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 (錄取) 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?
小題1: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
小題2:Besides having fun, gap year students have to face the        .
A．moneyB．information
C．vacationsD．challenges
小題3:Having a gap year may make you       .
A．become very rich B．remain less popular
C．experience foreign culturesD．have no chance to break
小題4:The last sentence implies(暗含) that       will 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

小題1:C
小題2:D
小題3:C
小題4:D

試題分析：本文敘述了學生度過空檔年的好處�！翱諜n年”是學生在上大學之前的一段時期。在這一段時間，學生可以了解世界，也會了解自己。他們不僅玩得開心，也會面對許多挑戰(zhàn)。同時，學生可以在這一段時間為上大學積累錢。在空檔年的實踐經(jīng)驗也有利于學生被大學錄取。
小題1:詞義猜測題。根據(jù)A “Gap Year” is a period of time when a student takes a break before going to university.可知“空檔年”是學生在上大學之前的一段時期。故選C。
小題2:細節(jié)理解題。根據(jù)A gap year is not only a time to take a vacation, but also a time to face challenges.可知在空檔年，學生不僅度假玩得開心，而且還會面對一些挑戰(zhàn)。故選D。
小題3:細節(jié)理解題。根據(jù)The experiences of different cultures offer you interesting lessons.可知在空檔年學生可以體驗一下外國的不同文化。 故選C。
小題4:推理判斷題。根據(jù)Both of them are excellent and have high grades. However, one student has much practical experience or has volunteered in his vacation可知兩個要被錄取的學生都是高分的，優(yōu)秀的，但是其中一個是有實踐經(jīng)驗或者在假期做過志愿者，相比之下，在空檔年有實踐經(jīng)驗的會被錄取。故選D。
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科目：初中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

The centerpiece of curling(冰壺)is the curling stone. Kays of Scotland has been making curling stones since 1851, when William Kay and his sons Andrew and Thomas set up a workshop in Mauchline, Ayrshire, in southwest Scotland. Kays is still owned by the relatives of the founder, and today it is the only curling stone maker left in Scotland.
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A．It is a family business.
B．It’s a brand(牌子) of curling stones.
C．It’s a place in Scotland.
D．It’s the name of a curling stone dealer(業(yè)者).
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A．8B．16 C．32D．96
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小題4:Which of the following statements is NOT RIGHT according to the passage?
A．Kays of Scotland has been curling stone maker for more than 150 years.
B．The weight of each curling stone must be 44 pounds.
C．We use a special machine to polish the curling stone.
D．The workers in Kays are all experienced.
小題5:What’s the passage mainly about?
A．The history of curling.
B．How to make a curling stone.
C．The rules of curling.
D．How to become a curling stone maker.

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科目：初中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

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小題2:
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It was a cold afternoon. Ginny and I were walking home after work when suddenly a young man asked us, "Do you want a hug（擁抱）?”He carried a sign in his hand which read "Free Hugo". I looked     and noticed there were other young people with him. They all lifted their handmade signs high. The message was the same on all of them - Free Hugs!
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"WOW!" he shouted. "That is the best hug I've had all day!"
Then the young man looked at me and asked, 'How about a hug?"
"You got it!" I walked into his     arms. We held a hug briefly（簡短地）and parted at once.
Ginny and I stepped back and watched the "free huggers" hug those who     them. All of the young people offered hugs to them.
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小題1: A. out                  B. down                  C. round
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小題8:A. forgot                B. solved                  C. met

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科目：初中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

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Tom, Canada
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Emily, New Zealand,
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Simon, Scotland
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Victoria. Australia
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A．parentsB．friends
C．schoolworkD．holiday plan
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A．HelenB．EmilyC．TomD．Victoria
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