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?
【小题1】A “Gap Year” means       in the passage.

An astronaut’s work may sound exciting, but living in space isn’t as fun as you think. The website www.space.com lists the disadvantages of living in space. Here are some of them.

When astronauts work outside the station during spacewalks, they have to wear special gloves. The gloves are very tight. They can hurt the astronauts’ fingernails(手指甲) and even make them fall off.

In space, you don’t have many choices in what you eat. It’s hard to get fresh fruits and vegetables. It is not OK to eat bread because it leaves crumbs(碎屑). Crumbs could fly around everywhere.

In space, it is impossible to have a good shower because water can fly all over the ship and break the machines. Astronauts have to use a special water-shooting(喷水) gun and a washcloth.

Astronauts lose their bone strength quickly during their stay in space. So far, there is no way to solve this problem. They do exercise while they’re in space to try to keep their bones strong as long as possible.

Perhaps the hardest part of life in space is the feeling of loneliness. Astronauts sometimes have to spend weeks and even months away from Earth. They miss their friends and families.

1.People often think the life in space is       .

A. terrible                   　　B. lonely             　　　C. hard            　　　　D. fun

2.What may hurt astronauts fingernails while working in space?

A. Washcloth.                                     B. The special gloves.               

C. The water-shooting gun.                    D. Crumbs.

3.. How do the astronauts have a good shower in space?

A. By eating bread.                                                

B. By breaking the machines.             

C. By using a special water-shooting gun and a washcloth.   

D. By wearing gloves.

4. How do the astronauts keep their bones strong in space?

A. By taking medicine.                            B. By doing exercise.              

C. By taking a good rest.                    D. By walking in space.

5. What’s the hardest part of life for astronauts in space?

A. They feel very lonely.              B. They have to stay alone in space.      

C. They have no friends.                   D. They have no families.

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The Amazon rainforest is home to millions of different kinds of animals，plants，and birds．Most of the world's fresh water is here and the forest plants clean the Earth's air every day．

Chico was born near the Amazon town，Brazil，in 1944 and started working when he was very young．Like the rest of his family，the boy got the money by taking a little rubber from the trees in the forest．（The trees are not hurt when the rubber is taken．）The forest and its people lived together comfortably and peacefully．

But some people think too much about themselves and never think about the future．In 1980，the forest was burned to build roads，houses and factories．Chico was angry；he wanted to save the forest! He talked to the government workers，but they didn't listen to him．They were still clearing the rainforests to make quick，easy money．“Many voices are stronger than one，” he thought，so Chico held group meetings．He discovered that hundreds of people agreed with him．His hope grew．More people came together to try to stop the work of the forest clearers．Large areas of the forest were saved．Later he traveled to many other countries for international help．People soon became very much interested in this brave Brazilian．In the next few years Chico's name became famous all over the world．The government of Brazil started making plans to protect large areas of the Amazon rainforest．

But as Chico's dreams started coming true，someone stopped him in the only possible way．The famous forest fighter was murdered right outside his home on December 22，1988．Chico's life was cut short，but his brave new ideas continued in other people．One man changed the world's ideas．After his death，people around the world sent money to help Chico's work．

1．Was Chico born in Brazil?

2．How did young Chico get money?

3．How many things did Chico do after the forest was burned?

4．When was Chico murdered?

5．What did Chico achieve in his life?