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．t he student with high grades |
| C．neither of the two students |
| D．the student with a gap year experience |
Many years ago，there lived a very rich man who wanted to do something for the people of his town. But first he wanted to find out whether they were good enough to get his help. So he placed a very large stone in the center of the main road into town. Then he hid behind a tree and waited.
Soon an old man came along with his cow. “Who put this stone in the center of the road?" said the old man，but he did not try to move the stone away. Instead，he passed around the stone and continued on his way. Another man came along and did the same thing; then another came，and another. All of them complained about the stone in the center of the road，but none of them tried to move it away.
Late in the afternoon, a young man came along. He saw the stone and said, “It will be very dark at night. Some people will come along later in the dark and will fall against the stone.”
The young man then began to move the stone. He pulled with all his strength to move it to one side. But imagine his surprise when he found a bag full of money and this message under the stone: “This money is for the thoughtful person who takes this stone away from the road. Thank you.”What did the rich man aim to do?
| A．To offer help to the people of his town. |
| B．To show his people how rich he was. |
| C．To give money to anybody in need. |
| D．To find out how good his people are. |
Why did the rich man put a large stone on the road?
| A．To make life harder for the people of his town. |
| B．To find out the strongest man in his town. |
| C．To stop people from getting into his town. |
| D．To find the right person to receive his help. |
The first old man found the stone and walked around it because _____.
| A．he was too old to take the stone away all by himself |
| B．he thought it was good to have a stone on the road |
| C．he didn't want to move the stone away for others |
| D．he didn't want the money from the rich man |
How many people complained but didn't try to move the stone?
| A．Two. | B．Three. |
| C．Four. | D．Five. |
What’s the main idea of this passage?
| A．We should move the stone on the road. |
| B．Think for others sometimes is think for yourself. |
| C．We can make money by moving stones. |
| D．A luck man get much money from a rich man. |
When I was seven years old my mom was diagnosed (诊断) with cancer. The doctors told us my mom might be saved with surgery (手术). But it could also kill her. She chose to have it.
The day before the surgery I was off school. And my mom planned the best day of my life, everything I loved at seven and everything that would put a smile on my face. The day began with her waking me up and saying, “ Kate, I have a surprise for you. Come and see.” The surprise was a doll I have wanted for the longest time. Throughout the day, she told me everything that I would always make her proud. We had a picnic in the park, and it was so cold that we moved to the car. The day was filled with laughter. For the first time in a long time I could see she was really happy. I would never forget her smile, or the way her eyes shone as if we were the same age. It was the best day of my life, and I will never forget the conversations we shared.
My mother managed to live throughout the surgery. Now when I look back, I realize that the best day of my life could be her last and this could be the last day I would remember with her, the last one we shared. I also understand how unselfish a mother is.Who made the decision to have a surgery in the story?
| A．The doctors | B．The patient |
| C．The writer | D．The patient’s family |
What did the writer’s mother do the day before the surgery?
| A．She stayed at home to have a rest. |
| B．She went to the doctor’s for advice. |
| C．She turned to her family for comfort. |
| D．She stayed all day for her child. |
Why was the writer’s mother happy that day?
| A．Because she left her child a special memory. |
| B．Because she realized her child had grown up. |
| C．Because she was proud of what her child had done. |
| D．Because she expected the surgery to be successful. |
The underlined sentence in the last paragraph suggests that ________.
| A．her mother was ill again |
| B．the surgery was unsuccessful |
| C．her mother was getting better |
| D．the surgery was very simple |
Which of the following words best describes the writer’s mother?
| A．Hardworking | B．Famous |
| C．Clever | D．Great |
In general, people talk about two groups of colors: warm colors and cool colors. Scientists think that there are two groups of people: people who prefer warm colors and people who prefer cool colors.
The warm colors are red, orange and yellow. Where there are warm colors and lots of light, people usually want to be active. People think that red example is exciting sociable (善交际的) people, those who like to be with others like red. The cool colors are green, blue and purple. These colors unlike warm colors, are relaxing. Where there are cool colors, people are usually quiet. People who like to spend time alone often prefer blue.
Red may be exciting but one scientist says that time seems to pass more slowly in a room with warm colors than in a room with cool colors. He suggested that a warm color such as red or orange, is a good color for a living room or a restaurant. People who are relaxing or eating don’t want time to pass quickly.
Cool colors are better for offices of factories as the people who work there want time to pass quickly. Scientists don’t know why people think some colors are warm and other colors are cool.
