Cyree Beckett is a junior at the University of District of Columbia studying Electrical Engineering. I chose STEM because it seemed to be the right path for me, based off of my family values. It’s the really the best way to go in terms of gaining an education and doing something relevant in the world. Unlike Beckett, most American Students of his age prefer to study anything but STEM: science, technology, engineering and math. According to a recent report by Forbes, STEM departments in U.S. colleges have plenty of students, but many are foreign, and education experts worried not enough are Americans. American University’s director of graduate teacher education program Carolyn Parker says, images that portray scientists and mathematicians as nerds discouraged teenagers at a time of life when self-image is important.

They don’t entice students to want to become involved. There’s a, there’s you look at programs like the Big Bang Theory and you know scientists are nerds. To recruit more American students in STEM fields, the White House five-year strategic plan tries to remove social and financial barriers to a rewarding education and technical fields. University of District of Columbia’s Engineering School’s Dean Devdas Shetty believes many students avoid STEM, because they think they have better options. They see opportunities in sports, opportunities in philosophy or history or arts, and they see examples of people excelling the TV influences a lot. Parker believes that to compete with countries like China and India, the country needs to encourage STEM education at young age. Make sure that students from the time they’re in early childhood to elementary school to middle school to high school through college and going out into higher education, and the workforce have strong and, and positive STEM experiences, so that we can remain competitive with countries like China and India. 

Cyree Beckett believes that support and encouragement from his family is what pushed him to choose STEM, and it is something he wishes for every student selecting a field of study.

For Sahar Majid in Washington. This is Bezhan Hamdard, VOA News.

Adapted from http://www.kekenet.com/broadcast/201903/580125.shtml

1. in terms of: in terms of sth. | in…terms: used to show what aspect of a subject you are talking about or how you are thinking about it 谈及；就…而言；在…方面。例如：

The job is great in terms of salary, but it has its disadvantages. 就薪金而言，这个工作倒是挺不错的，但也有一些不利之处。

The decision was disastrous in political terms. 从政治上来看，这个决定是灾难性的。

He's talking in terms of starting a completely new career. 他正在谈论开创全新的事业。

In terms of cost - how much were you thinking of charging? 说到费用，你们想要多少？

2. nerds n. a person who is boring, stupid and not fashionable 令人厌烦的人；愚蠢的人；落伍的人

3. entice v. (usually + 副词或介词短语) entice sb. (into doing sth.) to persuade sb./sth. to go somewhere or to do sth., usually by offering them sth. 诱使；引诱。

 (动词 + 名词短语) 例如：

The bargain prices are expected to entice customers away from other stores. 低廉的价格意在把顾客从其他商店吸引过来。

The animal refused to be enticed from its hole. 那只动物怎么引诱也不肯出洞。

(动词 + 名词短语 + 带to的不定式) 例如：Try and entice the child to eat by offering small portions of their favourite food. 给孩子少许爱吃的食物，设法诱使他们吃饭。

(派生词) enticement n. (可数名词, 不可数名词) 例如：The party is offering low taxation as its main enticement. 这个党正提出低税收，以此作为其主要的诱人举措。

4. excel v. (单独使用的动词) excel (in/at sth./at doing sth.) to be very good at doing sth. 擅长；善于；突出。例如：

She has always excelled in foreign languages. 她的外语从来都是出类拔萃。

The team excels at turning defence into attack. 这个队善于打防守反击。

As a child he excelled at music and art. 他小时候擅长音乐和美术。

(A) Science, technology, engineering and math.  

(B) Science, technology, entertainment and math.  

(C) Science, technology, engineering and merchandise.   

(D) Science, technology, entertainment and merchandise.

(A) To remove social and financial barriers to a rewarding education and engineering fields.

(B) To remove social and financial barriers to a rewarding education and science fields.

(C) To remove social and financial barriers to a rewarding education and technical fields.

(D) To remove social and financial barriers to a rewarding education and math fields.

(A) It’s very boring to study STEM.

(B) It’s difficult to realize the American dream if a person studies STEM.

(C) They try to avoid STEM because the subjects are difficult to study.

(D) They think they have better options except STEM.

(A) Support and encouragement from his teachers.

(B) Support and encouragement from his family.

(C) Support and encouragement from his friends.

(D) Support and encouragement from the government.

(Q1) A。细节题。命题出处：Unlike Beckett, most American Students of his age prefer to study anything but STEM: science, technology, engineering and math.

(Q2) C。细节题。命题出处：To recruit more American students in STEM fields, the White House five-year strategic plan tries to remove social and financial barriers to a rewarding education and technical fields.

(Q3) D。细节题。命题出处：University of District of Columbia’s Engineering School’s Dean Devdas Shetty believes many students avoid STEM, because they think they have better options.

(Q4) B。细节题。命题出处：Cyree Beckett believes that support and encouragement from his family is what pushed him to choose STEM, and it is something he wishes for every student selecting a field of study.