【分析解答题】

Educators are seriously concerned about the high rate of dropouts among the doctor of philosophy candidates and the consequent loss of talent to a nation in need of PhDs. Some have placed the dropouts loss as high as 50 percent. The extent of the loss was, however, largely a matter of expert guessing. Last week a well-rounded study was published. It was based on 22,000 questionnaires sent to former graduate students who were enrolled in 24 universities and it seemed to show many past fears to be groundless.

The dropouts rate was found to be 31 per cent, and in most cases the dropouts, while not completing the PhD requirement, went on to productive work. They are not only doing well financially, but, according to the report, are not far below the income levels of those who went on to complete their doctorates.
Discussing the study last week, Dr. Tucker said the project was initiated “because of the concern frequently expressed by graduate faculties and administrators that some of the individuals who dropped out of PhD programs were capable of completing the requirement for the degree. Attrition at the PhD level is also thought to be a waste of precious faculty time and a drain on university resources already being used to capacity. Some people expressed the opinion that the shortage of highly trained specialists and college teachers could be reduced by persuading the dropouts to return to graduate schools to complete the PhD.”
“The results of our research”, Dr. Tucker concluded, “did not support these opinions.”
1. Lack of motivation was the principal reason for dropping out.
2. Most dropouts went as far in their doctoral program as was consistent with their levels of ability or their specialities.
3. Most dropouts are now engaged in work consistent with their education and motivation.
Nearly 75 per cent of the dropouts said there was no academic reason for their decision, but those who mentioned the academic reason cited failure to pass the qualifying examination, uncompleted research and failure to pass language exams. Among the single most important personal reasons identified by dropouts for non-completion of their PhD program, lack of finances was marked by 19 per cent.
As an indication of how well the dropouts were doing, a chart showed 2% in humanities were receiving $ 20,000 and more annually while none of the PhD' s with that background reached this figure. The PhD’s shone in the $ 7,500 to $ 15,000 bracket with 78% at that level against 50% for the dropouts. This may also be an indication of the fact that top salaries in the academic fields, where the PhD' s tend to rise to the highest salaries, are still lagging behind other fields.
As to the possibility of getting dropouts back on campus, the outlook was glum. The main condition which would have to prevail for at least 25 % of the dropouts who might consider returning to the graduate school would be to guarantee that they would retain their present level of income and in some cases their present job.
1. The author states that many educators feel that_________
A. steps should be taken to get the dropouts back to campus
B. the dropouts should return to a lower quality school to continue their study
C. the PhD holder is generally a better adjusted person than the dropout
D. the high dropouts rate is largely attributable to the lack of stimulation on the part of faculty members
2. Research has shown that__________
A. dropouts are substantially below PhD's in financial attainment
B. the incentive factor is a minor one in regard to pursuing PhD studies
C. the PhD candidate is likely to change his field of specialization if he drops out
D. about one-third of those who start PhD work do not complete the work to earn the degree
3. Meeting foreign language requirements for the PhD_________
A. is the most frequent reason for dropping out
B. is more difficult for the science candidate than for the humanities candidate
C. is an essential part of many PhD programs
D. does not vary in difficulty among universities
4. After reading the article, one would refrain from concluding that_________
A. optimism reigns in regard to getting PhD dropouts to return to their pursuit of the degree
B. a PhD dropout, by and large, does not have what it takes to. learn the degree
C. colleges and universities employ a substantial number of PhD dropouts
D. the PhD' s are not earning what they deserve in nonacademic .positions
5. It can be inferred that the high rate of dropouts lies in_________
A. the too low salary for PhD
B. the too rigid academic requirement
C. the too high salary for dropouts
D. 1000 positions