Those who are ______ the proposal are expected to discuss it in detail after the meeting.

1. A.
   in favour of
2. B.
   in memory of
3. C.
   in honour of
4. D.
   in search of

In western countries, young people sometimes take a “gap year”, a year off between high school and college.   

Charles Deacon, dean of admissions at Georgetown University in Washington, D. C. says the most common reason is to have a chance to travel.  But he says international students may take a gap year to meet requirements at home for military duty.  

Some high school graduates see a year off as a chance to recover after twelve years of required education. But it can also give students a chance to explore their interests. Students who think they want to be doctors, for example, could learn about the profession by volunteering in a hospital for a year.   

Many colleges and universities support gap-year projects by permitting students to delay their admission. Experts say students can grow emotionally and intellectually as they work at something they enjoy.  

The Harvard admissions office has an essay on its Web site called “Time Out or Burn Out for the Next Generation”. It praises the idea of taking time off to step back, think and enjoy gaining life experiences outside the pressure of studies.  

Of course, a gap year is not for everyone. Students might miss their friends who go on directly to college. And parents might worry that their children will decide not to go to college once they take time off.  

Another concern is money. A year off , away from home , can be costly.   

Holly Bull is the president of the Centre for Interim Programmes.  Her company specializes in helping students plan their gap year. She notes that several books have been written about this subject. She says these books along with media attention and the availability of information on the Internet have increased interest in the idea of a year off.  

And she points out that many gap-year programmes cost far less than a year of college.  

41What would be the best title for the passage?  

A. A year off before college  

B. Better choice for high school students  

C. Time out or burn out  

D. Universities favour a “gap year”  

42. How many reasons are mentioned for high school students to take a “ gap year”  

A.  Two.     B.  Three.     C.  Four.      D. Five.   

43.  Experts support the gap―year projects because _________.   

A. students can be better prepared for college life emotionally and intellectually  

B. students have chances to fully enjoy themselves  

C. colleges and universities save lots of money through the delay of admission  

D. students can be more economically independent by working outside school  

44.  What does Holly Bull think of the idea of a “gap year”?  

A.  It is not suitable for all students.   

B.  It is beneficial for students.   

C.  It does not have practical value.   

D.  It may become a burden for the students’ family.   

45.  From the passage we can conclude that _______.   

A. the biggest concern about a year off for parents is money  

B. Harvard prefers a student with life experiences  

C. the idea of a year off now are not properly guided  

D. students taking a year off now are not properly guided  

Those who are ______ the proposal are expected to discuss it in detail after the meeting.

Parents and grandparents are understandably（可理解的）proud of the quick minds and impressive talents of their little ones. But let me tell you about another 　36　 , perhaps even more 　37 , found in a little girl named Skylar.

I received a letter from a grandmother who told me about her four- year-old granddaughter Skylar. Ever since Skylar 38 of Disneyland from TV, she 　39 her nickels and dimes in a piggy bank in 　40　 of visiting there some day. Her parents 　41 her with a trip when she was four, however, and didn’t even 42 her to use her own money!

43 Skylar returned it was Christmas time. She decided to buy 　44 with her savings. But she also learned from announcements on TV about a local homeless 　45 called “The Road House”. She 　46 asked her mother what “homeless” meant and why those children 47 coats and warm clothes. She couldn’t seem to get the homeless off her 　48 .

Her mother took her to the 49 to buy presents. Instead of buying for herself or her family, she 　50 to purchase a warm coat, socks, gloves and crayons for a little girl in the 　51 . She also wanted to buy a doll, but when she 52 she didn’t have enough money, she left the doll 　53 .

When Skylar got home, she chose one of her favourite dolls and put it into the box with the other items she bought that day. She could hardly wait for Christmas! Skylar was thinking about going to the shelter and giving her carefully 　54 gifts to a homeless child. She was much 　55 with joy at truly helping someone else.

“Perhaps it’s good to have a beautiful mind, but an even greater gift is to have a beautiful heart,” says Nobel Laureate John Nash. Young Skylar has a beautiful heart. It is this quality that makes beautiful people.

36. A. benefit　　　 B. advantage　　 　　　C. quality　　 　　 D. point

37. A. necessary　　 B. important　　 　　 C. popular　　　　 D. ordinary

38. A. learned　　　 B. cared　　 　　　　 C. thought 　　　 D. watched

39. A. saved　　　　 B. collected 　　　　 C. took　　　　 　 D. made

40. A. honour　　　 B. favour　　 　　　　 C. hopes　　　 D. search

41. A. disappointed B.annoyed　　 　　 C. pleased　　　　 D. surprised

42. A. need 　　　　 B. require　 　　　　 C. let　　　　 　 D. force

43. A. When　　　　 B. While　 　　　　　　 C. As　 　　　 D. Since

44. A. dolls　　　　 B. toys　 　　　　 C. presents　　　 D. dresses

45 .A. boy　　　　　 B. shelter　 　　　　 C. news　　　　 D. house

46 .A. generally　　 B. repeatedly 　　　　 C. strangely　 　 D. seriously

47. A. used　　　　 B. took 　　　　　　 C. needed　　　 　 D. liked

48 .A. mind　　　　 B. thought　 　　 C. heart　 　 D. brain

49. A. store　　　　 B. library　 　　　　 C. park　　　　 　 D. school

50 .A. thought　　　 B. decided　 　　 C. hoped　 　 D. wished

51. A. shelter　　　 B. nursery 　　　　 C. house　 　 D. hospital

52. A. reminded　 　 B. promised　 　　　　 C. noticed　　 　 D. discovered

53 .A. around　　　 B. behind　　 　　　　 C. away　　　　 D. alone

54. A. collected　　 B. bought　　 　　　　 C. selected　　　 D. demanded

55.A. surprised　　　　 B. caught 　　　　　　 C. cheered 　　　 D. filled