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.
分数等级膨胀--在过去十几年平均GPAs的逐步增长，常被认为是一个在高等教育背景下消费者时代的产物，在这个时代，学生被视为满意客户的事物
But another, related force—a policy often buried deep in course catalogs called “grade forgiveness”—is helping raise GPAs.
但是另一个强制性政策，经常深深埋藏在课程种类下的叫做"分数等级宽恕"的政策，帮助提高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.
分数等级宽恕允许同学们重修一门分数等级较低的课程，大多数最近的分数等级或者更高的分数等级仅仅是指唯一可以计算一个学生全部GPA的指标
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.
这些鲜为人知的行为的作用在近些年快速扩大影响，大学不断尽它们的最大努力把学生留在学校里（并且支付学费），提高学生毕业率
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.
十几年前，当这个行为刚刚开始，通常只限制在新人，给他们二次机会在第一年获得一门课程，如果他们挣扎在大学等级课程的过渡中
But now most colleges save for many selective campuses, allow all undergraduates, and even graduate students, to get their low grades forgiven.
但是现在大多数大学剩下许多资金留给可选择的校园中，允许所有的在校生，甚至毕业生，来获取他们的交底的分数等级宽恕
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.
高校官员更倾向于强调分数等级宽恕的目标很少关注在分数等级本身，更多的是关于激励学生在不需要承受重罚的情况下，重修对学位以及毕业至关重要的课程
“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.”
杰克 迈纳，俄亥俄州大学的注册商说，"很不巧，我们看到学生获得更大的成功，因为他们重修课程并且在后续内容做的更好或者掌握允许他们准时毕业的内容"
That said, there is a way in which grade forgiveness satisfies colleges’ own needs as well.
也就是说，分数等级款式也是满足大学自身需求的方法
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.
对于公共机构而言，国家基金有时会在毕业率和留学生率等指标上部分地取决于其成功率，因此，通过提高这样的数字，更好的成绩可以意味着更多的钱
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的事情都可能使学生（归根结底是要付账单）感到他们的学费已经获得了更高的价值，这是大学的又一个大问题
Indeed, grade forgiveness is just another way that universities are responding to consumers’ expectations for higher education.
的确，年级宽恕只是大学回应消费者对高等教育期望的另一种方式。
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.
由于学生和家长希望大学学位能胜任工作，因此学校选拔最合资格的毕业生或至少看起来合格的毕业生符合学校的最大利益
On this, students’ and colleges’ incentives seem to be aligned.
在这方面，学生和大学的激励机制看起来似乎是一致的