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?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 |
Besides having fun, gap year students have to face the .
| A．money | B．information |
| C．vacations | D．challenges |
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 |
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 |
I’m Alfred. I was born with a problem in my backbone and mobility(行走能力）was a big challenge, but thanks to my teachers and friends, my school life was excellent.
My friends and I used to sit together and have lots of fun. Whenever we got a free period, we used to start shouting or play games. I would take part in all competitions, such as poetry writing, story writing and painting and all activities like Teachers’ Day or anybody’s birthday and had much fun.
My English teacher was very tall. The moment she would enter the class, we would all sit quiet and open the books. She would encourage me by giving me important assignments and also morning news to read during the assembly. She would come down and hear my English debate(辩论), which made me participate in all debate competitions.
The same was true of my biology and science teacher. She was very nice and sweet. She would always give me extra information on the biology project. I could not go to the lab for the practicals (lessons or exams in science, cooking etc. in which you have to do or make something yourself rather than write or read about it), so she would bring the lab down and help me with the biology and science practicals and would give me excellent marks.
My friends made me monitor and the naughty boys listen to me. My friends used to help me with my notes if I was absent. My teachers always gave me important project work and I felt proud when they patted me on the back after I finished it quickly and correctly.
I was never shouted at or made fun of or scolded(批评) by any of my friends and teachers. Today I saw the terrible punishments given to students on television news. I felt very sad.
I really want to express my love and thanks to all my wonderful teachers and friends, without whom my school life would not have been so excellent and unforgettable. I really pray to God that each child in the world is blessed with caring teachers and wants to attend school every day.Alfred’s problem in his backbone _________ .
| A．made him have fewer friends than others |
| B．prevented him enjoying an excellent school life |
| C．left him feeling down all the time in his life |
| D．made it impossible for him to move freely |
How many Alfred’s teachers are mentioned in the passage?
| A．One. | B．Two. | C．Three. | D．Four. |
Alfred tried to do the following EXCEPT _________.
| A．play games during a free period with his friends |
| B．take part in all competitions and all activities |
| C．go to the school lab to do the practicals |
| D．complete his project work quickly and correctly |
The underlined part “patted me on the back” is closest in meaning to “_________”.
| A．scolded and hit me | B．encouraged and praised me |
| C．touched my backbone | D．made me calm down |
By writing the passage, Alfred aims to __________.
| A．tell us how lucky a boy student he was |
| B．express his thanks to his teachers and friends |
| C．get understanding and care from more people |
| D．show us his great school achievements |
James Cleveland Owens was the son of a farmer and the grandson of black slaves(奴隶). His family moved to Cleveland when he was 9. There, a school teacher asked the youth his name.
“J.C.,” he replied.
She thought he had said “Jesse”, and he had a new name.
Owens ran his first race at the age of 13. After high school, he went to Ohio State University. He had to work part time in order to pay for his education. As a second year student, in the Big Ten games in 1935, he set even more records than he would in the Olympic Games a year later.
A week before the Big Ten games, Owens fell down when he went downstairs. His back hurt so much that he could not exercise all week, and he was helped in and out of the car that drove him to the games. He refused to listen to the suggestions that he should give up and said he would try, event by event. He did try, and the results are in the record book.
The stage was set for Owens’ success at the Olympic Games in Berlin(柏林) the next year, and his success would come to be considered as not only athletic but also political(政治的). Hitler(希特勒) did not give congratulations to any of the black American winners.
“It was all right with me,” he said years later. “I didn’t go to Berlin to shake hands with him, anyway.”
After returning from Berlin, he received no telephone calls from the president of his own country, either. In fact, he was not honored by the United States until 1976, four years before his death.
Owens’ Olympic success made little difference to him. He earned his living by looking after a school playground, and racing against cars and dogs.
“Sure, it worried me,” he said later. “But at least it was an honest living. I had to eat.”
In the end, however, his gold medals changed his life. “They have kept me alive over the years,” he once said. “Time has stood still for me. That golden moment dies hard.”In the Big Ten games, Owens .
| A．hurt himself in the back |
| B．was successful in setting many records |
| C．tried every sports event but all failed |
| D．had to give up all events |
We can infer from the text that Owens was treated unfairly in the US at that time because .
| A．he was the grandsonof black slaves |
| B．he was the son of a poor farmer |
| C．he didn’t shake hands with Hitler |
| D．he didn’t talk to the US president on the phone |
When Owens says “They have kept me alive over the years”, he means that the medals .
| A．have been changed for money to help him live on |
| B．have made him famous in the US |
| C．have encouraged him to face difficulties in life |
| D．have kept him busy with all kinds of jobs |
What can be the best title for the text?
| A．Jesse Owens — A Great American Sportsman | B．The Big Ten Games |
| C．Making a Living As a Sportsman | D．How to Be a Successful |
Alderbury International Festival Society
FESTIVAL 22ND MAY-9TH JUNE 2012
Art
Displays of paintings, drawings and photographs from Europe and Asia are all part of the Festival programme, with a total of more than 400 pieces of work to be seen.
