1Grade inflation – the gradual increase in average GPAs (grade-point averages) over the past few decades – is often considered a product of a consumer era in higher education, in which students are treated like customers to be pleased.
主干主语：Grade inflation；谓语：is often considered；宾语/补足语：a product of a consumer era in higher education
结构破折号之间是同位语，解释 grade inflation。主句为被动结构 be considered + 名词短语。in which 引导非限制性定语从句，修饰 a consumer era；从句中 like customers to be pleased 为方式状语，不定式被动 to be pleased 作后置定语修饰 customers。
译文成绩通胀——即过去几十年平均绩点的逐步上升——常被视为高等教育进入消费者时代的产物：在这个时代，学生被当作需要讨好的顾客来对待。
考点破折号同位语插入，阅读时先抓主干再回填解释 · in which 非限制性定语从句修饰抽象名词 era
2The use of this little-known practice has accelerated in recent years, as colleges continue to do their utmost to keep students in school (and paying tuition) and improve their graduation rates.
主干主语：The use of this little-known practice；谓语：has accelerated；状语：in recent years
结构as 引导原因状语从句。从句谓语 continue to do their utmost，后接两个并列不定式 to keep… and (to) improve…。括号 and paying tuition 是对 keep students in school 的补充说明，paying 与 in school 并列作宾补。
译文近年来，这一鲜为人知的做法加速推行，因为高校仍在竭尽全力留住学生（并让他们继续交学费），同时提高毕业率。
考点as 表原因而非时间 · do one’s utmost to do 后接并列不定式
3When this practice first started decades ago, it was usually limited to freshmen, to give them a second chance to take a class in their first year if they struggled in their transition to college-level courses.
主干主语：it（指 this practice）；谓语：was usually limited；介词宾语：to freshmen
结构When 引导时间状语从句。主句后不定式 to give… 作目的状语。give 后接双宾语 them a second chance；chance 后不定式 to take a class 作定语。if 引导条件状语从句，修饰 to take a class 这一行为。
译文几十年前这一做法刚出现时，通常仅限于大一新生，好让他们若在适应大学课程时遇到困难，能在第一年获得重修某门课的第二次机会。
考点目的状语不定式与 if 条件从句层层嵌套 · be limited to 后接名词
4College officials tend to emphasize that the goal of grade forgiveness is less about the grade itself and more about encouraging students to retake courses critical to their degree program and graduation without incurring a big penalty.
主干主语：College officials；谓语：tend to emphasize；宾语：that 从句（从句主语：the goal；系动词：is；表语：less about… and more about…）
结构that 引导宾语从句。从句用 less about A and more about B 对比结构。encouraging… 为动名词短语作 about 的宾语；critical to… 为后置形容词短语修饰 courses；without incurring… 为方式状语修饰 retake。
译文高校官员往往强调，成绩宽恕的目的与其说在分数本身，不如说是鼓励学生重修对学位和毕业至关重要的课程，而不必付出沉重代价。
考点less about… and more about… 对比结构 · critical to 后置定语修饰 courses
5And anything that raises GPAs will likely make students – who, at the end of the day, are paying the bill – feel they’ve gotten a better value for their tuition dollars, which is another big concern for colleges.
主干主语：anything that raises GPAs；谓语：will likely make；宾语：students；宾补：feel they’ve gotten…
结构that raises GPAs 为限制性定语从句修饰 anything。make + 宾语 + 不带 to 的不定式 feel 构成复合宾语。破折号内 who 引导非限制性定语从句插入。they’ve gotten… 为 feel 的宾语从句。which 引导非限制性定语从句，修饰前面整件“让学生觉得物有所值”这件事。
译文而且，任何能抬高绩点的做法，都很可能让学生——说到底是他们在买单——觉得学费花得更值，而这正是高校另一大关切。
考点make sb. feel + that 从句 · which 指代前面整个主句内容而非单一名词