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 can 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

Community(社区)service means doing volunteer jobs for the public.It teaches valuable lessons about the duties of a citizen(公民).Today,in the United States,important services are provided through thousands of organizations created to meet needs not provided by government at the local,state,and national levels.These activities help to create a sense of great care for the public.

There are close connections between community service programs and civic(公民的)education in schools.At every level of school,students can be involved in community service projects.In the primary grades,one of the purposes for students is to learn basic civic values that include fair play,respect for the opinions of others,and the rights and duties of a citizen in our society.By taking part in community service programs,very young children can learn how to solve problems,work in groups as leaders or group members,and accept the duties for their decisions and actions.Besides,children develop knowledge of their community—its leaders,organizations,social groups,and standards of civic behavior.

Community service programs can provide the chances for students to learn social study skills.These include higher-level processes and skills of information collecting,critical thinking,and decision making.Community service programs also teach processes and skills for group discussions,leadership and teamwork.

Through community service programs,children can learn how people play roles in a discussion to work out the local problems.Students can volunteer to teach young children in child care centers or help in senior citizen centers.

1.From the passage,we know play a main role in community service.

A. the adult citizens

B. the volunteer organizations

C. the students at school

D. the local and state governments

2.What is the meaning of the underlined sentence in Paragraph 2?

A. Children can learn about their community at school.

B. Civic education is about knowledge of community.

C. School students can offer community service programs.

D. Communities provide chances for school civic education.

3.Which of the following must be learnt in the primary grades?

A. Basic civic values.

B. Social study processes.

C. Skills for information collecting.

D. Processes of decision making.

4.What does the underlined word “These” in Paragraph 3 refer to?

A. The students.

B. Social study skills.

C. The chances.

D. Community service programs.

5.This passage is mainly about .

A. how the students set up community service organizations

B. how schools get involved in community service programs

C. what can be learnt by joining in community service projects

D. the volunteer jobs that the students can do in their community

阅读下面短文,根据短文内容及首字母提示补全文中所缺的单词。

It's necessary to discover what you're good at or not and what you like or dislike.

Many students would be unhappy if they f1.in a very difficult physics course,but in fact they have known a lot about t2..They realize that they should not become engineers or p3.scientists in the future.So failing can help a student to live a happier life if he or she draws something out of it.They may then decide on their aim and c4.the kind of work that they would be fit for and they would like to do.

You can't be sure whether you like something u5.you have tried it.If you make a d6.that you would like to play the violin,you need to take more music classes b7.you know if you are really interested in it.

It is not e8.to hope to be a violinist.You also have to stand the hard practice before you become one.If you would enjoy being a great violinist,but hate the hard and b9.work,just give it up.

It's a good plan to try as many ideas as possible when you are still young.And then you will be able to find o10.what your true interests are.

书面表达

初中毕业之际,校报“英语角”栏目向同学们征集毕业典礼活动计划。假定你是李华,请根据要点写一封信,提出你的建议。

写作要点:

写作要求:1.80词左右(开头和结尾已给出,不计入总词数);

2.不能出现真实的校名和人名,否则不得分;

3.写作要点都必须用上,紧扣主题,适当发挥。

参考词汇:毕业典礼graduation ceremony;前进中学Qianjin Middle School;学校报告厅the school hall。

Dear editor,

I'm very happy to have the chance to show you my plan for the graduation ceremony.

This is what we will do.I hope you will choose my plan.

Yours,

Li Hua

A. lady B. plastic C. manager

A. bottle B. above C. officer

A. work B. afford C. airport

A. harmful B. market C. war

A. degree B. fridge C. dialog

Trees turn green and flowers come out in _______ spring.

A. the B. a C. /