures that have an economic impact. 4. Why is the U.K. university system so successful? A. It attracts different kinds of professors and students. B. It offers universities with a long history and big campus. C. It offers quality education and all the universities are world famous. D. It owns the talent and offers quality education and a diversity of strengths. 5. What do we learn about the U.K. universities from the passage? A. The U.K. universities prefer research to teaching. B. The U.K. universities prefer academic training to professional training. C. The U.K. universities boast a diversity reflected in many key elements. D. The U.K. universities’ diversity is mainly reflected in the makeup of their student bodies.