295. Though there can be strength in diversity, a new international analysis suggests that this variability has instead contributed to lackluster（平淡的）achievement scores by U.S. children relative to their peers in other developed countries.
译文 尽管多样化可能存在其优点，但一项新的国际分析报告表明，与其他发达国家的同龄人相比，这种多样性反过来会导致美国儿童的学习成绩平平。
点睛 本句的主干是...a new international analysis suggests that...。though引导的是让步状语从句；that引导的宾语从句that this variability has instead...developed countries作suggests的宾语，relative to their peers in other developed countries表比较。
strength在句中意为“长处，优点”，相当于advantage，该词还有“坚强”之意。如：
I hadn't enough strength of mind to refuse the temptation. 我的意志力不够坚强，无法拒绝诱惑。
relative意为“相对，比较”。如：
Let's make a relative study of the two languages. 让我们将这两种语言作一下比较研究。
考点归纳 以下是instead的用法总结。
用作副词，指“取而代之；反而”，位于句首时用逗号隔开，instead在顺接句子中作“代替”讲，而在转折句子中作“然而”讲。如：
Blair is on holiday, so I do his job instead. 布莱尔在度假，所以我代他完成工作。
Her son doesn't study at all. Instead, he plays video games all day. 她儿子根本不肯读书，相反，他整天玩电子游戏。
Linda isn't here. Ask her mother instead. 琳达不在这儿，去问她妈妈吧。（注意当instead出现在祈使句中时，只能位于句尾）
和of构成短语instead of，两者意思相似，但instead of后可接名词、动名词和各种名词性短语或表达，以及代词、形容词和介词短语等。如：
Instead of making progress, her study seems to be going backwards. 她的学习不但没有进步，实际上像是在倒退。（接动名词）
I will go to the party instead of her. 我将替她赴宴。（接代词）
The weather is better instead of worse. 天气是更好了，而不是更坏了。（接形容词）
We went traveling by train instead of by plane. 我们没乘飞机而是坐火车去旅行。（接介词短语）
