[originaltext] Teenagers who do better than expected in their A-levels have l

Teenagers who do better than expected in their A-levels have little chance of getting into leading universities under a new government system. Universities and political opponents said that the “adjustment-period” introduced this year was ineffective since many desirable courses were already full. (1) The five-day period is supposed to give school-leavers with higher than expected grades the chance to “trade up” to popular courses or prestigious universities, without losing their first-choice place. More than 50,000 extra people have applied to university this year, but there are only 13,000 more full-time undergraduate places. Those who are unfairly marked down in A-level exams could lose their place, even if they successfully appeal and later get a higher grade. Some courses are closed to British applicants even though they still have places for foreign students. (2) This is because of financial reasons the government restricts the number of British students that universities can recruit. Overseas students pay higher fees and do not receive the grants or subsidized loans available to home students. It is no doubt that (3) ministers have sown the seeds of failure for their own policy, as some people from university comment. The officers tell people they can trade up when there are a record number of applicants, but universities are already at risk of being fined for over-recruitment, which is a recipe for disaster. So the adjustment period was actually a trial, and it will raise questions about its future.
1. What’s the supposed function of the “adjustment-period”?
2. Why does the government limit the recruit number of British students?
3. What can be inferred from the passage?