考研英语阅读例题：U.S. School Graduation Rate Is Rising 美国学校毕业率上涨.doc

. School Graduation Rate Is Rising 美国学校毕业率上涨 The New York times November 30,2010 The nation ’s high school graduation rate, which declined in the latter part of the 20th century, may have hit bottom and begun to rise, according toa report to be issued Tuesday bya nonprofit group founded by former Secretary of State Colin L. Powell . “ The United States is turning a corner in meeting the high school dropout epidemic, ” General Powell and his wife, Alma J. Powell, wrote ina letter introducing the report. The report cites two statistics. The national graduation rate increased to 75 percent in 2008, from 72 percent in 2001. And the number of high schools that researchers call dropout factories — based ona formula pares a school ’s 12th-grade enrollment with its 9th-grade enrollment three years earlier — declined to about 1,750 in 2008, from about 2,000 such schools in 2002. But the report notes that progress in some states and school districts had not been matched in others. Tennessee and New York made “ breakthrough gains, ” sharply raising their graduation rates from 2002 to 2008, the report says. In Arizona, Utah and Nevada, graduation rates dropped significantly. The 88-page report, “ Building a Grad Nation, ” was published by America ’s Promise Alliance, along with two other groups. “I like this report because it shows that progress is possible against all odds, ” said Marg