BBC随身英语:Class of 2020 预测：2020中印毕业生人数将位居榜首

Analysts also see a trend in Asian economies which are beginning to veer in a new direction: rather than offering low-cost manufacturing they now want to compete for highly-skilled, high-income employment. This could bring about an expansion in the demand for professionals with a background in science and technology.

But the new kids on the block from the Asian economies might have a big challenge ahead. Although many businesses have jumped on the information technology bandwagon, the West still holds up its position of strength through cultural dominance by controlling various institutions. A team at the University of Oxford's Internet Institute has produced a set of maps showing the 'geography of the world's knowledge'. It evaluated levels of user-generated material in Google, academic activity and the geographical focus of Wikipedia articles.

Professor Viktor Mayer-Schonberger, from the Oxford Internet Institute, observed: "Each era has its own distinct geography. In the information age, it's not dependent on bases of knowledge. Instead of coal and steel it will be about universities and innovation."

He continued, "There are more students in China than ever before - but they still use Western mechanisms to publish results, they accept the filters. The big question will be whether the Chinese researchers can be as insightful as their Western counterparts - we don't know yet."

Quiz 测验 1. What areas of the world are likely to see their share of graduates reduced?

The US and Western Europe.

Look at the article. What sort of professional might have more job opportunities in the future?

A professional who works in science and technology-related areas.

3. What expression in the article relates to newcomers?

New kids on the block.

4. What verb means 'assessed the situation and gave an opinion about it'?

Evaluated.

5. What word means that something has great repercussions?

Far-reaching.

Glossary 词汇表 to a forecast预测 a far-reaching shift一个影响深远的转变 to account for（在数量方面）占，说明（原因） is bucking the trend与大趋势背道而驰 projected预测 share份额 a trend一个趋势 veer in a new direction转向新的方向 rather than而不是 to bring about带来 the demand for（对什么的）需求 new kids on the block新手，新人 jumped on the bandwagon跟上时尚潮流 holds up保持，站住脚 dominance统领地位 evaluated衡量，评估 insightful具洞察力的，有深刻见解的