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More students than ever before are taking a gap-year (間隔年)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.
現在比以往任何時候都多的學生，在他們去上大學前，會休整一年。以前高中畢業和上大學期間的這一年被稱為“年假”。“空檔年”現象起源於申請劍橋的學生在十一月入學考試和下一學年之間的幾個月的空檔期。
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“大學和學院招生服務中心”提供的關於大學入學的統計數據表明，今年，25310名即將走進大學校園的學生推遲了入學時間到第二年。
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.
這一數字創紀錄地增長了百分之14.7%。UCAS的託尼說這一數字對於高等教育的每個人來說都是好消息。“制定一個詳細規劃空擋年的學生更容易感到滿足，更能完成他們所選擇的課程。選擇空檔年的學生往往更加的成熟和盡責。”他說。
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.
但是不是每個人對此都感到高興。歐文，全國學生聯合會的主席，認為這個數字的增長證明了學生的困境---在完成他們的教育之前，年輕人正在被迫去掙錢。
“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.
“新生現在意識到他們在大學畢業時，很可能已經負債15000英鎊了。越來越多的學生選擇休整一年去掙錢來支持他們修完學位就不足為奇了。NUS研究數據表明40%多的學生在學期期間就不得不去打工，在假期間打工的學生數佔比增加到90%”他說。
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