For some people, the prospect of starting college, especially going away to school, is scary. It’s probably the first time that you’ll be totally responsible for your own schedule. What if you intend to go to college but just don’t feel ready to start yet-for whatever reason-and you don’t want to take on a full-time job after graduation? You might want to take a year off to pause and regroup. This practice is common in some countries, like the United Kingdom, where it’s called a “gapyear”.
Taking time off doesn’t mean you should ignore the idea of applying to college. In fact, you may want to consider making your college plans before you become involved in other things, especially if you’ll be travelling. Apply to schools and make your choice, then ask for a deferred admission. Rachel took a year off and worked in New York City between college and medical school. She says that she had to be extremely well organized about planning for medical school so she didn’t miss any of her deadlines. “Not only did I have to apply to schools and make plans to take my MCAT exams, I also had to make all my living arrangements and other plans for my year off!”
Even if you decide not to apply to college, it can be a great idea to take a year to do something you may not have an opportunity to do again. Lots of volunteer organizations would welcome your time and energy and would provide you with a wonderful learning experience. If you take a year off you will learn some great life skills-like living on a tight budget! If you take a year off you’ll pay your way while you are traveling or doing volunteer work.
【小题1】What’s the best title of the passage?

For some people, the prospect of starting college, especially going away to school, is scary. It’s probably the first time that you’ll be totally responsible for your own schedule. What if you intend to go to college but just don’t feel ready to start yet-for whatever reason-and you don’t want to take on a full-time job after graduation? You might want to take a year off to pause and regroup. This practice is common in some countries, like the United Kingdom, where it’s called a “gapyear”.

Taking time off doesn’t mean you should ignore the idea of applying to college. In fact, you may want to consider making your college plans before you become involved in other things, especially if you’ll be travelling. Apply to schools and make your choice, then ask for a deferred admission. Rachel took a year off and worked in New York City between college and medical school. She says that she had to be extremely well organized about planning for medical school so she didn’t miss any of her deadlines. “Not only did I have to apply to schools and make plans to take my MCAT exams, I also had to make all my living arrangements and other plans for my year off!”

Even if you decide not to apply to college, it can be a great idea to take a year to do something you may not have an opportunity to do again. Lots of volunteer organizations would welcome your time and energy and would provide you with a wonderful learning experience. If you take a year off you will learn some great life skills-like living on a tight budget! If you take a year off you’ll pay your way while you are traveling or doing volunteer work.

1.What’s the best title of the passage?

2.Going on a “gap year” means _____.

3.The author takes Rachel for example in the second paragraph in order to show _____.

4.Which of the following is NOT the benefit of taking a year off?

For some people, the prospect of starting college, especially going away to school, is scary. It’s probably the first time that you’ll be totally responsible for your own schedule. What if you intend to go to college but just don’t feel ready to start yet-for whatever reason-and you don’t want to take on a full-time job after graduation? You might want to take a year off to pause and regroup. This practice is common in some countries, like the United Kingdom, where it’s called a “gapyear”.
Taking time off doesn’t mean you should ignore the idea of applying to college. In fact, you may want to consider making your college plans before you become involved in other things, especially if you’ll be travelling. Apply to schools and make your choice, then ask for a deferred admission. Rachel took a year off and worked in New York City between college and medical school. She says that she had to be extremely well organized about planning for medical school so she didn’t miss any of her deadlines. “Not only did I have to apply to schools and make plans to take my MCAT exams, I also had to make all my living arrangements and other plans for my year off!”
Even if you decide not to apply to college, it can be a great idea to take a year to do something you may not have an opportunity to do again. Lots of volunteer organizations would welcome your time and energy and would provide you with a wonderful learning experience. If you take a year off you will learn some great life skills-like living on a tight budget! If you take a year off you’ll pay your way while you are traveling or doing volunteer work.

1. 1.

   What’s the best title of the passage?

   1. A.
      Taking Time Off
   2. B.
      Disadvantages of a “Gap Year”
   3. C.
      Plans after Graduation
   4. D.
      How to Apply to College
2. 2.

   Going on a “gap year” means _____.

   1. A.
      asking for a year’s leave to rest at home
   2. B.
      taking a year off to pause and regroup
   3. C.
      ignoring the idea of applying to college
   4. D.
      travelling around the world before going to college
3. 3.

   The author takes Rachel for example in the second paragraph in order to show _____.

   1. A.
      it’s not easy to take a year off
   2. B.
      it’s interesting to take a “gap year”
   3. C.
      what taking time off is like
   4. D.
      how to apply to schools
4. 4.

   Which of the following is NOT the benefit of taking a year off?

   1. A.
      You’ll learn some great life skills.
   2. B.
      You’ll make full preparation for starting college.
   3. C.
      You’ll earn much money by taking on a full-time job.
   4. D.
      You’ll gain a wonderful learning experience by joining in a volunteer organization.

