18．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？
38．A“Gap Year”meansC 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
39．Besides having fun，gap year students have to face theD．
A．money B．information C．vacations D．challenges
40．Having a gap year may make youC．
A．become very rich B．remain less popular
C．experience foreign cultures D．have no chance to break
41．The last sentence implies（暗含） thatDwill 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．
分析 文章大意：本文叙述了学生度过空档年的好处．“空档年”是学生在上大学之前的一段时期．在这一段时间，学生可以了解世界，也会了解自己．他们不仅玩得开心，也会面对许多挑战．同时，学生可以在这一段时间为上大学攒钱．在空档年的实践经验也有利于学生被大学优先录取．
解答 38：C 词义猜测题．根据A“Gap Year”is a period of time when a student takes a break before going to university．可知“空档年”是指学生在上大学之前的一段时期．故选C．
39：D 细节理解题．根据A gap year is not only a time to take a vacation，but also a time to face challenges．可知在空档年，学生不仅度假玩得开心，而且还会面对一些挑战．故选D．
40：C 细节理解题．根据The experiences of different cultures offer you interesting lessons．可知在空档年学生可以体验一下外国的不同文化． 故选C．
41：D 推理判断题．根据Both of them are excellent and have high grades．However，one student has much practical experience or has volunteered in his vacation尤其是联系转折连词however所蕴含的意义，可知两个要被录取的学生都是高分的，优秀的，但是其中一个是有实践经验或者在假期做过志愿者的，相比之下并联系常识，意外之意当然是在空档年有实践经验的会被录取．故选D．
点评 本篇阅读主要给我们介绍了在西方国家流行的“空档年”的常识，对学生了解英美文化是很有帮助的．做题时首先迅速浏览全文，掌握全文的主旨大意．在快速阅读的过程中应尽可能多地捕获信息材料．然后仔细阅读材料后的问题，弄清题目的要求，根据所掌握的信息选择正确的答案，一般来说，问题的答案都可在原文中找到相应的依据，以此来做出正确的选择和合理的推理判断．
