VOA慢速英语:Fewer US Students Are Ready for College

senior – n. US a student in the final year of high school or college

proficiency – n. ability to do something well

report card – n. a written statement of a student's grades that is given to the student's parents (the "Nation's Report Card" is a report to the citizens about how the public schools perform)

administer – v. to manage the operation of (something, such as a company or government)

opportunity gap – n. the ways in which race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, English proficiency, community wealth, familial situations, or other factors contribute to or perpetuate lower educational aspirations, achievement, and attainment for certain groups of students

basic – adj. forming or relating to the first or easiest part of something

advanced – adj. far along in a course of progress or development

standard– n. a level of quality, achievement, etc., that is considered acceptable or desirable

defensible – adj. able to be thought of as good or acceptable

graduation – n.  the act of receiving a diploma or degree from a school, college, or university

ACT – abbr. A test used to test high school students for college admissions in the U.S.; originally an abbreviation of the name “American College Testing”

SAT – abbr. A test widely used for college admissions in the U.S.; originally called the Scholastic Aptitude Test, then the Scholastic Assessment Test

sufficient – adj. having or providing as much as is needed

motivation – n. a force or influence that causes someone to do something