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More students than ever before are taking a gap-year (间隔年)before going to university. It used to be called the “year off” between school and university. The gap-year phenomenon originated(起源) with the months left over to Oxbridge applicants between entrance exams in November and the start of the next academic year.
现在比以往任何时候都多的学生，在他们去上大学前，会休整一年。以前高中毕业和上大学期间的这一年被称为“年假”。“空档年”现象起源于申请剑桥的学生在十一月入学考试和下一学年之间的几个月的空档期。
This year, 25,310 students who have accepted places in higher education institutions have put off their entry until next year, according to statistics on university entrance provided by University and College Admissions Service(UCAS).
由“大学和学院招生服务中心”提供的关于大学入学的统计数据表明，今年，25310名即将走进大学校园的学生推迟了入学时间到第二年。
That is a record 14.7% increase in the number of students taking a gap year. Tony Higgins from UCAS said that the statistics are good news for everyone in higher education. “Students who take a well-planned year out are more likely to be satisfied with, and complete, their chosen course. Students who take a gap year are often more mature and responsible,” he said.
这一数字创纪录地增长了百分之14.7%。UCAS的托尼说这一数字对于高等教育的每个人来说都是好消息。“制定一个详细规划空挡年的学生更容易感到满足，更能完成他们所选择的课程。选择空档年的学生往往更加的成熟和尽责。”他说。
But not everyone is happy. Owain James, the president of the National Union of Students(NUS), argued that the increase is evidence of student hardship – young people are being forced into earning money before finishing their education.
但是不是每个人对此都感到高兴。欧文，全国学生联合会的主席，认为这个数字的增长证明了学生的困境---在完成他们的教育之前，年轻人正在被迫去挣钱。
“New students are now aware that they are likely to leave university up to ￡15,000 in debt. It is not surprising that more and more students are taking a gap year to earn money to support their study for the degree. NUS statistics show that over 40% of students are forced to work during term time and the figure increases to 90% during vacation periods,” he said.
“新生现在意识到他们在大学毕业时，很可能已经负债15000英镑了。越来越多的学生选择休整一年去挣钱来支持他们修完学位就不足为奇了。NUS研究数据表明40%多的学生在学期期间就不得不去打工，在假期间打工的学生数占比增加到90%”他说。
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