高考人數(shù)再創(chuàng)新高，１０５０萬考生參加考試

For Li Dan， the weekend of June 7th was one of the most important of her life. \"If I do well in the next few days， I have a much better chance of having a successful future.\"

對于李丹（音譯）而言，6月7日的這個周末在她人生中是最重要的時刻之一。“如果我在接下來的幾天發(fā)揮出色，我將有更好的機會去贏得未來?！?/p>

The high school senior from Beijing joined the ranks of 10.5 million students across China who hunkered down and took part in the 2008 College Entrance Examinations. The Examinations， the largest State-run entrance exams in the world， determine which high-school students will enter universities around the country in September.

這個北京的高三學(xué)生是08年1050萬高考大軍中的堅定一員。高考，這個世界上規(guī)模最大的全國統(tǒng)一入學(xué)考試決定著高中畢業(yè)生是否能在9月進入大學(xué)接受高等教育。

With only six million places available nationwide， competition is tough for Li Dan and her fellow students. Because of the difficulty of the examinations and the low number of opportunities the examinations are often referred to as \"thousands of troops on a single log bridge\" – an apt description of the challenge facing the young high-school graduates.

由于全國招生的名額僅有600萬，對于李丹而言，與自己同學(xué)的競爭還是很激烈的。由于考試的難度和相對低的入學(xué)率，高考通常被說成“千軍萬馬過獨木橋”——這恰如其分地形容了這些年輕的高中畢業(yè)生面臨的挑戰(zhàn)。

Students have been trying a variety of different methods to ensure success in the exams， from good， old-fashioned studying to asking the gods and Confucius for help.

學(xué)生們?yōu)榱嗽诳荚囍腥僬媸鞘贡M渾身解數(shù)，有中規(guī)中矩踏實學(xué)習(xí)的，也有拜孔圣人求神保佑的。

It's a centuries-old practice in China to pray to Confucius before a major exam， and Confucian temples get large crowds of high school seniors and their parents during the examination period. One such shrine， Pilu Temple in Nanjing， received about 200 visitors a day during the run-up to the exams， more than twice the number it usually manages.

在中國，逢重大考試之前就要拜祭孔圣人，這一習(xí)俗已有千年之久，備考期間，孔廟里的高三學(xué)生和家長難以計數(shù)。南京一處圣地——毗盧寺，在考試前夕，每天接待大約200名客人，是平時接待量的兩倍多。

The notion of state-organized entrance examinations is hardly new to China. Throughout Imperial Chinese history， social and administrative roles were often given to young scholars and noblemen who performed particularly well in a series of tasks and difficult examinations designed to test their education， cultural knowledge and etiquette.

這種全國性質(zhì)的入學(xué)考試對于中國人已不稀奇。在中國的封建歷史長河中，科舉考試用以考察文化知識和禮儀教化，對榜上有名的考生加官進爵。

The modern College Entrance Examinations， or gaokao， test academic knowledge rather than poetry or calligraphy， but are just as important for those taking them. For many students passing the exam opens up a whole new world of opportunity， as a university education goes a long way towards snagging a high-flying job. In some poverty-stricken rural communities， going to University is seen as the only way out of a hard way of life.

高考，即當(dāng)代高等學(xué)校入學(xué)考試，考察學(xué)生的學(xué)術(shù)知識，而不是詩詞歌賦或者揮毫潑墨的能力，然而對參加考試的學(xué)生相當(dāng)重要。對于許多學(xué)生而言，通過高考就等于打開了一片新天地，因為大學(xué)教育對于找到一份好工作還是大有作用的。在一些貧困地區(qū)，上大學(xué)被看成是出人頭地的唯一出路。

A survey conducted by the Ministry of Education and China Youth Daily showed that 89.6 percent of exam takers felt that examination success would greatly affect their lives. Of these， 69.1 percent came from the countryside and only 30.9 percent were from cities.

一項由教育部和中國青年報的聯(lián)合調(diào)查顯示，89.6%的考生認為高考成功將極大地影響其今后的人生。其中，69.1%的考生來自農(nóng)村，城市考生僅占30.9%。

The odds of getting a university placement are certainly much higher today， though. When Deng Xiaoping reinstated the gaokao in 1977， after the Cultural Revolution， about 5.7 million Chinese took the examinations…for only 270，000 university places.

如今進大學(xué)深造的機會肯定是高多了，鄧小平在文化大革命后的1977年恢復(fù)了高考，當(dāng)時有570萬人參加考試，但是錄取名額僅有27萬。

The resumption of the College Entrance Examinations was viewed by many observers as a significant part of the reform and opening up drive that has made China the country it is today.

恢復(fù)高考制度被許多觀察家認為是改革開放的重要舉措之一，這也是讓中國有今天成就的因素之一。

The exam was postponed in the 62 counties worst hit by the 8.0-magnitude earthquake in Sichuan and Gansu provinces.

今年高考在遭受8級地震的四川、甘肅的62個災(zāi)區(qū)縣市推遲舉行。

State education authorities also asked colleges nationwide to offer 2 percent more placements than what they had previously planned for the Sichuan candidates. They also promised that students who took part in rescue and relief efforts would receive preference when being considered by universities. (Source: Xinhua)

國家教育部同時要求在對四川原有招生指標(biāo)的基礎(chǔ)上增加2%。相關(guān)部門作出承諾，大學(xué)在錄取時，對參與抗震救災(zāi)的考生予以優(yōu)先考慮。（源自：新華社）