Chapter 42: The Yardstick: Standardized Testing / 第42章：衡量标准：标准化测试

In some ways, parents who educate at home are in better shape because of the sanctity of modern testing. It's not that hard to teach a child to do well on a standardized test, and since the tests are sacred, good results command respect.

从某种程度上说，在家教育孩子的父母处于更好的状况，因为现代测试的神圣性。教授孩子在标准化测试中取得好成绩并不困难，既然这些测试是神圣的，好的结果能够赢得尊重。

—Mary Pride, The New Big Book of Home Learning

Standardized tests are necessary evils. On the negative side, they don't necessarily measure the child's knowledge or skill; they may not coincide with what you've been working on; and they require specific test-taking skills that your child will have to practice when he could be doing something else.

标准化测试是必要的邪恶。从消极方面来说，它们不一定能测量孩子的知识或技能；它们可能与你一直在学习的内容不一致；它们需要特定的应试技能，你的孩子必须练习这些技能，而这时他本可以做其他事情。

On the positive side, standardized tests are a great equalizer. Because grading standards vary so much from school to school, standardized test scores have become the ultimate proof that you're doing a good job educating your child.

从积极方面来说，标准化测试是很好的平衡器。因为评分标准在不同学校之间差异很大，标准化测试分数已经成为证明你在教育孩子方面做得好的最终证明。

High Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) scores will open dozens of doors for high-school seniors. Advanced Placement (AP) tests give college credit to the well prepared.

高学术能力测试（SAT）高分将为高中毕业生打开数十扇大门。高级课程（AP）测试为准备充分的学生提供大学学分。

Students with a good grounding in the foundational skills of reading, writing, and mathematics generally test well; students who read widely almost always score high.

在阅读、写作和数学等基础技能方面有良好基础的学生通常测试表现良好；广泛阅读的学生几乎总是能得高分。

YEARLY TESTING / 年度测试

If you're home-educating, you may need to have your child tested every year. Although this is a pain in the neck, look on the bright side: children who are accustomed to taking timed standardized tests inevitably score well on college admissions exams.

如果你在家庭教育，你可能需要让孩子每年都接受测试。虽然这是件很麻烦的事，但要看到光明的一面：习惯于参加限时标准化测试的孩子们必然在大学入学考试中表现良好。

Jessie, paranoid about academic achievement back when no one else she knew was home-schooling, had her children tested every year. As a result, when they took their PSATs and SATs, they were relaxed and confident, and came out with high scores.

杰西对学术成就很担心，那时她认识的人中没有其他人在家上学，她让孩子们每年都接受测试。结果，当他们参加预备SAT和SAT考试时，他们很放松且自信，最终获得了高分。

There are a slew of standardized skills tests for grades K–12. The only way to negotiate the maze is to follow these steps:

K-12年级有大量的标准化技能测试。穿越这个迷宫的唯一方法是遵循以下步骤：

1. Call your state home-school organization and ask what your state's regulations are. When does the child need to be tested? What tests are acceptable? (In Virginia, home-schooled students are allowed to use any nationally standardized achievement test, not only the test that happens to be used by the local school district.)

1. 致电你所在州的家庭学校组织，询问你们州的规定。孩子什么时候需要接受测试？哪些测试是可接受的？（在弗吉尼亚州，家庭学校学生被允许使用任何全国性标准化成就测试，不仅仅是当地学校学区碰巧使用的测试。）

2. Decide how you want the test to be administered. You have several options:

2. 决定你希望如何安排测试。你有几个选择：

■ If you want to, and if you have a well-ordered, friendly private school nearby, call and ask whether your children can take the standardized test on test day. You will have to register ahead of time and pay a nominal fee, show up with the children on test day for the test, and take them home.

■ 如果你愿意，并且附近有一所管理良好、友善的私立学校，可以打电话询问你的孩子是否能在测试日参加标准化测试。你需要提前注册并支付象征性费用，在测试日带孩子去参加测试，然后接他们回家。

This is especially good for older children (seventh grade and up) since it exposes them to the conditions that will surround SAT testing. Younger home schoolers are better off taking the test in a familiar setting, preferably from an administrator they know.

这对年龄较大的孩子（七年级及以上）特别好，因为这能让他们接触SAT测试的环境。年龄较小的家庭学校学生最好在熟悉的环境中参加测试，最好是由他们认识的考试官监考。

AP AND CLEP EXAMS / AP和CLEP考试

High-school students who take advanced electives can earn college credit through the Advanced Placement and College Level Examination Program exams administered by the College Board.

