The rise of the “gap year”

广东中山市龙山中学 袁丹纯

难词探意

1.envisage/ın΄vızıdʒ/v.设想

2.scenario/sə΄nɑːriəʊ/n.方案；设想

3.deferral/dı΄fзːrəl/n.延期；推迟

4.scrutiny/΄skruːtəni/n.认真彻底的审查

5.detrimental/ˌdetrı΄mentl/adj.不利的；有害的

Devon Tyrie had a plan for the academic year.The Massachusetts native wanted to take a gap year between graduating from high school and starting university,combining volunteer work,international travel and internships.But with this year's social distancing rules and travel restrictions,it's clear that her year will not pan out as envisaged.

Tyrie,18,says she's had to make a decision based on worst-case scenarios.She's applied for a deferral to the next academic year.“It's kind of tough right now,not knowing,but I'm doing my best to make a plan,”says Tyrie.

Taking a gap year between high school and university is fairly common in many parts of Europe,the UK,Australia and New Zealand.In the US,the practice is less common,but attracted mainstream attention in 2016 when Barack Obama's daughter Malia took a gap year before attending Harvard University.Critics point out that the gap year is often an opportunity reserved for the wealthy.Yet the concept—together with its pros and cons—is under increased scrutiny now as students all over the world weigh up their options for the year ahead.

In a recent study on university access,statistics have shown that this year witnesses an increasing number of university applicants who prefer to defer a place in favour of a gap year.

Gabriel Hostin,17,had decided that he would take a gap year before attending Harvard.In terms of the immediate future,he's looking at domestic volunteer programmes including community work closer to the New York area,where he's from.For his peers who are going straight to university,he says there's concern about not being able to be on the campus when the academic year starts.“For me,that's not college although I can study online,”says Hostin.

Kim,whose daughter took a gap year in the Republic of Korea through a US-government funded initiative,says that for a gap year to be valuable,it needs to be educational and ideally have a structured component.However,it needs to take caution as well.Having an unplanned and unstructured gap year can be detrimental to students,says Kim,because they're more likely to lose their momentum and decide not to attend college altogether.

For those who struggle to find meaningful activities,experts suggest thinking about using the skills they have to help organizations that might benefit.

Language

Study

Ⅰ.Difficult sentences

1.Yet the concept—together with its pros and cons—is under increased scrutiny now as students all over the world weigh up their options for the year ahead.

翻译：但是当全世界的学生都在琢磨下一年的计划时，他们越来越认真地考虑（间隔年）这个想法及其优缺点。

分析：本句是一个主从复合句，as students all over the world weigh up their options for the year ahead为时间状语从句，weigh up为谓语动词,意为“琢磨”。在翻译be under increased scrutiny这个介词短语的时候，为了符合中文多动词的特点，我们可以将此处的名词scrutiny转变成动词“考虑”，同时增加“学生”作为主语，并改变句序，译为“学生越来越认真地考虑这个想法及其优缺点”,使其翻译更加地道。

2.Having an unplanned and unstructured gap year can be detrimental to students,says Kim,because they're more likely to lose their momentum and decide not to attend college altogether.

翻译：Kim说，一个无计划、无组织的间隔年对学生是有害的，因为学生更有可能因此失去动力，决定不再上大学。

分析：Having an unplanned and unstructured gap year是非谓语作主语；because they're more likely to lose their momentum and decide not to attend college altogether为原因状语从句，解释前面所提到对学生有害的观点。其中be more likely to do sth表示“更有可能做某事”。

Ⅱ.Useful sentence pattern

But with this year's social distancing rules and travel restrictions,it's clear that her year will not pan out as envisaged.