Early century advertisements will be on display at this year’s festival. Copies of these advertisements are to be sold at the box office.
Music
There will be a huge rang of music in this year’s festival from 14th dance music to modern jazz. Many famous musicians will be visiting the Festival as well as at least two internationally famous bands.
Lunchtime concerts-Every day of the Festival!
All lunchtime concerts begin at 1:00p.m. and last about 55 minutes, except on Monday, 26 of May, which is to be held in the Guildhall. All tickets are priced at £2.00.
How to get the tickets
Telephone reservations: 63362/6641 from 1st April
Payment for tickets reserved by telephone must be received at the Festival Box Office within 3 days. The tickets will then be sent by post.
One can buy tickets in person from 1st May. The Festival Box Office will be open as follows:
Monday to Saturday 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Sunday(during the Festival only )9:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m.In the Festival, you can _______.
| A．buy copies of ancient advertisements | B．see more than 400 drawings |
| C．get some paintings at the box offices | D．display your works for free |
What do we know about the music show?
The lunchtime concerts last for more than an hour.
The Festival includes many kinds of music.
C. Tickets for the concerts cost more than £3.00.
D. All concerts are to be held in the Guildhall.It is not possible for you to buy a ticket in person at _______.
| A．5:30 p.m. on Sunday | B．10:30 a.m. on Monday |
| C．3:00 p.m. on Saturday | D．1:p.m. on Friday |
On 1st April, you can _______.
| A．enjoy modern jazz | B．receive tickets by post |
| C．listen to lunchtime concerts | D．phone for ticket reservations |
Are you an only-child in your family? Are you feeling alone at home? How are you dealing with it?
Zhang Luwen, 12, feels lucky to have a 4-year-old “brother”. “With him, I never feel lonely at home. He goes with me wherever I go,” said the girl of Sichuan Province. But it is not easy to be a sister. Zhang has to help her parents bath her “brother” every week. This is because he is hairy — he is a dog.
As the number of pet owners in China grows more and more, Chinese students have animal friends at home. Experts say that these small animals give these only-children lessons in love, care, teamwork and generosity.
This month, the first study on the influence of pets on the children came out. It is a survey of 402 Beijing primary school students. It shows that animal friends are good for children.
China had more than 90 million only-children by 2006, according to the government. “In families of three, most children feel lonely. They don’t have many chances to learn how to love and be responsible for others,” said Zhou Xia in the study group. “So having a pet can help with the problem.”
However, some students complain that their parents don’t allow them to have pets. “They are afraid a pet would stop me studying,” said Chen Qi, of Chongqing.
Perhaps he could learn from Qin Yixing, 13, of Beijing. “I don’t play with my dog until I have finished my homework. I made the promise to my mom and I must keep it,” said the girl.According to the passage, experts think _______.
| A．it is good for students to have animal friends at home |
| B．only-children families in China will be fewer and fewer |
| C．small animals at home are bad for students |
| D．parents should buy more pet animals for their children |
What can we learn from the passage?
| A．Zhang Luwen’s parents bath every week. |
| B．Zhou Xia thinks a pet animal can solve the problem that children feel lonely. |
| C．Chen Qi of Chongqing has got a pet animal. |
| D．Qin Yixing’s parents don’t want her to have a pet. |
阅读与回答问题（本题共5小题；每小题2分，满分10分）
请认真阅读下面短文，并根据短文内容回答问题。
Do you feel lonely when your best friend isn’t around? Here’s our advice to you ---and to all kids who feel lonely sometimes.
It’s hard when a best friend isn’t around --- maybe because he or she moved to a different school or a different class. You may feel left out at break or lunchtime. You want to have new friends, but how do you make them? Maybe it seems everybody else already has his or her friends. But remember, there’s always room for more friends.
Start by looking around your classroom --- think about which kids you’d like to play with at break. Look for chances to say hi to them, smile, and be friendly. Offer to share something or express your appreciation (欣赏) to them. Invite someone to play with you or say, “Do you want to sit here?” in the lunchroom. When you’re at break, walk over to kids you want to play with, act friendly, and say “Hi, can I play, too?” or just join in.
If you have trouble doing this or if you’re feeling shy, ask your teacher to help you make new friends. Teachers are usually pretty good at matching up friends. The best way to make friends is to be a friend. Be kind, be friendly, share, say nice things, offer to help ---and pretty soon, you’ll have one, or two, or even more new friends.
You might still miss that special best friend. But when you see each other, you can share something you didn’t have before he or she left. You can introduce him or her to your new friends!
（请将答案写在答题卡上）How do you feel when your best friend isn’t around you according to the passage?
Why do some kids feel lonely at break according to the writer?
What is the best way to make friends according to the writer?
Why do some kids need help from teachers to make friends according to the writer?
Whatshouldyou doif you want to make more friends? (请自拟一句话作答)