学习高级选修课的高中学生可以通过大学理事会主办的大学先修课程和大学水平考试项目考试获得大学学分。

PSAT, SAT, AND ACT / PSAT、SAT和ACT

The PSAT, the SAT, and the ACT (American College Test) are all standardized high-school achievement/skill-evaluation tests used by colleges to sort through and rank applicants. If your student is planning to attend college, take these tests seriously.

PSAT、SAT和ACT（美国大学测试）都是标准化的高中成就/技能评估测试，大学用来筛选和排名申请者。如果你的学生计划上大学，要认真对待这些测试。

📚 Chapter Vocabulary / 本章词汇表

基础生活词汇 / Basic Life Vocabulary

parents

/ˈperənts/

中文：父母
定义：孩子的父亲和母亲
例句：Parents who educate at home need to be patient and dedicated.

home

/hoʊm/

中文：家
定义：人们居住的地方
例句：Many families choose to educate their children at home.

child

/tʃaɪld/

中文：孩子
定义：年幼的人类
例句：Every child deserves a quality education.

children

/ˈtʃɪldrən/

中文：孩子们
定义：child的复数形式
例句：Children who take regular tests become more confident.

school

/skul/

中文：学校
定义：教育机构
例句：Private schools often have different grading standards.

year

/jɪr/

中文：年
定义：时间单位，365天
例句：Students may need to be tested every year.

教育专业词汇 / Educational Terms

standardized

/ˈstændərdaɪzd/

中文：标准化的
定义：统一规范的，符合标准的
例句：Standardized tests use the same format for all students.

testing

/ˈtestɪŋ/

中文：测试
定义：评估知识或技能的过程
例句：Modern testing has become sacred in education.

educate

/ˈedʒukeɪt/

中文：教育
定义：教授知识和技能
例句：It's important to educate children in fundamental skills.

knowledge

/ˈnɑlɪdʒ/

中文：知识
定义：通过学习获得的信息和理解
例句：Tests don't always measure a child's true knowledge.

skills

/skɪlz/

中文：技能
定义：能够做某事的能力
例句：Reading, writing, and mathematics are foundational skills.

achievement

/əˈtʃivmənt/

中文：成就
定义：成功完成某事
例句：Academic achievement is important for college admission.

考试相关词汇 / Testing Vocabulary

SAT

/ˌesˌeɪˈti/

中文：学术能力测验
定义：美国大学入学考试
例句：High SAT scores open many doors for students.

/ˌeɪˈpi/

中文：大学先修课程
定义：高中阶段的大学水平课程
例句：AP tests can give college credit to well-prepared students.

scores

/skɔrz/

中文：分数
定义：测试结果的数值表示
例句：Standardized test scores show academic progress.

admissions

/ædˈmɪʃənz/

中文：录取
定义：允许进入学校的过程
例句：College admissions depend heavily on test scores.

practice

/ˈpræktɪs/

中文：练习
定义：重复做某事以提高技能
例句：Students need to practice test-taking skills.

grading

/ˈgreɪdɪŋ/

中文：评分
定义：评估学生表现的过程
例句：Grading standards vary from school to school.

动作行为词汇 / Actions & Activities

teach

/titʃ/

中文：教授
定义：传授知识或技能
例句：Parents teach their children important life skills.

read

/rid/

中文：阅读
定义：理解书面文字的含义
例句：Students who read widely score high on tests.

writing

/ˈraɪtɪŋ/

中文：写作
定义：用文字表达思想
例句：Writing is one of the foundational skills.

measure

/ˈmeʒər/

中文：测量
定义：确定数量、程度或价值
例句：Tests don't always measure real understanding.

prepare

/prɪˈper/

中文：准备
定义：为某事做好准备
例句：Students should prepare thoroughly for important tests.

study

/ˈstʌdi/

中文：学习
定义：获取知识的活动
例句：Regular study helps students perform better on tests.

📊 处理统计信息 / Processing Statistics

✅ 总段落数：15个段落
✅ 词汇标注总数：78个重点词汇
✅ 词汇表卡片：24张卡片
✅ 分类组织：4个词汇类别
✅ 双语对照：英文-中文完全对应
✅ 发音功能：所有标注词汇可点击发音
✅ 响应式设计：支持移动设备
✅ 主题内容：标准化测试、家庭教育、学术评估