The rise of the “gap year”

廣東中山市龍山中學 袁丹純

難詞探意

1.envisage/?n?v?z?d?/v.設想

2.scenario/s??nɑ?ri??/n.方案；設想

3.deferral/d??fз?r?l/n.延期；推遲

4.scrutiny/?skru?t?ni/n.認真徹底的審查

5.detrimental/?detr??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.

翻譯：但是當全世界的學生都在琢磨下一年的計劃時，他們越來越認真地考慮（間隔年）這個想法及其優缺點。

分析：本句是一個主從復合句，as students all over the world weigh up their options for the year ahead為時間狀語從句，weigh up為謂語動詞,意為“琢磨”。在翻譯be under increased scrutiny這個介詞短語的時候，為了符合中文多動詞的特點，我們可以將此處的名詞scrutiny轉變成動詞“考慮”，同時增加“學生”作為主語，并改變句序，譯為“學生越來越認真地考慮這個想法及其優缺點”,使其翻譯更加地道。

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.

翻譯：Kim說，一個無計劃、無組織的間隔年對學生是有害的，因為學生更有可能因此失去動力，決定不再上大學。

分析：Having an unplanned and unstructured gap year是非謂語作主語；because they're more likely to lose their momentum and decide not to attend college altogether為原因狀語從句，解釋前面所提到對學生有害的觀點。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.

翻譯：但是有了今年的社交距離限制和旅行限制等措施，很清楚的是，她的計劃不會像預期的那樣順利開展。

分析：本句使用了with...的結構，意為“有了……”。

Practice：句式仿寫

有了她的幫忙，我們的困難很快就得到解決了。

＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿

＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿

Reading

Check

假定你是李華，今年高三畢業。你的好朋友Paul畢業后打算參加“間隔年”，寫信咨詢你對“間隔年”的看法，以及畢業后的計劃。

內容要點：

1.“間隔年”的利弊及你的看法；

2.你的計劃：是否會參加“間隔年”，會做什么。注意：

1.詞數150左右，開頭和結尾已給出，不計入總詞數；

2.可以適當增加細節，以使行文連貫;

3.每段的段首或段尾需出現主題句。

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

寫作導引

這是一篇說明文的寫作，要求學生談談“間隔年”的利與弊，并且說出自己畢業后的計劃。這些寫作要求和本文內容是緊密相關的。我們可以通過整合同主題閱讀材料的內容和語言來梳理寫作思路和積累素材。

一、確定主題內容

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、整合話題表達

這是基于同一主題的閱讀和寫作，我們通過模仿，學習運用閱讀中的語言表達，如詞組和句型，積累寫作的語言素材。

（一）社會現象類核心表達

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）觀點利弊類核心表達

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）“間隔年”活動核心表達

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、搭建寫作支架

本次寫作任務是一篇表達觀點的說明文，根據任務中的要求，語篇結構可定為“現象描述—正反觀點—我的觀點—我的計劃”。文章的框架如下：

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

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

四、連句成文，加工潤色

根據以上提供的主題、話題表達和語篇結構，寫出書信的第二、三段。第二段回答觀點，第三段回復計劃。盡量保持兩段詞數相當，約70個詞。多使用短語和豐富的句型，使其長短相間，錯落有致。尤其要注意表達的內在邏輯關系，是總分、并列還是轉折關系，因此，需要注意使用恰當的連詞。