Young women are more adventurous than young men when travelling abroad in gap years．One in three female backpackers visits more than three countries during a year out and travels alone, according to new research．
By contrast, the majority of their male counterparts（地位相当者） visit only one country and tend to travel in groups, says a survey by the Gap Year company, which provides information and services for students considering taking a year out．
More women than men say that their prime reason for taking time off is to see the world and experience different cultures．Men are more likely to rank “having fun” higher on their list of priorities．Women are more likely to value the challenge of a foreign trip, and many cited reasons such as learning a language and meeting new people．
The more adventurous gap years taken by women seem to work to their benefit; more than three quarters of those surveyed have reported increased confidence, self-reliance（自立） and independence, whereas only half of the men had that experience．
The research also shows that women are more likely to do voluntary work while travelling, with more than one in ten helping with teaching or development projects．One of the reasons given for this is a wish to see the country in an authentic light．
A greater proportion of women than men face objections or criticism from their families over their gap­year plans．Among the men surveyed, lack of money is the main barrier to travel．
Carolyn Martin, a doctor from London,is a typically confident female traveller．Starting in Cape Town, she travelled around southern Africa and Australia with a string of unusual and sometimes dangerous jobs．
“I had one job chasing elephants off the runway in Africa by banging a stick against a pan，” she recalled．“It was OK but one day I did get chased by one．”
She said that she had travelled alone because “you meet more people”．
【小题1】By referring to “gap year” the writer means ________．  

Young women are more adventurous than young men when travelling abroad in gap years．One in three female backpackers visits more than three countries during a year out and travels alone, according to new research．

By contrast, the majority of their male counterparts（地位相当者） visit only one country and tend to travel in groups, says a survey by the Gap Year company, which provides information and services for students considering taking a year out．

More women than men say that their prime reason for taking time off is to see the world and experience different cultures．Men are more likely to rank “having fun” higher on their list of priorities．Women are more likely to value the challenge of a foreign trip, and many cited reasons such as learning a language and meeting new people．

The more adventurous gap years taken by women seem to work to their benefit; more than three quarters of those surveyed have reported increased confidence, self-reliance（自立） and independence, whereas only half of the men had that experience．

The research also shows that women are more likely to do voluntary work while travelling, with more than one in ten helping with teaching or development projects．One of the reasons given for this is a wish to see the country in an authentic light．

A greater proportion of women than men face objections or criticism from their families over their gap­year plans．Among the men surveyed, lack of money is the main barrier to travel．

Carolyn Martin, a doctor from London,is a typically confident female traveller．Starting in Cape Town, she travelled around southern Africa and Australia with a string of unusual and sometimes dangerous jobs．

“I had one job chasing elephants off the runway in Africa by banging a stick against a pan，” she recalled．“It was OK but one day I did get chased by one．”

She said that she had travelled alone because “you meet more people”．

1.By referring to “gap year” the writer means ________．  

A．a gap you come across after leaving high school

B．a time when you are caught in a dilemma between work and study

C．a period after you find a job upon your graduation from college

D．a year off between high school and college for certain purposes

2.In the third paragraph, the underlined word “priorities” most probably means ________

A．selections         B．attractions         C．preferences       D．projects

3.Which of the following statements is TRUE?

A．Men students will travel less during the gap year because of their part-­time jobs．

B．Women students will travel more but face more objections．

C．The article suggests that women travelling alone will have dangerous experiences．

D．Men students prefer to travel inside their own country to going abroad．

4.Which of the following would be the best title of the passage?

A．Girls Get the Best out of Gap Years

B．Boys Lack Courage in Gap Years

C．For Fun or for Adventure?

D．Young Women Are More Adventurous

Young women are more adventurous than young men when travelling abroad in gap years．One in three female backpackers visits more than three countries during a year out and travels alone, according to new research．
By contrast, the majority of their male counterparts（地位相当者） visit only one country and tend to travel in groups, says a survey by the Gap Year company, which provides information and services for students considering taking a year out．
More women than men say that their prime reason for taking time off is to see the world and experience different cultures．Men are more likely to rank “having fun” higher on their list of priorities．Women are more likely to value the challenge of a foreign trip, and many cited reasons such as learning a language and meeting new people．
The more adventurous gap years taken by women seem to work to their benefit; more than three quarters of those surveyed have reported increased confidence, self-reliance（自立） and independence, whereas only half of the men had that experience．
The research also shows that women are more likely to do voluntary work while travelling, with more than one in ten helping with teaching or development projects．One of the reasons given for this is a wish to see the country in an authentic light．
A greater proportion of women than men face objections or criticism from their families over their gap­year plans．Among the men surveyed, lack of money is the main barrier to travel．
Carolyn Martin, a doctor from London,is a typically confident female traveller．Starting in Cape Town, she travelled around southern Africa and Australia with a string of unusual and sometimes dangerous jobs．
“I had one job chasing elephants off the runway in Africa by banging a stick against a pan，” she recalled．“It was OK but one day I did get chased by one．”
She said that she had travelled alone because “you meet more people”．

1. 1.

