High Stakes Are for TomatoesUNIT 14 Advantages of exams: Tests stimulate students to work harder, and help them to see what they have learned and what they havent. And they also help teachers to find the effect of their teaching Disadvantages of exams: The tests may mislead teachers into test-driven teaching and students into test-oriented learning, which may in the end stifle their innovativeness. Too many tests overstress the students and do harm to their health 1. High Stakes Are for Tomatoes: High (wooden) posts are good to support tomato plants from falling down. But here high stakes is a pun and also refers to high stakes examinations. It can mean that the standardized tests cause a lot of failures and they are not good for students. 2. risen to the top of the national agenda (para.1) education has become the most important thing of the country agenda: a list or program of things to be done or considered e.g. There were several important items on the agenda. Thats been on my agenda for three weeks and I still havent done it. 3. rigorous (para.1)： careful, thorough, and exact; very severe or strict e.g. She has a scientifically rigorous approach. Its a rigorous survival course in the mountains. 4. accountability (para.1): responsibility; obligation e.g. There were furious demands for greater police accountability. Both public schools and private voucher schools receive taxpayers dollars, yet the private schools get to play by different rules and avoid public accountability.5. accreditation (para.2): official approval for a person or organization; official recognition of meeting a standard e.g. The college was given full accreditation in 1965. She has had her accreditation withdrawn by the authorities.6. backlash (para.3): a strong but usu delayed reaction against recent events, esp against political or social developments e.g. White backlash increases as the pressure for change in South Africa mounts. The rise in violent crimes provoked a backlash against the liberal gun-control laws.7. boycott (para.4): act together in abstaining from using, buying, or dealing with as an expression of protest or disfavor or as a means of coercion e.g. The people who work there are on strike to boycott a biotechnology conference. The committee decided to boycott all products tested on animals.8. Be a hero, take a zero (para.4) Show your courage and protest by deliberately failing the tests9. the exit examination (para.5): the test which students take to decide if they will graduate according to their scores. In the text “exit” means leaving, graduating. 10. assess (para.5): determine the value, significance, or extent of; appraise e.g. The annual income of school teachers in this place was assessed at 900. It is still early and difficult to assess the effect on the country which just acceded to the WTO last December. 11. inspire (para.6): stimulate to action; motivate e.g. A sales force was inspired by the prospect of a bonus. In conclusion, I hope this success will inspire you to great efforts.12. circulate (para.7): cause to move about or be distributed; spread e.g. Some students volunteered to circulate these fliers for the BIO 2000 conference. Gossip tends to circulate quickly. 13. amend (para.7): alter (a legislative measure, for example) formally by adding, deleting, or rephrasing; change for better e.g. The legislators are working hard to amend the earlier proposal so as to make it more comprehensive. The teacher advised him to amend his way of living. 14. repeal (para.7): withdraw (a law, etc) officially; make no longer a law e.g. It is high time that this grossly unfair law was repealed. Some of the religious leaders in our city are organizing a campaign to repeal the abortion law. 15. arise from(para.9): come from; be caused by e.g. We should go on to discuss the matters arising from the last meeting. Soon after the doctor arrived in the tribe he found that the most of the diseases in the area arose from malnutrition.16. obsessive (para.9): excessive in degree or nature e.g. She was overwhelmed with an obsessive need to win, so she could hardly compromise with her life. Maggie wouldnt dine out with us as she is becoming obsessive about hygiene. 17. a bleeding-heart liberal (para.10 ): a person showing pity or concern for poor people, or criminals in a way that you think is not practical or helpful e.g. Our granny is a bleeding-heart liberal she dare not even kill a fish. 18. have no business (para.10 ): have no right or reason; behave wrongly e.g. Youve no business to be here- this is private property.