13．Some of the most famous universities in America are urging students to consider the idea of putting off college for a year．It's caled a"gap year．"And while it's been common and popular in Australia and the U．K．for decades，the concept is now starting to gain significant steam here in America．
Why？A growing number of high school seniors are tired of riding the academic conveyor belt from preschool all the way to university．They're burnt out．Or not quite ready．Or they want to explore a few interests before deciding what to study in college．So instead of packing their bags to college，they're volunteering in New Orleans or teaching in Thailand．They're starting the great American novel，or working for a short time to help figure out what they want to do with their lives．
Understandably，that makes a lot of parents nervous．But a gap year does not mean that a student will remain degree-less forever．While there are no formal studies on the number of students who never end up making their way to college after the gap year，evidence from admissions officers across the country says very few actually leave college without finishing their courses．Taking a gap year can actually make kids more focused and ready for future academic life．In fact，Harvard University believes so much in the gap year that it encourages every student it admits to consider a year off before really starting．
The reason behind higher education's support of the gap year is clear：Better-prepared students mean higher completion rates．And it's completion that matters．Parents should remember that getting a kid into college is only half the battle．According to the College Board，three out of five students who enter a public four-year college don't manag to obtain a degree within five years．And nearly 30percent of all students who enter college don't return the second year．Considering the fact that this year's average price at a four-year private college is about $23，712per year，it's a pretty expensive place to play around．
28．Students want to take a gap year mainly becauseD．
①they want to have an experience of foreign education
②they want to escape academic pressure for a while
③they want to read more books before college
④they are not completely prepared for college
⑤they can't decide what to learn in college
A．①③④
B．①③⑤
C．②③④
D．②④⑤
29．What makes parents feel concerned about the gap year？C
A．The high cost of the gap year．
B．The safety risks outside school．
C．Their kids dropping out of college．
D．Their kids falling behind in their lessons．
30．Why do some universities encourage the gap year？C
A．It means students will have enough money to pay for college．
B．It allows students to finish college in less than four years．
C．It gets students more involved in their studies．
D．It makes students develop a competitive spirit．
31．What is the author's attitude towards the gap year？B
A．Surprised．
B．Supportive．
C．Critical．
D．Doubtful．
分析 本文是議論文．文章主要闡述了美國一些大學鼓勵高中畢業(yè)生在入學前休學一年做其他事情，對此許多家長感到很擔憂．家長們主要擔心孩子們休學一年后不愿意再回學校完成學業(yè)．學生們想要休學一年主要有三個原因：一、一直上學太累了，需要暫時抽離；二、沒有對大學生活作好準備；三、不知道自己的興趣所在，決定不了大學應該選擇什么專業(yè)．休學一年后的學生對大學生活準備得更充分，重返校園后能更加專注學習，因此畢業(yè)率也更高，一些大學鼓勵這一行為．
解答 DCCB
28．D．細節(jié)理解題．根據(jù)第二段中的"…tired of riding the academic conveyor belt from preschool all the way to university．They're burnt out．Or not quite ready．Or they want to explore a few interests before deciding what to study in college"可知，學生們想要休學一年主要有三個原因：一、一直上學太累了，需要暫時抽離；二、沒有對大學生活作好準備；三、不知道自己的興趣所在，所以決定不了大學應該選擇什么專業(yè)．故選D項．
29．C．推理判斷題．根據(jù)第三段中的"But a gap year does not mean that a student will remain degree-less forever…evidence from admissions officers across the country says very few actually leave college without finishing their courses"不難推測，家長們主要擔心孩子們休學一年后不愿意再回學校完成學業(yè)．故選C．
30．C．細節(jié)理解題．根據(jù)最后一段中的"The reason behind higher education's support of the gap year is clear：Better-prepared students mean higher completion rates"可知，休學一年后的學生對大學生活準備得更充分，重返校園后能更加專注學習，因此畢業(yè)率也更高，這就是一些大學鼓勵這一行為的原因．故選C．
31．B．推理判斷題．根據(jù)全文內(nèi)容，尤其是第三段中的"Taking a gap year can actually make kids more focused and ready for future academic life"可以判斷，作者支持休學一年的做法．故選B．
點評 解答細節(jié)理解題時，一個常用的方法就是運用定位法，即根據(jù)題干和選項中的關鍵詞從原文中找到相關的句子，與選項進行比較從而確定答案；推理判斷題既要求學生透過文章表面文字信息推測文章隱含意思，又要求學生對作者的態(tài)度、意圖及文章細節(jié)的發(fā)展作正確的推理判斷，力求從作者的角度去考慮，不要固守自己的看法或觀點．
