VOA慢速英语:Considering National Education Standards

fall to落到…

例句：It falls to me to finish the work.
      完成这项工作的任务落在我头上。

2.They say that some states have lowered their standards in order to increase student scores on tests required by the No Child Left Behind Act.

in order to为了...

例句：This tall fellow has to bend in order to get into the car.
      这高个子要弯着身才能进汽车。

表达目的的还有：so as to，so that 不过so as to引导的是一个简单状语成分，so that引导的是目的状语从句。

so as to使得,以致 如此...以致于

例句：He runs quickly so as to catch the last bus .
      他跑得快以便赶上那末班车。

so that以便

例句：I will give you all the facts so that you can judge for yourself.
      我会给你所有的事实以便你可以自己判断。

3.She says the new standards clearly state what a student should be able to do to be successful in college and work.

state在这里是动词，讲述，规定，注明的意思。She says是整个句子的主语和谓语，后面都是宾语从句。主句的主语和谓语是new standards clearly state。后面是what引导的宾语从句。

4.Critics say that working toward the same standards in every state will not guarantee excellence for all.

动名词做主语

动名词与动词不定式既然都有做主语的情况，那么肯定都具有名词词性。因为主语需要名词、代词来充当。

动名词与不定式在作主语的时候，是存在语义上的差别的。

动名词作主语，倾向于陈述一个既定事实。比方说：sleeping is necessary.睡眠是必要的。
schooling costs a family a lot.上学花费家庭许多钱。

但是不定式作主语，倾向一个因果关系、逻辑关系。比方说：to say goodbye to all of you my friends is hard for me.要对你们，我所有的朋友说出再见不是一件容易的事。
to waste other's time means chronic murder.浪费别人的时间就是慢性谋杀。

具体取舍，根据要表达的意思来决定，因为它们之间可以互换，但是意义有所差别。