However, almost everyone agrees that warm colors remind people of warm days and cool colors remind them of cool days. Because in the north the sun is low during winter, the sunlight appears quite blue. Because the sun is higher during summer, the hot summer sunlight appears yellow.When people talk about two groups of people, they mean those that like ________.
| A．warm colors and like cool colors |
| B．red, orange and yellow |
| C．warm colors and cool colors |
| D．green, blue and purple |
People who like warm colors, ________.
| A．are very hard to get on with others |
| B．are very easy to get on with others |
| C．like to stay at home by themselves |
| D．don’t like to be with others |
Which of the following is NOT true?
| A．Time seems to pass more slowly in a room with warm colors than in a room with cool colors. |
| B．The persons who are relaxing don’t want time to pass slowly. |
| C．Maybe warm colors remind people of warm days. |
| D．The writer thinks cool colors are good for offices of factories. |
Why do some people like warm colors and others like cool colors?
| A．Because the people who like warm colors are active. |
| B．Because the people who like cool colors prefer staying at home alone. |
| C．Because warm colors are nice and cool colors not nice |
| D．The writer doesn’t tell us the reason. |
Which is the best title?
| A．Two Groups of Colors | B．Cool Colors |
| C．Warm Colors | D．Colors and People |
Did you hear of the supercomputer? Recently, China’s Tianhe-1 (天河一号) was ranked as the world’s fastest supercomputer, according to a new list of world’s TOP 500 supercomputers.
It took 200 Chinese scientists two years to build the fastest supercomputer. It can do 2,507 trillion (万亿次) calculations in a second! That means it will take a personal computer 600 years to finish the work that a supercomputer does in a day!
The US now leads the world in the area of supercomputers. It is home to more than half of the world’s top 500 supercomputers. Japan also has advanced technology. China is developing its supercomputer technology quickly. But experts say it will take years before China’s total computing power can catch up with that of the US.
Supercomputers can work on many different things. They can solve problems in areas like national defense (国防), energy and science. In business, you can also use supercomputers. Oil companies use them to find oil and gas. Banks use them for quick trades. Food companies even use supercomputers to make sure that they put potato chips into cans without breaking them.
To make a supercomputer, scientists first need to link (连接) thousands of small computers together. Then they use software to turn them into one supercomputer. In fact, any person with enough knowledge about computers can make a supercomputer. But you need the top technology to make a supercomputer run fast.The world’s fastest supercomputer ________.
| A．was made in America |
| B．was made within two months |
| C．can do 2,507 trillion calculations in a minute |
| D．was made by 200 Chinese scientists |
Among the world’s top 500 supercomputers, ________ of them are made in the US.
| A．less than 20% | B．more than 50% |
| C．less than 50% | D．more than 20% |
The main idea of the fourth paragraph is ________.
| A．supercomputers can be used in different kinds of areas |
| B．supercomputers can work fast |
| C．supercomputers can only be used to find oil and gas |
| D．supercomputers can be used to make money |
According to the passage, to make a supercomputer, ________.
| A．you needn’t know enough knowledge about computers |
| B．you need to know how to play computer games |
| C．scientists first need to link thousands of small computers together |
| D．scientists first need to make some software |
Which of the following is true?
| A．A personal computer needs 300 years to finish the work that a supercomputer does in a day. |
| B．Japan now leads the world in the area of supercomputers. |
| C．Supercomputer can be used by food companies. |
| D．Scientists needn’t use software to turn small companies into one supercomputer. |
Alice, 35
I like shopping, but shopping with young children is not a good thing. I have to look after them while I'm shopping. I go shopping with my husband only when I buy something for him. When I look at a cheap dress, he always says, “It's beautiful on you.” But when I have an expensive one in my hands, he always says, “I don't think it fits you well.” So I often go shopping with my friends. It’s fun. I like shopping alone, too.
Maria, 26
I like shopping very much, but I never go shopping on weekends. There are too many people in shops. I don’t like shopping with other people. It usually takes me much time to buy things because I never buy the first thing I see. I always look around other shops to find the same thing cheaper. I’m good at finding cheap things. I don’t like buying food in small shops or street markets. I think food in supermarkets is fresh and cheap.Both Alice and Maria like shopping ________.
| A．with friends | B．alone |
| C．on weekends | D．on weekdays |
Alice’s husband says, “I don't think it fits you well.” It means ________.
A. the dress is not good for her
B. an expensive dress is always good
C. he wants his wife to buy a cheap dressWhy does it take Maria much time to buy things?
| A．Because she likes going around. |
| B．Because there are too many people. |
| C．Because she wants to find the same thing cheaper. |
| D．Because she likes buying expensive things. |
From what Maria says we know ________.
| A．many people like shopping on weekends |
| B．things are cheaper on weekends |
| C．people don't like shopping on weekends |
| D．she likes shopping on weekends |
Maria likes to buy food ________.
| A．in a small shop | B．in a supermarket |
| C．in streets | D．in street markets |