BEC阅读

为了让大家更好的准备商务英语BEC考试，小编给大家整理了BEC商务英语阅读材料,下面小编就和大家分享，来欣赏一下吧。

BEC阅读：上大学意义不大

As the price of higher education continues to rise through a shaky economic recovery, fewer Americans are considering college a good investment, especially compared to other needs for savings.

In a survey of 3,000 people, 63.5% said a college education is still a good financial investment for young adults given rising costs, compared to 79.1% last year and 80.9% in 2008. The declining sentiment is reflected across all age groups - 63.5% of those aged 18-29 said college is a good investment, compared to 76.7% last year. Just 61.5% of those over 65 years old said it is a good investment - 82.1% said the same in 2009.

A separate study released last month by Payscale, an online salary and compensation information company, ranked 852 institutions across the country by the colleges' returns on investment over 30 years.

The July priorities survey, released Tuesday by financial services group COUNTRY Financial, shows a shift in saving priorities through an uncertain economy.

Most Americans - 42.8% - said this year that saving for their own retirement was more important than saving for their child's college education, indicating an increase from last year's 40.7%. Consequently, the proportion of those who prioritized saving for their child's education decreased - to 40.7% this year from 47% last year. This year, 16.5% said they were not sure, marking the greatest uncertainty over the last four years.

'It's understandable why Americans are questioning how to prioritize college education and retirement funding, particularly with the skyrocketing costs in both areas. But with graduates likely to earn $1 million more in their lifetime than non-grads, college remains an important investment in a family's future despite the rising price tag,' said Keith Brannan, vice president of Financial Security Planning for COUNTRY Financial. 'The good news, however, is that people are putting their retirement savings first. You can always borrow to pay for college, but you can't borrow for retirement. With the proper planning, Americans can achieve their financial goals for both.'

This year's proportion of those who prioritize retirement savings, however, is in line with the 43% surveyed in 2007. There was least uncertainty in 2008, and 47.1% prioritized saving for their own retirement, the greatest proportion over the last four years.

Whereas those in the lower-income bracket tended to save for their child's education over their own retirement - 53.2% versus 23.8% for people making less than $20,000 - those on the other end who make more than $100,000 a year erred toward prioritizing retirement savings - 38% said saving for their child's education was more important, 52.5% prioritized retirement.

Almost 31% of those surveyed took out loans to pay for college, and 64.3% of those who borrowed have paid them off. Of those who took out loans, about half said their loans had little to no impact on life decisions like getting married, buying a home or saving for retirement.

But younger respondents reflected greater loan burdens. Of the 18-29 year-olds who took out loans, 40% said education loans have significantly impacted their life decisions, 37.7% have been somewhat impacted, and 14.4% have been affected, but not much. Just 7.9% said loans have not affected their decisions at all.

Younger Americans, however, were also most likely to say parents shouldn't have to pay for any college costs for their children. Of those ages 18-29, 15.2% said students should be the ones to pay for their own education. Across all age groups, more than half of the respondents said parents and children should share higher education costs.

BEC阅读：Science Fiction:‘A Princess of Mars’

Last week we broadcast the second of our programs called “A Princess of Mars.”The story is from a series of books by Edgar Rice Burroughs.

Last week we told how John Carter was captured by a group of warriors on the planet Mars.Later, he became one of them by defeating a huge warrior in a fight.He is still a captive, but he is treated with honor because he is a skilled fighter.We left John Carter at the beginning of a fierce battle between the green warriors and their main enemy.The enemy came close to the green Martians in huge air ships.The green Martians attacked. John Carter continutes to tell about what happens to him in Edgar Rice Burroughs’s story, “A Princess of Mars.”

JOHN CARTER:Another of the large air ships exploded high in the air. Members of the crew fell to the ground.The huge ship lost control and began turning again and again.

Soon it was close to the ground.The warriors climbed aboard the ship and began fighting the members of the crew who were still alive.Soon the fighting stopped.The warriors began taking everything from the ship.

At last, they brought a captive from deep within the ship.Two of the warriors had their captive by each arm. I wanted to see what new and strange form of life this creature would be.

As they came near, I saw that it was a woman.She looked like a woman from Earth.She was young.Her skin was a light red, almost a copper color.

