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对于美国学生来说，像SAT、ACT和研究生入学考试（GRE）的测试都指明了通向大学和研究生院的路。但对于成千上万梦想到美国读书的外国学生来说，最大的担忧就是在“英语作为外国语言的测试”，即“托福”考试中证明他们的英语语言能力。
现在，由于“托福”经过了重大改革，一些学生，尤其是亚洲学生，正担心新“托福”会对他们不利，因为学校通常都是重视词汇和语法多于口语。
近几年，5200所采用“托福”考试的高等英语院校中，许多院校都对“托福”产生了质疑—许多“托福”成绩高分的学生掌握的只是应试技巧，不见得活学活用的语言能力有多高。因此经过十年的研究，负责出题的教育测试中心把测试的重点转移到测试学生阅读、写作和口语的综合能力。学生可能被要求听一段录音和读一段文章，然后说说他们所听到的和所读过的内容。他们的作答将会被电脑录下和下载进行评分。
新“托福”最大的改变可能就是新增的口语部分。过去，测试中心提供单独附加的口语测试，但几乎没有学生参加口语测试。新的“托福”考试是在互联网上进行的，它将于明年在全世界范围内逐步采用。
Changes in English Test Have Some Students Worried
by Karen Clark
For American students, tests like the SAT, ACT and Graduate Record Examination (GRE) mark the path to college and graduate school[研究生院]. But for hundreds of thousands of international students hoping to study in the United States, a major concern is proving their language skills on the Test of English as a Foreign Language, or TOEFL.
Now, as TOEFL has undergone[经历] major changes, some students, particularly Asians, are worried that they will be disadvantaged because schools generally emphasize[强调] vocabulary and grammar over speaking.
In recent years, many of the 5,200 English speaking colleges and universities that use the exam have become concerned that the test fails[失败] to identify[识别] those students who have mastered only “textbook”English. So after a decade[十年]’s research, the Educational Testing Service, which developed the exam, has shifted[转移] the test’s focus to how well students read, write and speak in combination[结合]. Students may be asked to listen to a recording and read a passage, then speak about both. Their responses will be digitally[数码化地] recorded and downloaded for grading.
Perhaps the biggest change is the new speaking component[成分]. Previously, the testing company offered a separate speaking test, but few students took it. The new English test is Internet based. The exam will phase in[逐步采用] worldwide over the next year.
现在，由于“托福”经过了重大改革，一些学生，尤其是亚洲学生，正担心新“托福”会对他们不利，因为学校通常都是重视词汇和语法多于口语。
近几年，5200所采用“托福”考试的高等英语院校中，许多院校都对“托福”产生了质疑—许多“托福”成绩高分的学生掌握的只是应试技巧，不见得活学活用的语言能力有多高。因此经过十年的研究，负责出题的教育测试中心把测试的重点转移到测试学生阅读、写作和口语的综合能力。学生可能被要求听一段录音和读一段文章，然后说说他们所听到的和所读过的内容。他们的作答将会被电脑录下和下载进行评分。
新“托福”最大的改变可能就是新增的口语部分。过去，测试中心提供单独附加的口语测试，但几乎没有学生参加口语测试。新的“托福”考试是在互联网上进行的，它将于明年在全世界范围内逐步采用。
Changes in English Test Have Some Students Worried
by Karen Clark
For American students, tests like the SAT, ACT and Graduate Record Examination (GRE) mark the path to college and graduate school[研究生院]. But for hundreds of thousands of international students hoping to study in the United States, a major concern is proving their language skills on the Test of English as a Foreign Language, or TOEFL.
Now, as TOEFL has undergone[经历] major changes, some students, particularly Asians, are worried that they will be disadvantaged because schools generally emphasize[强调] vocabulary and grammar over speaking.
In recent years, many of the 5,200 English speaking colleges and universities that use the exam have become concerned that the test fails[失败] to identify[识别] those students who have mastered only “textbook”English. So after a decade[十年]’s research, the Educational Testing Service, which developed the exam, has shifted[转移] the test’s focus to how well students read, write and speak in combination[结合]. Students may be asked to listen to a recording and read a passage, then speak about both. Their responses will be digitally[数码化地] recorded and downloaded for grading.
Perhaps the biggest change is the new speaking component[成分]. Previously, the testing company offered a separate speaking test, but few students took it. The new English test is Internet based. The exam will phase in[逐步采用] worldwide over the next year.