原文
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Grade inflation--the gradual increase in average GPAs(grade-point averages) over the past few decades—is often considered a product of a consumer era in higher education, in which students are treated like customers to be pleased. But another, related force—a policy often buried deep in course catalogs called “grade forgiveness”—is helping raise GPAs.
Grade forgiveness allows students to retake a course in which they received a low grade, and the most recent grade or the highest grade is the only one that counts in calculating a student’s overall GPA.
The use of this little-known practice has accelerated in recent years, as colleges continue to do their utmost to keep students in school (and paying tuition) and improve their graduation rates. When this practice first started decades ago, it was usually limited to freshmen, to give them a second chance to take a class in their first year if they struggled in their transition to college-level courses. But now most colleges save for many selective campuses, allow all undergraduates, and even graduate students, to get their low grades forgiven.
College officials tend to emphasize that the goal of grade forgiveness is less about the grade itself and more about encouraging students to retake courses critical to their degree program and graduation without incurring a big penalty. “Untimely,” said Jack Miner, Ohio State University’s registrar,“we see students achieve more success because they retake a course and do better in subsequent contents or master the content that allows them to graduate on time.”
That said, there is a way in which grade forgiveness satisfies colleges’ own needs as well. For public institutions, state funds are sometimes tied partly to their success on metrics such as graduation rates and student retention—so better grades can, by boosting figures like those, mean more money. And anything that raises GPAs will likely make students—who, at the end of the day, are paying the bill—feel they’ve gotten a better value for their tuition dollars, which is another big concern for colleges.
Indeed, grade forgiveness is just another way that universities are responding to consumers’ expectations for higher education. Since students and parents expect a college degree to lead a job, it is in the best interest of a school to turn out graduates who are as qualified as possible—or at least appear to be. On this, students’ and colleges’ incentives seem to be aligned.
分析
Text 2
Grade inflation--the gradual increase in average GPAs(grade-point averages) over the past few decades—is often considered a product of a consumer era in higher education, in which students are treated like customers to be pleased.
分數等級膨脹--在過去十幾年平均GPAs的逐步增長，常被認為是一個在高等教育背景下消費者時代的產物，在這個時代，學生被視為滿意客戶的事物
But another, related force—a policy often buried deep in course catalogs called “grade forgiveness”—is helping raise GPAs.
但是另一個強制性政策，經常深深埋藏在課程種類下的叫做"分數等級寬恕"的政策，幫助提高GPAs
Grade forgiveness allows students to retake a course in which they received a low grade, and the most recent grade or the highest grade is the only one that counts in calculating a student’s overall GPA.
分數等級寬恕允許同學們重修一門分數等級較低的課程，大多數最近的分數等級或者更高的分數等級僅僅是指唯一可以計算一個學生全部GPA的指標
The use of this little-known practice has accelerated in recent years, as colleges continue to do their utmost to keep students in school (and paying tuition) and improve their graduation rates.
這些鮮為人知的行為的作用在近些年快速擴大影響，大學不斷盡它們的最大努力把學生留在學校里（並且支付學費），提高學生畢業率
When this practice first started decades ago, it was usually limited to freshmen, to give them a second chance to take a class in their first year if they struggled in their transition to college-level courses.
十幾年前，當這個行為剛剛開始，通常只限制在新人，給他們二次機會在第一年獲得一門課程，如果他們掙扎在大學等級課程的過渡中
But now most colleges save for many selective campuses, allow all undergraduates, and even graduate students, to get their low grades forgiven.
但是現在大多數大學剩下許多資金留給可選擇的校園中，允許所有的在校生，甚至畢業生，來獲取他們的交底的分數等級寬恕
College officials tend to emphasize that the goal of grade forgiveness is less about the grade itself and more about encouraging students to retake courses critical to their degree program and graduation without incurring a big penalty.
高校官員更傾向於強調分數等級寬恕的目標很少關注在分數等級本身，更多的是關於激勵學生在不需要承受重罰的情況下，重修對學位以及畢業至關重要的課程
“Untimely,” said Jack Miner, Ohio State University’s registrar,“we see students achieve more success because they retake a course and do better in subsequent contents or master the content that allows them to graduate on time.”
傑克 邁納，俄亥俄州大學的注冊商說，"很不巧，我們看到學生獲得更大的成功，因為他們重修課程並且在后續內容做的更好或者掌握允許他們准時畢業的內容"
That said, there is a way in which grade forgiveness satisfies colleges’ own needs as well.
也就是說，分數等級款式也是滿足大學自身需求的方法
For public institutions, state funds are sometimes tied partly to their success on metrics such as graduation rates and student retention—so better grades can, by boosting figures like those, mean more money.
對於公共機構而言，國家基金有時會在畢業率和留學生率等指標上部分地取決於其成功率，因此，通過提高這樣的數字，更好的成績可以意味着更多的錢
And anything that raises GPAs will likely make students—who, at the end of the day, are paying the bill—feel they’ve gotten a better value for their tuition dollars, which is another big concern for colleges.
任何提高GPA的事情都可能使學生（歸根結底是要付賬單）感到他們的學費已經獲得了更高的價值，這是大學的又一個大問題
Indeed, grade forgiveness is just another way that universities are responding to consumers’ expectations for higher education.
的確，年級寬恕只是大學回應消費者對高等教育期望的另一種方式。
Since students and parents expect a college degree to lead a job, it is in the best interest of a school to turn out graduates who are as qualified as possible—or at least appear to be.
由於學生和家長希望大學學位能勝任工作，因此學校選拔最合資格的畢業生或至少看起來合格的畢業生符合學校的最大利益
On this, students’ and colleges’ incentives seem to be aligned.
在這方面，學生和大學的激勵機制看起來似乎是一致的