参考答案

正确答案：C
解析：根据题干关键词American's，higher education定位到原文第二段第一句：The decentralization, diversity, academic freedom and shared governance that have evolved over the past two centuries have made America's system of higher education one of the most accessible and democratic in the world. 权力分散、多样性、学术自由和共同管理的特点使得美国高等教育体系成为世界上最易接受、最民主的高校体系。故C)项“多样性和学术自由的特点”符合题意。