For the past 10 years, the number of Chinese students at U.S. universities has been rising. But university officials are starting to see a sharp drop in Chinese students.

Several universities have reported drops of 20 percent or more this autumn at the start of a new school term.

To get more international students, some schools are advertising in other countries and working to keep the number of Chinese students they have.

U.S. colleges and universities need the money paid by students from China and other countries. International students usually pay the whole tuition amount, unlike American students, many of whom ask for financial aid.

University officials and observers say there are several reasons for the falling numbers of Chinese students. They include trade conflicts and political tensions between China and the United States. There also is increasing competition for college students, visa issues and the growth of China's higher education system.

At Bentley University in Massachusetts, the number of new Chinese students arriving for graduate level work dropped from 110 last autumn to 70. As a result, Bentley officials are wondering whether all of its graduate programs can survive.

"I wouldn't describe it as catastrophically bad," said the university's president, Alison Davis-Blake. She added that the university has tried to get more students from other countries as well as from inside the United States.

Large decreases in Chinese students also have been reported this autumn at the University of Vermont, which reported a 23 percent decrease. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln had a 20 percent decrease.

China sends more students to study in the United States than any other country. Its 363,000 students represent more than 30 percent of all international students at U.S. universities.

Parents and students in China share concerns with those in other countries about American gun violence as well as immigration issues. In May, the group NAFSA: Association of International Educators identified two main reasons for falling numbers of international students who want to study in the United States: the difficulty of getting a visa, and the social and political environment in the United States.

But there are also problems that affect only Chinese students. The Trump administration has accused China of stealing U.S. intellectual property. It is looking very closely at Chinese students who ask for visas to study robotics, flight and high-tech manufacturing.

In June, China warned students and other visitors to the United States about possible difficulties in getting U.S. visas.

Xiong Xiong is an electrical engineering student at Beijing Jiaotong University. He said he hopes to study at a U.S. university. But he is worried about the visa process, so he plans to ask to study in Britain. "I'm concerned my visa will be affected," he said.

Brad Farnsworth is vice president for international global engagement at the American Council on Education. He said that his recent travels in China suggest the claims of economic espionage are making some students think they are not welcome.

"The concern is a Chinese student will be met with animosity about why they are in the United States," he said.

International students add an estimated $39 billion to the U.S. economy.

Normally, over 5,000 Chinese students are in the colleges of engineering and business at the University of Illinois. The university recently took an insurance policy that will pay it $60 million if the money from Chinese students drops by 20 percent.

Lehigh University in Pennsylvania announced this month it has agreed to pay a recruiter to help bring in more students from India. It also has been taking more interest in African countries south of the Sahara Desert, said Lehigh's Cheryl Matherly.

Like many other American universities, Lehigh has begun sending employees to Beijing and Shanghai to meet with Chinese students and their parents. The employees want to ease Chinese fears about studying in the U.S. and show that their university wants Chinese students.

I'm Jonathan Evans.

Adapted from http://www.kekenet.com/broadcast/201909/595669.shtml

1. catastrophe n. a sudden event that causes many people to suffer 灾难；灾祸；横祸。例如：Early warnings of rising water levels prevented another major catastrophe. 提前发出的洪水水位上涨警报防止了又一次的重大灾害。

2. espionage n. (不可数名词) the activity of secretly getting important political or military information about another country or of finding out another company's secrets by using spies 间谍活动；谍报活动；刺探活动。例如：

 Some of the commercial activities were a cover for espionage. 有些商业活动是为间谍活动提供掩护。

 She may call it research; I call it industrial espionage. 她可以称之为研究，可我称它为产业情报刺探。

3. animosity n. animosity (toward(s) sb. / sth.) | animosity (between A and B) a strong feeling of opposition, anger or hatred 仇恨；愤怒；敌意；憎恶。例如：

 He felt no animosity towards his critics. 他对批评他的人并不心怀怨恨。

 personal animosities between members of the two groups 两个集团成员之间的私仇

(Q1) According to the University officials and observers, what are the reasons for the falling numbers of Chinese students?

(Q2) Who are wondering whether all of its graduate programs can survive?

(Q3) What do the parents and students in China and other countries worry about?

For the past 10 years, the number of Chinese students at U.S. universities has been rising. But university officials are starting to see (Q1) __________________ in Chinese students.

Several universities have reported drops of (Q2) ___________________ this autumn at the start of a new school term.

To (Q3) ______________________________________, some schools are advertising in other countries and working to keep the number of Chinese students they have.

U.S. colleges and universities need the money paid by students from China and other countries. International students usually pay (Q4) ______________________, unlike American students, many of whom ask for (Q5) ______________________.

University officials and observers say there are several reasons for the falling numbers of Chinese students. They include (Q6) _______________________ between China and the United States. There also is (Q7) ______________________ for college students, (Q8) _________________ and the growth of China's higher education system.

At Bentley University in Massachusetts, the number of new Chinese students arriving for graduate level work dropped from 110 last autumn to 70. As a result, Bentley officials are wondering whether all of its (Q9) _________________________ can survive.

"I wouldn't describe it as catastrophically bad," said the university's president, Alison Davis-Blake. She added that the university has tried to (Q10) _________________________________ from other countries as well as from inside the United States.

Large decreases in Chinese students also have been reported this autumn at the University of Vermont, which reported a 23 percent decrease. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln had a 20 percent decrease.

China sends more students to study in the United States than any other country. Its 363,000 students represent more than (Q11) ________________ of all international students at U.S. universities.

