Question

Frederick M. Hess is the director of education policy study at the American Enterprise Institute, which is a nonprofit organization that does research on many public topics. He says that a long summer vacation doesn’t make sense in today’s world.

Can American students afford to take a summer vacation? In a summer vacation, millions of children spend valuable time sending messages, watching TV, playing video games and doing shopping in the mall. They will also be putting their academic futures at risk.

Summer vacation once made sense in the past when you didn’t need an education to get a good job. But now things have changed. For today’s students, academic skills are important to students’ future success, but such skills are affected in the summer time. Many other countries don’t give children an American style summer vacation. They offer no more than seven consecutive (连续的) weeks of vacation. Most American school districts offer up to thirteen weeks. To compete in the global marketplace, Americans must be prepared to go up against international competitors.

Summer vacation also causes challenges for today’s families. In the 1960s, more than 60% of families had a stay­at­home Mum. Now, two thirds of American children live in households where every adult works. For these families, summer vacation can be more a burden than a break. Someone must watch the kids.

But the biggest problem may be how summer vacation hurts academic achievement. Researchers have found that disadvantaged students lose ground in the summer time.

Any good suggestion? Yes. A longer school year does not have to be an invitation to hard boring work. Rather, it should allow time-pressed teachers to conduct richer and more imaginative lessons. Students would have more time to devote to sports, music and the arts.

To conclude, a long summer vacation can be a great thing. But in the 21st century, it may also be outdated.     （313 words）

Title：About      1.

Theme	A long summer vacation doesn’t make sense in today’s world.
Basic Information	Vacation length	●In other countries: no more than 7 weeks ●In the USA: mostly    2.    weeks
Students’ activities	●Sending messages and watching TV ●Playing video games ●Doing    3.
Causing     4.   for families	Making parents watch kids at home
Hurting   5.	Making disadvantaged students 6.  ground
7.	Students should study richer and more imaginative   8.   , and have more time for sports, music and the arts in a longer school year.
9.	Summer vacation can be great but may be    10.    as well.

Answer

1.(Long) Summer Vacations/Holidays

2.(up to )Thirteen

3.shopping

4.challenges

5.academic achievement

6.lose

7.Suggestion/Advice/Tip

8.lessons

9.Conclusion/Summary

10.outdated

【解析】

本文是一篇说明文，围绕暑假的主题，对比了现在和过去的暑假，对比了美国和其他国家孩子们的暑假现状，提出了一些建议。

1. Summer Vacations/Holidays。分析归纳题。这篇文章主要围绕的是暑假。文章对比了现在和过去的暑假，提出了现在暑假的现状，以及建议。故表格题目为(Long) Summer Vacations/Holidays。

2. to )Thirteen/13。细节题。文章第三段倒数第二句Most American school districts offer up to thirteen weeks. 大多数美国的州暑假长至13周，故填 (up to )Thirteen/13。

3. In a summer vacation, millions of children spend valuable time sending messages, watching TV, playing video games and doing shopping in the mall.在暑假，成千上万的孩子们将珍贵的时间花在发短信、看电视、玩游戏和商城上购物上。故填shopping

4. vacation also causes challenges for today’s families. In the 1960s, more than 60% of families had a stay­at­home Mum.暑假对于如今的家庭也产生了挑战，在20世纪60年代，超过百分之60的家庭有一个在家的妇女。故填challenges。

5. achievement细节题，第五段But the biggest problem may be how summer vacation hurts academic achievement. Researchers have found that disadvantaged students lose ground in the summer time.但是最大的问题可能是暑假如何损伤学术成果。研究者发现，贫困生的学生的学生在暑假失利。故填academic achievement

6. lose 细节题，第五段。Researchers have found that disadvantaged students lose ground in the summer time.研究者已经发现，贫困生在暑假的时候失利。故填lose

7. 分析推断题。根据该空右边的内容在文中倒数第二段中体现。告诉第二段第一句any suggestions？可以知道应填Suggestion/Advice/Tip。

8. it should allow time-pressed teachers to conduct richer and more imaginative lessons. 此外，还需要时间紧迫的老师们去教导更充实和富有想象力的课程。故填lessons。

9. conclude可以看出是在总结，故填Conclusion/Summary。

10. 细节题。To conclude, a long summer vacation can be a great thing. But in the 21st century, it may also be outdated. 总的来说，一个长长的暑假可能是一个好事，但是在21世纪，它可能还是落伍了。故填outdated。

考点：考察说明文阅读。