20070823 Economics Not Such a Dismal Science for US High School Students

【蜗牛爬行之速度大比拼】 ahu 小组

How much do American high school students know about economics?
美国高中生对经济了解多少呢？
A new report shows that 79% of 12 greeters (twelfth-graders) have at least a basic level of understanding.
一个新的研究表明， 12 年级的高中生之中 79 ％至少（对经济）有个基本了解。
The results come from testing 11,500 students last year in public and private schools.
此结果来自于去年对公立和私立学校 11,500 名学生的调查。
In fact, students did better in economics than in history or science.
事实上，学生们对经济比对历史和科学了解得更多。
Only 47% of those tested reach (reached) the basic level in history, and 54% preformed at or above the basic level in science.
只有 47 ％的学生对历史达到了基本了解水平， 54 ％对科学达到了基本及以上水平。
This is the first time the federal government has measured economic understanding among high school students.
这是联邦政府第一次在高中学生中进行经济理解能力测试。
The study was done as a part of the National assesement (Assessment) of Educational Progress called the Nations Report Car (Card).
该研究是国际教育进展评测的一部分，又名国家教育报告卡。
Only one third of the 50 states require it, but most students these days study some economics in high school.
50 个州中只有三分之一要求学习经济，但是现今大部分高中生都学习经济。
In 1982, 49% of high school graduates had taken an economics class.
1982 年， 49 ％的高中毕业生学过经济课程。
By 2005, it was 66%.
2005 年达到 66 ％。
The study rated understanding at three levels: basic, proficient , and advanced.
该评测分为三个等级：基础，熟练，高级。
42% of students reached the proficient level.
42 ％的学生达到了熟练级别。
3% tested at the highest achievement level.
3 ％的学生通过了最高级别。

词汇： dismal ：消沉的
twelfth － grader ： 12 年级学生
assessment: 估价
proficient: 精通 (n.)
不敏感：， reached ， card ，