Parents and students in China share concerns with those in other countries about (Q12) __________________ as well as (Q13) __________________________. In May, the group NAFSA: Association of International Educators identified two main reasons for falling numbers of international students who want to study in the United States: the difficulty of (Q14) _____________, and the (Q15) ________________________________________ in the United States.

But there are also problems that affect only Chinese students. The Trump administration has accused China of stealing U.S. (Q16) ______________________________. It is looking very closely at Chinese students who ask for visas to study robotics, flight and high-tech manufacturing.

In June, China warned students and other visitors to the United States about possible difficulties in (Q17) _____________________________.

Xiong Xiong is an electrical engineering student at Beijing Jiaotong University. He said he hopes to study at a U.S. university. But he is worried about the visa process, so he plans to ask to study in Britain. "I'm concerned my visa will be affected," he said.

Brad Farnsworth is vice president for international global engagement at the American Council on Education. He said that his recent travels in China suggest the claims of economic espionage are making some students think they are not welcome.

"The concern is a Chinese student will be met with animosity about why they are in the United States," he said.

International students add an estimated $39 billion to the U.S. economy.

Normally, over 5,000 Chinese students are in the colleges of (Q18) __________________________ at the University of Illinois. The university recently took an insurance policy that will pay it $60 million if the money from Chinese students drops by 20 percent.

Lehigh University in Pennsylvania announced this month it has agreed to pay a (Q19) ___________ to help bring in more students from India. It also has been taking more interest in African countries south of the Sahara Desert, said Lehigh's Cheryl Matherly.

Like many other American universities, Lehigh has begun sending employees to Beijing and Shanghai to meet with Chinese students and their parents. The employees want to (Q20) __________________________________ about studying in the U.S. and show that their university wants Chinese students.

I'm Jonathan Evans.

(Q1) They include trade conflicts and political tensions between China and the United States. There 

also is increasing competition for college students, visa issues and the growth of China's higher 

education system. (命题出处) University officials and observers say there are several reasons for 

the falling numbers of Chinese students. They include trade conflicts and political tensions between 

China and the United States. There also is increasing competition for college students, visa issues and 

the growth of China's higher education system.

(Q2) Bentley officials (命题出处) At Bentley University in Massachusetts, the number of new

Chinese students arriving for graduate level work dropped from 110 last autumn to 70. As a result, 

Bentley officials are wondering whether all of its graduate programs can survive.

(Q3) American gun violence and immigration issues (命题出处) Parents and students in China share 

concerns with those in other countries about American gun violence as well as immigration issues.

For the past 10 years, the number of Chinese students at U.S. universities has been rising. But university officials are starting to see (Q1) a sharp drop in Chinese students.

Several universities have reported drops of (Q2) 20 percent or more this autumn at the start of a new school term.

To (Q3) get more international students, some schools are advertising in other countries and working to keep the number of Chinese students they have.

U.S. colleges and universities need the money paid by students from China and other countries. International students usually pay (Q4) the whole tuition amount, unlike American students, many of whom ask for (Q5) financial aid.

University officials and observers say there are several reasons for the falling numbers of Chinese students. They include (Q6) trade conflicts and political tensions between China and the United States. There also is (Q7) increasing competition for college students, (Q8) visa issues and the growth of China's higher education system.

At Bentley University in Massachusetts, the number of new Chinese students arriving for graduate level work dropped from 110 last autumn to 70. As a result, Bentley officials are wondering whether all of its (Q9) graduate programs can survive.

"I wouldn't describe it as catastrophically bad," said the university's president, Alison Davis-Blake. She added that the university has tried to (Q10) get more students from other countries as well as from inside the United States.

Large decreases in Chinese students also have been reported this autumn at the University of Vermont, which reported a 23 percent decrease. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln had a 20 percent decrease.

China sends more students to study in the United States than any other country. Its 363,000 students represent more than (Q11) 30 percent of all international students at U.S. universities.

Parents and students in China share concerns with those in other countries about (Q12) American gun violence as well as (Q13) immigration issues. In May, the group NAFSA: Association of International Educators identified two main reasons for falling numbers of international students who want to study in the United States: the difficulty of (Q14) getting a visa, and the (Q15) social and political environment in the United States.

But there are also problems that affect only Chinese students. The Trump administration has accused China of stealing U.S. (Q16) intellectual property. It is looking very closely at Chinese students who ask for visas to study robotics, flight and high-tech manufacturing.

In June, China warned students and other visitors to the United States about possible difficulties in (Q17) getting U.S. visas.

Xiong Xiong is an electrical engineering student at Beijing Jiaotong University. He said he hopes to study at a U.S. university. But he is worried about the visa process, so he plans to ask to study in Britain. "I'm concerned my visa will be affected," he said.

Brad Farnsworth is vice president for international global engagement at the American Council on Education. He said that his recent travels in China suggest the claims of economic espionage are making some students think they are not welcome.

"The concern is a Chinese student will be met with animosity about why they are in the United States," he said.

International students add an estimated $39 billion to the U.S. economy.

Normally, over 5,000 Chinese students are in the colleges of (Q18) engineering and business at the University of Illinois. The university recently took an insurance policy that will pay it $60 million if the money from Chinese students drops by 20 percent.

Lehigh University in Pennsylvania announced this month it has agreed to pay a (Q19) recruiter to help bring in more students from India. It also has been taking more interest in African countries south of the Sahara Desert, said Lehigh's Cheryl Matherly.

Like many other American universities, Lehigh has begun sending employees to Beijing and Shanghai to meet with Chinese students and their parents. The employees want to (Q20) ease Chinese fears about studying in the U.S. and show that their university wants Chinese students.

I'm Jonathan Evans.