   By referring to “gap year” the writer means ________．

   1. A.
      a gap you come across after leaving high school
   2. B.
      a time when you are caught in a dilemma between work and study
   3. C.
      a period after you find a job upon your graduation from college
   4. D.
      a year off between high school and college for certain purposes
2. 2.

   In the third paragraph, the underlined word “priorities” most probably means ________

   1. A.
      selections
   2. B.
      attractions
   3. C.
      preferences
   4. D.
      projects
3. 3.

   Which of the following statements is TRUE?

   1. A.
      Men students will travel less during the gap year because of their part-­time jobs．
   2. B.
      Women students will travel more but face more objections．
   3. C.
      The article suggests that women travelling alone will have dangerous experiences．
   4. D.
      Men students prefer to travel inside their own country to going abroad．
4. 4.

   Which of the following would be the best title of the passage?

   1. A.
      Girls Get the Best out of Gap Years
   2. B.
      Boys Lack Courage in Gap Years
   3. C.
      For Fun or for Adventure?
   4. D.
      Young Women Are More Adventurous

Young women are more adventurous than young men when travelling abroad in gap years. One in three female backpackers visits more than three countries during a year out and travels alone, according to new research.

By contrast, the majority of their male counterparts visit only one country and tend to travel in groups, says a survey by the Gap Year company, which provides information and services for students considering taking a year out.

More women than men say that their prime reason for taking time off is to see the world and experience different cultures. Men were more likely to rank “having fun” higher on their list of priorities. Women were more likely to value the challenge of a foreign trip, and many cited reasons such as learning a language and meeting new people.

The more adventurous gap years taken by women seem to work to their benefit: more than three quarters of those surveyed reported increased confidence, self-reliance and inde??pendence, whereas only half of the men had that experience.

The research also showed that women were more likely to do voluntary work while trav??elling, with more than one in ten helping with teaching or development projects. One of the reasons given for this is a wish to see the country in an authentic light.

A greater proportion of women than men faced objections or criticism from their fami??lies over their gap-year plans. Among the men surveyed, lack of money was the main barrier to travel.

Carolyn Martin, a doctor from London, was a typically confident female traveller.

Starting in Cape Town, she travelled around southern Africa and Australia with a string of

unusual and sometimes dangerous jobs.

“I had one job chasing elephants off the runway in Africa by banging a stick against a pan,” she recalled. “It was OK but one day I did get chased by one.”

She said that she had travelled alone because “you meet more people”.

46. By referring to “gap year” the writer means ______.

A. a gap you come across after leaving high school

B. a time when you are caught in a dilemma between work and study

C. a period before you find a job upon your graduation from college

D. a year off between high school and college for certain purposes

47. According to the article, ______.

A. most of the women students will travel abroad during the summer holidays

B. one third of the women students will travel abroad in a year

C. women students are more likely to travel abroad alone

D. women students are willing to travel abroad in a group

48. In the third paragraph, the underlined word “priorities” most probably means ______.

A. selections     B. attractions    C. preferences     D. projects

49. Which of the following statements is TRUE?

A. Men students will travel less during the gap year because of their part-time jobs.

B. Women students will travel more but face more objections.

C. The article suggests that women travelling alone will have dangerous experi??ences.

D. Men students prefer to travel inside their own country to going abroad.

50. Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?

   A. Girls Get the Best out of Gap Years   B. Boys Lack Courage in Gap Years

   C. For Fun or for Adventure?          D. Young Women Are More Adventurous

 Texting in the street—your funeral

Millions of people are putting their lives at risk by texting their friends as they walk along busy streets, reported the Daily Mail.

One in ten  41  users has already been  42  because they are so lost in their phones that they fail to  43  lamp-posts or cars, according to Joanna Lumdsen of Aston University.

To test the danger of texting while  44  , Lumdsen did an experiment in which volunteers followed a  45  path while trying to  46  in a message on the phone.

Around them, screens  47  up instructions to avoid stepping on  48  colors on the floor.

She found that people missed one in five  49  because they were so busy with their phones.

“In  50  life this means that one in five lamp-posts or moving cars is  51

to go unnoticed by people  52  and walking,” she said.

Her research is looking for ways cell phone makers could improve the  53

of phones to make texting on the move  54  . That could  55  easier-to-use voice operated phones, or phones that respond to gestures.

“The safest thing is  56  people not to text while they walk along,” she said. “ 57  a lot of people in business are  58  to carry a mobile phone and be in  59  24 hours a day, seven days a week. They are under pressure to reply to calls  60  , and to respond to text messages and emails straight away.