Harvard professor Harvey Mansfield stirred up controversy recently by criticizing the violent grade inflation at his institution, stating, 'I was told that the most frequently given grade at Harvard right now is an A-.' A recent【C1】______of 200 colleges and universities also found that more than 40 percent of all grades awarded were in the A range. Some argue that these inflated grades are【C2】______for the competitive job market, but at the national level it is a negative-sum game that【C3】______serious costs on society. Because grades are【C4】______at A or A+, grade inflation results in a greater concentration of students at the【C5】______of the distribution. This【C6】______of grades diminishes their value as a(n) 【C7】______of student abilities. There is also evidence that【C8】______grading reduces student effort. As giving low grades puts students at a disadvantage【C9】______to their peers, professors face strong【C10】______to award inflated grades. 【C11】______universities need to take steps to bring it under【C12】______. Recently, some universities have experimented with【C13】______information about the grade distribution for each course either online or on student transcripts. So, if employers are aware that grades in a particular course were high, they might be less【C14】______with the students who earned those grades. Thus, students might seek out tougher courses,【C15】______professors to offer such courses in【C16】______. The administration of Princeton issued a【C17】______that no more than 35 percent of grades awarded in undergraduate courses should be in the A range. These steps may not be【C18】______with students and professors, but its necessary to prevent higher education from【C19】______into Lake Wobegon— 'where... all the children are above【C20】______.' 【C1】