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?
【小题1】A “Gap Year” means       in the passage.

　　When a group of children politely stop a conversation with you, saying: “We have to go to work now,” you're left feeling surprised and certainly uneasy. After all, this is the 1990s and the idea of children working is just unthinkable. That is, until you are told that they are all pupils of stage schools and that the work “they go off” is to go on the stage in a theater.

　　Stage schools often act as agencies (代理机构) to supply children for stage and television work. More worthy of the name “stage school” are those few places where children attend full time, with training for the theatre and a general education. A visit to such schools will leave you in no doubt that the children enjoy themselves. After all, what lively children wouldn't settle for spending only half the day doing ordinary school work, and acting, singing or dancing their way through the other half of the day?

　　Then of course there is time for the children to make a name and make a little money in some big shows. Some stage schools give their children too much professional work at such a young age. But the law is very tight on the amount they can do. Those under 13 are limited to 40 days in the year and those over 13 to 40 days.

　　The schools themselves admit that not all children will be successful in the profession for which they are being trained. So what happens to those who don't make it? While all the leading schools say they place great importance on children getting good study results, the facts seem to suggest this is not always the case.

(1) People would stop feeling uneasy when realizing that the children they're talking to ________.

[　　]

A．attend stage school

B．are going to the theatre

C．have got some work to do

D．love singing and dancing

(2) In the writer's opinion, a good stage school should ________.

[　　]

A．produce star performers

B．help pupils improve their study skills

C．train pupils in language and performing arts

D．provide a general education and training

(3) “Professional work” used in the text means ________.

[　　]

A．ordinary school work

B．money-making performances

C．stage training at school

D．acting, singing, or dancing after class

(4) Which of the following best describes how the writer feels about stage schools?

[　　]

A．He thinks highly of hat they have to offer.

B．He favors an early start in the training of performing arts.

C．He feels uncomfortable about children putting on night shows.

D．He doubts the standard of ordinary education they have reached.

(5) The word “unthinkable” in the first paragraph means: ________.

[　　]

阅读理解

　　When a group of children politely stop a conversation with you, saying:“We have to go to work now,” you're left feeling surprised and certainly uneasy. After all, this is the 1990s and the idea of children working is just unthinkable. That is, until you are told that they are all pupils of stage schools and that the work“they go off” is to go on the stage in a theater.

　　Stage schools often act as agencies (代理机构) to supply children for stage and television work. More worthy of the name “stage school” are those few places where children attend full time, with training for the theatre and a general education.

　　A visit to such schools will leave you in no doubt that the children enjoy themselves. After all, what lively children wouldn't settle for spending only half the day doing ordinary school work, and acting, singing or dancing their way through the other half of the day?

　　Then of course there is time for the children to make a name and make a little money in some big shows. Some stage schools give their children too much professional work at such a young age. But the law is very tight on the amount they can do. Those under 13 are limited to 40 days in the year and those over 13 to 40 days.

　　The schools themselves admit that not all children will be successful in the profession for which they are being trained. So what happens to those who don't make it? While all the leading schools say they place great importance on children getting good study results, the facts seem to suggest this is not always the case.

(1) People would stop feeling uneasy when realizing that the children they're talking to ________ .

[　　]

A. attend stage school

B. are going to the theatre

C. have got some work to do

D. love singing and dancing

(2) In the writer's opinion, a good stage school should ________ .

[　　]

A. produce star performers

B. help pupils improve their study skills

C. train pupils in language and performing arts

D. provide a general education and training

(3)“Professional work” used in the text means ________ .

[　　]

A. ordinary school work

B. money-making performances

C. stage training at school

D. acting, singing, or dancing after class

(4) Which of the following best describes how the writer feels about stage schools?

[　　]

A. He thinks highly of that they have to offer.

B. He favors an early start in the training of performing arts.

C. He feels uncomfortable about children putting on night shows.

D. He doubts the standard of ordinary education they have reached.

(5) The word “unthinkable” in the first paragraph means: ________ .

[　　]

A.难以接受的

B. 不可思议的

C. 不假思索

D. 随机应变的