I saw at once that she was extremely beautiful.She had a fine face with large dark eyes and long, black hair. As her guards led her away, she saw me for a moment.She seemed very surprised.Her face looked hopeful.But when I made no attempt to speak to her, her face grew sad and she looked very small and frightened.As I watched her disappear into a building, I realized that Sola was near me.

SOLA: John Carter, that woman will be saved for the great games that are held by our people.The games are long and cruel and end in death for those captured in battle.Her death will be slow and painful. She will die for the enjoyment of all.

JOHN CARTER: Sola’s face seemed sad when she said this.I could tell by the way she spoke that she did not like the games and did not want to see the young woman die.She was very different from the rest of her people.

Sola, do you not like the games?

SOLA: No, John Carter.My mother died in the games.That is a secret you must not tell anyone.The wall where Tars Tarkas found you held eggs that produce our young.All the children belong to the tribe.A mother never knows which child is hers when they come out of the egg.

My mother hid the egg that carried me.It was not placed within the walled area. She kept her secret until after I was born. But others discovered her secret and she was condemned to die in the games.She hid me among other children before she was captured.If this secret were learned, I too would die in the games.

Before she left me, my mother told me the name of my father.I alone keep that secret.It would mean death for him as well as me.My people are violent and cruel.

JOHN CARTER:The next day I entered the great room where the green Martians held meetings.The red woman prisoner was there too. Soon, the leader of the green Martians came into the room.His name was Lorquas Ptomel.He began speaking to the prisoner.

LORQUAS PTOMEL:Who are you and what is your name?

DEJAH THORIS: I am the Princess Dejah Thoris, daughter of Mors Kajak, the ruler of Helium. Our air ship was on a scientific flight.We were to study the air and atmosphere. Without our work the air on our planet would grow thin and we would all die. Why would you attack us?

JOHN CARTER: As she talked, a warrior ran to her and hit her in the face, knocking her to the ground.He placed a foot on her small body and began laughing.

I reached for the small sword I carried and rushed to attack the huge warrior.

(FIGHTING SOUNDS)

JOHN CARTER: He was a strong opponent.But again, because of the low gravity on Mars, my strength was far greater than his.In a few short minutes, the green warrior was dead.I helped the young woman to her feet.

DEJAH THORIS: Who are you?Why did you risk your life to help me?You look almost the same as my people, but you wear the weapons of a green warrior. Who… or what.. are you?

JOHN CARTER: My name is John Carter. I am from the planet Earth.How I got here is a long story.I attacked that warrior because, where I come from, men do not attack women.I will offer you my protection as long as I can.However, I must tell you that I, too, am a captive.

.　　SOLA: Come, John Carter, and bring the red woman with you.Let us leave this room quickly before some warrior attempts to stops us.

JOHN CARTER: The three of us quickly returned to the building where I had spent the last several days.Sola then left to prepare food.Woola sat in the corner and looked at the both of us.The young woman was afraid of poor, ugly Woola.

I told her not to fear him.You must tell no one, but Woola is not only my guard.He is my friend.I have treated him with kindness that he has never known.As each day passes, he trusts me more.I now think he would follow any command I give.

Sola has told me that all captives are held until they can die in the great games held by the green Martians. Our only chance to survive is to escape.But we must have Sola’s help for our plan to succeed.

DEJAH THORIS: Yes. If we stay with the green warriors, we will both die.If we are to escape, we will need several of the animals to ride.It would be our only chance.

JOHN CARTER: I have several of the animals.They were given to me when I became a warrior.

Sola came back later with food for the two of us.Dejah Thoris and I asked for her help.The three of us talked long into the night.At last Sola gave us her answer.

SOLA: Your best chance for escape will be in the next two days.We will leave this city tomorrow and begin a long trip to the home of our tribe.I will help you escape.But I must come with you.I will be killed if you escape.

DEJAH THORIS: Sola, of course you must come with us!You are not cruel or violent as many of your people are.Help us and I can promise you a much better life.You will be treated with respect as an honored guest.

JOHN CARTER: The next morning we rode away from the city on our animals.More than a thousand animals were carrying the huge tribe of green Martians.Also in the group were one American, one Princess of the Royal House of Helium, our guard, Sola, and poor ugly Woola.

Late that night we left the camp.One animal carried me.Another Sola and Princess Dejah Thoris.Woola followed close behind.

We rode quickly through the Martian night.I looked into the sky and saw Earth across the great distance of space.Since I had met the Princess Dejah Thoris, I had not thought once of Earth or home.I knew then that I would never willingly leave her.

