A “Gap Year” is a period of time when a student takes a break before going to university. It is often spent travelling or working. It can give young people useful learning experiences and new skills.
Gap years are popular with European and Australian students, but remain less popular in America. However, in recent years, more and more American students are preparing for college by taking a gap year. The advantages of taking a gap year are as follows：
Learn about the World and Yourself
Although you don’t have to go abroad to experience gap years, most gap year students catch the chance to travel abroad. You are able to work out who you are and what you are for. The experiences of different cultures offer you interesting lessons. You can learn more about the world and get to know yourself better.
Face Challenges and Have Fun
A gap year is not only a time to take a vacation, but also a time to face challenges. Gap year students usually work, volunteer or take service projects. You have to learn how to get along in the real world. This process isn’ t always easy, but it is an important part of growing up. Only in this way can you enjoy life and have fun.
Save Money and Improve Your College Admission Chances
There’s a common thought that gap years are only for rich students, but it’ s not true. Actually, taking a gap year can save your money. Gap year students often take a part-time job. Besides, at the end of a gap year, students are much more likely to know what to study in college. Clear learning goals ran keep the students working hard instead of wasting time and money playing.
Imagine an admission officer trying to admit (录取) only one between two students. Both of them are excellent and have high grades. However, one student has much practical experience or has volunteered in his vacation. Who do you think the admission officer will choose?
1.A “Gap Year” means in the passage.
A.going abroad in a year for further education
B.travelling around the world in a year
C.taking a break before going to a university
D.doing a part-time job to make money during a vacation
2.Besides having fun, gap year students have to face the .
A. money B. information
C. vacations D. challenges
3.Having a gap year may make you .
A. become very rich
B. remain less popular
C. experience foreign cultures
D. have no chance to break
4.The last sentence implies(暗含) that will probably be admitted by the admission officer.
A. either of the two students
B. the student with high grades
C. neither of the two students
D. the .student with a gap year experience
Most schools in England require children to wear a school uniform.
There are at least four advantages. Firstly, when they go on a school trip they all look the same and so they can’t get lost. Secondly, it stops kids worrying about what to wear each day. Everyone is equal. Thirdly, parents don’t have to shop for expensive and different clothes for their children to show off. Fourthly, wearing a uniform gives a sense of being proud and discipline(纪律约束) in them.
1.What colour are the shoes that the English students wear in school?
A. White B. Grey C. Black D. Yellow
2.Where can you find the school name?
A. On the tie B. On the sweater
C. On the shirt D. On the skirt
3.Which of the following is one of the advantages of wearing a uniform?
A.It gives students a sense of being proud
B. It helps children show off
C.It helps children choose different clothes
D.It makes children strange
、完形填空（共15小题，每小题1分，计15分）
“What’s the matter, mum?”
As soon as I enter the door, I find that my mother is . It’s unusual –she usually the door and welcomes me with a smile!
“She’s dying,”mum says sadly. I what she says. The tulip (郁金香)，mother’s is dying.
A month ago, we moved our new house and mum bought a very beautiful tulip. Mum liked it very much. she was free, she would sit her armchair beside the tulip and enjoys its beautiful colour inviting smell.
She treated it like a baby and looked after it . She put the tulip by window and moved it from one place to to give the tulip enough sunshine. The first thing she did when she every morning was the tulip, Mum also fertilized(施肥)it many times.
She hoped that with great care, the tulip would become more and more beautiful and . But the tulip was dying too much sunshine, water and fertilizer.
It’s true that mother loved the tulip. But this kind of love be harmful. Love can sometimes kill what you love.
1.A.happy B.unhappy C.pleased D.pleasure
2.A.closes B.opens C.keeps D.takes
3.A.know B.love C.think D.find
4.A.favourite B.hate C.unlike D.like
5.A.into B.around C.across D.with
6.A.Though B.Because C.After D.When
7.A.at B.in C.on D.under
8.A.but B.and C.for D.or
9.A.happily B.brightly C.carefully D.usually
10.A.other B.place C.two places D.another
11.A.got up B.made the bed C.played piano D.washed her face
12.A.to take B.to cut C.to water D.to pull
13.A.dry B.strong C.wet D.old
14.A.because B.for C.since D.because of
15.A.must B.should C.can D.need
—Did you enjoy the party yesterday?
–-________, so I left early.
A. It was funny B. I enjoyed it
C. It was boring D. I haven’t been there
If we don’t study hard, we will in our class.
A. take the lead B. fall behind
C. be the first D. be successful
