第一段
①Today,widespread social pressure to immediately go to college in conjunction with increasingly high expectations in a fast-moving world often causes students to completely overlook the possibility of taking a gap year.②After all, if everyone you know is going to college in the fall, it seems silly to stay back a year, doesn't it?③And after going to school for 12 years, it doesn't feel natural to spend a year doing something that isn’t academic.
单词&词组
conjunction n. 结合，同时发生
overlook v. 忽略，未注意到
gap year 间隔年（指中学毕业之后上大学之前所休的一年假期，常用于实习或旅游）
academic a. 学业的，教学的
本段翻译
如今，(高中毕业后)即刻升入大学这一普遍社会压力，加之快速发展的世界(对人们)越来越高的期望，往往导致学生们完全忽略了经历间隔年这一选择。毕竟，如果你认识的每个人都将在秋季步入大学，你一个人延迟一年入学似乎很傻，不是吗?而且在上了12年学之后，花一年时间做学习之外的事也感觉不大正常。
第二段
①But while this may be true, it’s not a good enough reason to condemn gap years.②There's always a constant fear of falling behind everyone else on the socially perpetuated “race to the finish line,” whether that be toward graduate school, medical school or a lucrative career.③But despite common misconceptions, a gap year does not hinder the success of academic pursuits-in fact, it probably enhances it.
单词&词组
condemn v. 谴责
perpetuate v. 使永久化，使持续
finish line (finishing line) （体育比赛跑道的）终点线
graduate school 研究生院
lucrative a. 赚大钱的，获利多的
misconception n. 错误认识，误解
hinder v. 阻碍，妨碍，阻挡
pursuit n. 事业，消遣，爱好
enhance v. 提高，增强，增进
本段翻译
但这即使是事实，也不足以成为谴责间隔年的理由。在全社会一直延续着“向终点冲刺的比赛”，无论终点是研究生院、医学院还是赚钱的职业，人们永远有一种落于人后的担忧。然而，尽管存在许多误解，间隔年其实不会阻碍学术事业的成功-实际上，它很可能助人成功。
第三段
①Studies from the United States and Australia show that students who take a gap year are generally better prepared for and perform better in college than those who do not.②Rather than pulling students back,a gap year pushes them ahead by preparing them for independence,new responsibilities and environmental changes-all things that first-year students often struggle with the most.③Gap year experiences can lessen the blow when it comes to adjusting to college and being thrown into a brand new environment, making it easier to focus on academics and activities rather than acclimation blunders.
单词&词组
push ahead 促进，推进
struggle with 与……斗争、抗争
throw into 使突然陷入某种状态
acclimation n. 适应
blunder n. 愚蠢（或粗心的）错误
本段翻译
美国和澳大利亚的研究表明，经历过间隔年的学生普遍比没经历过间隔年的学生对大学有更充分的准备，表现也更好。间隔年不仅不会使学生退步，反而能让学生在独立、新的责任和环境变化方面-这些都是一年级学生往往最为纠结的事情—做好更充分的准备，从而助其进步。间隔年经历可以减轻适应大学生活和陷入全新环境所带来的冲击，使学生更容易专注于学业和活动，而不必为适应问题分心。
第四段
①If you’re not convinced of the inherent value in taking a year off to explore interests, then consider its financial impact on future academic choices.②According to the National Center for Education Statistics, nearly 80 percent of college students end up changing their majors at least once.③This isn’t surprising, considering the basic mandatory high school curriculum leaves students with a poor understanding of the vast academic possibilities that await them in college.④Many students find themselves listing one major on their college applications, but switching to another after taking college classes.⑤It’s not necessarily a bad thing, but depending on the school, it can be costly to make up credits after switching too late in the game.⑥At Boston College, for example, you would have to complete an extra year were you to switch to the nursing school from another department.⑦Taking a gap year to figure things out initially can help prevent stress and save money later on.
单词&词组
be convinced of 确信，认识到
inherent a. 固有的，内在的
mandatory a. 强制的，法定的， 义务的
curriculum n. 全部课程
costly a. 昂贵的
credit n. 学分
nursing n. 护理
department n. 系
figure out 弄懂，弄清楚，弄明白
本段翻译
如果你不相信休学一年具有发掘兴趣的内在价值，那么就想想它对于未来学业选择的经济影响吧。根据(美国)国家教育统计中心的数据，约80%的大学生最后都至少转过一次专业。鉴于高中强制性基础课程使学生对于大学里广阔的学术选择知之甚少，这并不奇怪。许多学生发现自己在大学申请书中填报了一个专业，上过大学课程之后却转到了另一个专业。这并不一定是坏事，但是根据学校的不同，由于转专业太迟，补学分的费用可能会很高。例如，在波士顿学院，如果你要从其他院系转到护理学院的话，就必须再多读一年。选择间隔年一开始就把事情理顺有助于预防压力，之后还能节省开支。
五道题
31. One of the reasons for high-school graduates not taking a gap year is that_____.
A．they think it academically misleading
B．they have a lot of fun to expect in college
C．it feels strange to do differently from others
D．it seems worthless to take off-campus courses
32. Studies from the US and Australia imply that taking a gap year helps_____.
A．keep students from being unrealistic
B．lower risks in choosing careers
C．ease freshmen’s financial burdens
D．relieve freshmen of pressures
33. The word “acclimation”（ Para. 3） is closest in meaning to_____.
A．adaptation
B．application
C．motivation
D．competition
34. A gap year may save money for students by helping them_____.
A．avoid academic failures
B．establish long-term goals
C．switch to another college
D．decide on the right major
35. The most suitable title for this text would be_____.
A．In Favor of the Gap Year
B．The ABCs of the Gap Year
C．The Gap Year Comes Back
D．The Gap Year: A Dilemma
参考答案
CDADA
答案解析
31、首段①句说明“毕业生不选择间隔年”的环境因素，即“尽早人学”的社会压力和快速发展的世界对个人越来越高的要求；②③句补充主观原因：周围人都直人大学，一意孤行显得愚蠢；连读12年书突然休整一年感觉“有违常理”，[C]正确概括了毕业生这种从众心理(群体压力)。
32、由题干关键词Studies from the US and Australia定位至第三段， 本段借美、澳两国研究指出间隔年能帮助学生做好准备，更顺利地适应大学环境，更自如地应对多数新生最为头疼的问题，即间隔年相当于大学预演环节，使学生提前受到磨炼，减轻适应新环境的压力，[D]正确。
33、所考词出现于第三段③句，本句指出间隔年经历可以帮助人们“更好地适应大学的新环境， 从而专注于学业和活动， 而非acclimation blunders”， 推知acclimation blunders和“专注学业”对立， 即“牵绊于学业之外的问题”， 结合上文可知为a climat in为“(新生对环境的) 适应”问题， [A] 正确。
34、由题干关键词save money定位至第四段， 本段利用研究数据说明间隔年能帮助学生更好地确定自身兴趣所在，减少转专业造成的金钱上的浪费，故[D]正确。hayo me rodion ma
35、首段介绍了普遍现象“毕业生完全忽视间隔年”，第二段提出作者观点“间隔年可以帮助学生获得学业上的成功”，第三、四段通过分析间隔年的作用论证这一观点，可见全文立意在于“呼吁毕业生重视间隔年的意义”，[A]正确。