The next morning, I could see that we were being followed by several hundred of the green warriors.Our animals were very tired.I knew we must stop.

I told Sola and the Princess to take the stronger of the two animals and ride away.I will hold back the green warriors as long as I can. Woola!Go with them and guard them with your life.

DEJAH THORIS: We can’t leave you alone. It would be certain death if you are captured again.You must come with us!

JOHN CARTER: Sola took the princess by the arm and lifted her on top of the animal she had chosen.Quickly she began riding away. For a moment, Woola looked at me, then turned and ran after them.

I took out my rifle from its case.I began firing to slow the green warriors.

I was able to slow them for more than an hour.But then I had no more ammunition.Soon I was surrounded.A green warrior got off his animal and came toward me.He pulled out his long, thin sword.I reached for mine.As we neared each other I saw it was Tars Tarkas.He stopped and spoke to me very slowly.

TARS TARKAS: You will die here… today… John Carter.It is I who must kill you.Know that I will take no pleasure in your death.

BOB DOUGHTY:You have been listening to the Special English program, American Stories.This has been the third program in our series “A Princess of Mars,” by Edgar Rice Burrows. This story was adapted for Special English by Paul Thompson. It was produced by Paul Thompson and Mario Ritter.

Shep O’Neal was the voice of John Carter.Steve Ember was Tars Tarkas. Barbara Klein was Sola. AndGwen Outen was the Princess Dejah Thoris.Join us again next week as we continue “A Princess of Mars,” in VOA Special English.

BEC阅读：How Will UN Court Affect Other

In February of two thousand eight, Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia. Now the top United Nations court says Kosovo's declaration was legal. Hisashi Owada, president of the International Court of Justice in The Hague, read the opinion.

HISASHI OWADA: "The court considers that general international law contains no applicable prohibition on declarations of independence."

Kosovo's Foreign Minister Skender Hyseni called the ruling on Thursday great news, and not just for Kosovo.

SKENDER HYSENI: "This is a great news for the peace and stability in the region of western Balkans. This is a great news for Europe."

Serbia had asked the court for its opinion. Now Serbia is sending diplomats to fifty-five countries. Their job: try to block efforts by Kosovo to gain further recognition.

Serbia's Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic says the ruling will not change his country’s position.

VUK JEREMIC: "Serbia will never under any circumstances recognize the unilateral declaration of independence of the so-called Republic of Kosovo."

Ian Bancroft is the co-founder of TransConflict, a humanitarian organization working in the western Balkans. Speaking from Belgrade, he said the ruling sends a message about international law.

IAN BANCROFT: "Therefore, any secessionist movement, no matter where it is in the world, will look towards this and gain some encouragement that they too can pursue this path."

But Kurt Volker, former American ambassador to NATO, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, is not so sure what will happen.

KURT VOLKER: "I don't think this is going to have that big an effect on either side, whether it's the states who want to maintain their territorial integrity against the aspirations of some of their own indigenous people or, for that matter, movements that want to seek their own independence and freedom."

Mr. Volker says "those desires are already going on," and will continue independent of the decision.

The judges on the International Court of Justice, sometimes called the World Court, voted ten to four. The ruling is non-binding; it does not have legal force.

Sixty-nine countries have already recognized Kosovo. These include the United States, Japan and most of the European Union.

Serbia's main ally Russia has recognized the self-declared independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia in Georgia. But Russia does not recognize Kosovo. Nor does another permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, China.

In Washington, the State Department welcomed the ruling. It urged Europe to "unite behind a common future." But spokesman P.J. Crowley said it is too soon to discuss withdrawing the NATO-led international security force in Kosovo.

Kosovo was a Serbian province that became a United Nations protectorate in nineteen ninety-nine. That followed seventy-eight days of NATO bombing against Serbia. The campaign ended a two-year war between Serbia and the ethnic Albanian majority in Kosovo.

The advisory opinion from the court will go to the United Nations General Assembly. A debate on Kosovo is expected in September.

On Friday, in a separate development, police in Kosovo arrested the head of the country's central bank. The arrest was part of a continuing series of corruption investigations of officials.

And that's IN THE NEWS in VOA Special English. What effect do you think the Kosovo ruling will have around the world? You can comment at voaspecialenglish.com or on Facebook and Twitter at VOA Learning English. I'm Steve Ember.