In Britain and other countries, young people sometimes take a "gap year", a year off between high school and college．This idea never gained a big following in America．Recent news reports have suggested that interest may be growing, though there are no official numbers．
Charles Deacon, Dean of Admissions at Georgetown University in Washington, D．C．, estimates that in the first-year class of 1600 students, only about 25 decided to take a year off．He says this number hasn't changed much over the years．
Mr．Deacon says the most common reason for taking a "gap year" is to have a chance to travel, but he says international students may take a "gap year" to meet requirements at home for military(军事的)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 hoping to be doctors, for example, could learn about the profession by volunteering in a hospital．
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 Bum 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．It also notes that students are sometimes admitted to Harvard or other colleges partly because they did something unusual with that time．
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's job is to specialize 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 programs cost far less than a year of college．
(1)
What is the passage mainly about?
[ ]
A．
More and more American students are choosing to take a year off．
B．
If you want to go to an American university, take a "gap year" first．
C．
It is likely that taking a " gap year", is becoming popular in America．
D．
Americans hold different opinions towards students' taking a "gap year"．
(2)
How many reasons for students' taking a" gap year" are mentioned in the passage?
[ ]
A．
2．
B．
3．
C．
4．
D．
5．
(3)
The essay "Time Out or Bum Out for the Next Generation" suggests that ________．
[ ]
A．
every student must take a "gap year" before applying for a famous university
B．
some famous universities encourage students to gain more life experiences
C．
taking a" gap year", can make students free from life learning
D．
the stress of studies．does harm to the students' health
(4)
What can we learn from the passage?
[ ]
A．
Books and media have contributed to the students' interest in school learning．
B．
Charles Deacon doesn’t support the idea of the students' taking a "gap year"．
C．
Parents might disagree with the program, concerned about their children's future．
D．
Experts agree taking a year off will benefit the students emotionally and physically．
Student Date of Birth：19/08/1988 Department of Education and Training
International Students Centre
Hong Xue 827-839 George Street PO Box 707
60 Waratah Street Broadway NSW 21007
Croydon Park NSW 2133 Phone：(612)9217 4801 1300 302 456
Fax：(612)9212 6721
http：//www.tafensw.edu.au/international/
WARNING LETTER
Dear Hong Xue,
As you are aware, your student visa regulations set out a number of conditions applying to your visa．It has come to our attention that you are failing to meet the following conditions：You must maintain accommodation, support and general welfare arrangements that have been approved by your education provider if you：
●have not turned 18; and
●are not staying in Australia with：
－a parent
－a custodian(监护人); or
－a relative who has been nominated(指定)by your parent or a custodian, is aged at least 21 and is of good character．
Note：You must not change those arrangements without the written approval of your education provider．
You must obey the following rules：
1．During term time you must：
a)remain in your homestay during the school term;
b)come home every night; and
c)inform your guardian at all times of your whereabouts．
2．On weekends you must：
a)have your guardian's permission to stay with friends; and
b)inform your guardian of the name, address and phone numbers of people you are visiting．
3．You must return your guardian's telephone calls．
This will be your only warning．If you continue to breach(违反)your student visa regulations we will report you to the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs．Such action may lead to the cancellation(取消)of your student visa．Please contact me on(612)9217 4801 or fax(612)9212 6721 if you have questions about your enrolment．
Yours sincerely
Tracey Carlon
Student Advisor
International Students Centre
NSW Department of Education and Training
(1)
What's the purpose of writing this letter?
[ ]
A．
To remind the recipient of the conditions for applying for a student visa．
B．
To warn the recipient not to do anything against his student visa regulations again．
C．
To tell the recipient how to contact his student advisor．
D．
To inform the recipient of the student visa regulations．
(2)
What can be learned about the recipient from this letter?
[ ]
A．
He is under 18 and studies in Australia with his parents．
B．
He is required to come home every night according to the rules．
C．
He can stay with his friends on weekends if permitted．
D．
His student Visa has been cancelled．
(3)
To which address should the recipient reply if he feels like answering the letter?
[ ]
A．
Hong Xue at 60 Waratah Street, Croydon Park NSW 2133．
B．
Tracey Carlon at the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs．
C．
Hong Xue at NSW Department of Education and Training．
D．
Tracey Carlon at 827-839 George Street, PO Box 707, Broadway NSW 21007．
阅读理解
Once upon a time the colors of the world started to quarrel．Green said,“Clearly I am the most important．I am the sign of life and hope．I was chosen for grass, trees and leaves．Without me, all animals would 1 ．”
Blue interrupted,“You only think about the 2 , but consider the sky and the sea． 3 the water that is the basis of life and drawn up by the clouds from the deep sea．Without my peace, you would all be 4 ．”
Yellow chuckled(笑道),“You are all so serious．I bring laughter, fun, and 5 into the world．”
Orange started next to blow her trumpet,“I am the color of health and strength．I may be 6 , but I am precious for I serve the needs of human life．When I fill the sky 7 , my beauty is so striking that no one gives another 8 to any of you．”
Red could stand it 9 and he shouted out,“I am the ruler of all of you．I am the color of danger and of bravery．I am willing to 10 truth．I am also the color of passion and of love．”
Then came Purple and Indigo(深蓝)…．
The colors went on boasting, each convinced of his or her own 11 ．Their quarreling became louder and louder．Suddenly there was a startling flash of bright lightening thunder．Rain started to pour down 12 ．The colors crouched(蜷缩)down 13 , drawing close to one another for comfort．
In the midst of the clamor(叫嚷), rain began to speak,“You foolish colors, fighting 14 yourselves, each trying to dominate 15 ．Don't you know that you were each made for a special purpose, 16 ?Join hands with 17 and come to me．”
Doing as they were told, the colors 18 and joined hands．They formed a colorful rainbow．From then on, whenever a good rain 19 the world, a rainbow appears in the sky．They remember to 20 one another．
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