翻译：但是有了今年的社交距离限制和旅行限制等措施，很清楚的是，她的计划不会像预期的那样顺利开展。

分析：本句使用了with...的结构，意为“有了……”。

Practice：句式仿写

有了她的帮忙，我们的困难很快就得到解决了。

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＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿

Reading

Check

假定你是李华，今年高三毕业。你的好朋友Paul毕业后打算参加“间隔年”，写信咨询你对“间隔年”的看法，以及毕业后的计划。

内容要点：

1.“间隔年”的利弊及你的看法；

2.你的计划：是否会参加“间隔年”，会做什么。注意：

1.词数150左右，开头和结尾已给出，不计入总词数；

2.可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯;

3.每段的段首或段尾需出现主题句。

Dear Paul,

Glad to hear from you.Learning that you have made a decision to take a gap year after graduation,I am writing to share with you my idea on the gap year.＿＿＿＿＿

Looking forward to your reply.

Yours,

Li Hua

写作导引

这是一篇说明文的写作，要求学生谈谈“间隔年”的利与弊，并且说出自己毕业后的计划。这些写作要求和本文内容是紧密相关的。我们可以通过整合同主题阅读材料的内容和语言来梳理写作思路和积累素材。

一、确定主题内容

1.What is the passage about?

＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿

＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿

2.Fill in the blanks in the table.

She is still trying her best to make a plan for it.Gabriel Host in （1）People Views on the gap year What to do during the gap year Devon Tyrie She had a clear idea before but feels a little uncertain right now.（2）People Suggestions Kim （3）Experts （4）

（1）Taking a gap year is better than online learning.

（2）He's looking at domestic volunteer programmes including community work closer to the New York area.

（3）Taking a gap year can be valuable when it is educational and ideally has a structured component.But if not so,it will do harm to students.

（4）Use students's kill to help organizations.

二、整合话题表达

这是基于同一主题的阅读和写作，我们通过模仿，学习运用阅读中的语言表达，如词组和句型，积累写作的语言素材。

（一）社会现象类核心表达

Statistics have shown that this year witnesses an increasing number of university applicants who prefer to defer a place in favour of a gap year.

→It is shown that graduates from high school are more likely to take a gap year this year.

Taking a gap year between high school and university is fairly common in many parts of Europe,the UK,Australia and New Zealand.

→It is fairly popular for young people in many parts of Europe,the UK,Australia and New Zealand,to take a gap year.

（二）观点利弊类核心表达

Critics point out that the gap year is often an opportunity reserved for the wealthy.

→There are critics who argue that it is always a privilege for the wealthy to take a gap year.

Having an unplanned and unstructured gap year can be detrimental to students,because they're more likely to lose their momentum and decide not to attend college altogether.

→It can be harmful for students to have an unplanned and unstructured gap year because they may become less motivated and less willing to attend college.

Its pros and cons are under increased scrutiny now.

→Its advantages and disadvantages have become a heated discussion recently.

（三）“间隔年”活动核心表达

He wanted to take a gap year between graduating from high school and starting university,combining volunteer work,international travel and internships.

→He wanted to get involved with volunteer work,international travel and internships in a gap year.

In terms of the immediate future,he's looking at domestic volunteer programmes including community work.

→In the near future,he is ready to take part in volunteer programmes,such as community work in his country.

三、搭建写作支架

本次写作任务是一篇表达观点的说明文，根据任务中的要求，语篇结构可定为“现象描述—正反观点—我的观点—我的计划”。文章的框架如下：

It is a new trend for...to take a gap year in China.(现象描述)Its advantages and disadvantages are under increased scrutiny now.Some argue that...;while others point out that...(正反观点)As far as I am concerned,taking a gap year can be...because...（我的观点）

When asked whether I will take a gap year,I will approve/disapprove of...There are some activities for me to get involved with.（我的计划）First,...;in addition,...;last,...I am sure that I will have fun and benefit from it.（总结）

四、连句成文，加工润色

根据以上提供的主题、话题表达和语篇结构，写出书信的第二、三段。第二段回答观点，第三段回复计划。尽量保持两段词数相当，约70个词。多使用短语和丰富的句型，使其长短相间，错落有致。尤其要注意表达的内在逻辑关系，是总分、并列还是转折关系，因此，需要注意使用恰当的连词。