Q My daughter is a junior in high school and has been on an individualized education program since fourth grade. She plans to go to college and intends to finish with a master’s degree. Her performance is fairly good, but test scores are very low. She has held many leadership and volunteer positions. We have been advised to have her write an essay about how her learning disability is a barrier that she has overcome. Will that help or hurt her chances for admission?
—Deborah
A  First let me answer the question on low standardized test scores (ACT/ SAT). There are hundreds of colleges that are “test optional” which means students can choose not to release their test scores in the application process. Admission decisions at these colleges for students who do not submit their test scores are made based on other factors. A list of test optional colleges can be found at fairtest.org. It is important, however, to make sure that the college is the right fit academically regardless of the test optional policy.
You also asked if your daughter should write about her disability and if this would hurt her chances of being admitted. Please know that colleges do not deny admission based on disability. “Disclosing” a learning disability in a personal statement within the college application can certainly help. By writing a personal statement, students can potentially demonstrate, for example, their understanding of the challenge they face. They might also demonstrate an improved grade trend in that subject area, and show interest in more complex courses in spite of this disability. More importantly, a student disclosure can show self-confidence, motivation and an understanding of the disability.
—Ms. Kravis
【小题1】What do we know about Deborah’s daughter?

Q My daughter is a junior in high school and has been on an individualized education program since fourth grade. She plans to go to college and intends to finish with a master’s degree. Her performance is fairly good, but test scores are very low. She has held many leadership and volunteer positions. We have been advised to have her write an essay about how her learning disability is a barrier that she has overcome. Will that help or hurt her chances for admission?
—Deborah
A  First let me answer the question on low standardized test scores (ACT/ SAT). There are hundreds of colleges that are “test optional” which means students can choose not to release their test scores in the application process. Admission decisions at these colleges for students who do not submit their test scores are made based on other factors. A list of test optional colleges can be found at fairtest.org. It is important, however, to make sure that the college is the right fit academically regardless of the test optional policy.
You also asked if your daughter should write about her disability and if this would hurt her chances of being admitted. Please know that colleges do not deny admission based on disability. “Disclosing” a learning disability in a personal statement within the college application can certainly help. By writing a personal statement, students can potentially demonstrate, for example, their understanding of the challenge they face. They might also demonstrate an improved grade trend in that subject area, and show interest in more complex courses in spite of this disability. More importantly, a student disclosure can show self-confidence, motivation and an understanding of the disability.
—Ms. Kravis

1. 1.

   What do we know about Deborah’s daughter?

   1. A.
      She is applying for a master’s degree.
   2. B.
      She is very active in her high school.
   3. C.
      Her disability prevents her studying well.
   4. D.
      She has difficulty overcoming her learning disability.
2. 2.

   According to Ms. Kravis, what can Deborah do about her daughter’s low test scores?

   1. A.
      Keep them secret
   2. B.
      Explain the reasons
   3. C.
      Stress other aspects
   4. D.
      Work hard to improve
3. 3.

   What is Ms. Kravis’ attitude toward one’s declaring his/ her learning disability?

   1. A.
      Supportive
   2. B.
      Opposed
   3. C.
      Doubtful
   4. D.
      Unconcerned
4. 4.

   According to the text, Ms. Kravis is probably         .

   1. A.
      an editor
   2. B.
      a school leader
   3. C.
      a psychological
   4. D.
      an educational expert

   There are two basic ways to see growth: one as a product, the other as a process. People have generally viewed personal growth as an external (外在的) result or a product that can easily be identified and measured. The worker who gets a rise, the student whose grades improve, and the foreigner who learns a new language—all these examples of people who have measurable results to show for their efforts.

     By contrast (对照), the process of personal growth is much more difficult to determine, since it is a journey and not the specific signposts or landmarks along the way. The process is not the road itself, but rather the attitudes and feelings people have, their caution or courage, as they meet with new experiences and unexpected difficulties. In this process, the journey never really ends; there are always new ways to experience the world, new ideas to try, new challenges to accept.

     In order to grow, to travel new roads, people need to have a willingness to take risks, to face the unknown, and to accept the possibility that they may “fail” at first. How we see ourselves as we try a new way of being is essential to our ability to grow. Do we see ourselves as quick and curious? If so, then we tend to take more changes and to be more open to unfamiliar experiences. Do we think we’re shy and indecisive? Then our sense of fear can cause us to hesitate, to move slowly, and not to take a step until we know the ground is safe. Do we think we’re slow to adapt to change or that we’re not smart enough to deal with a new challenge? Then we are likely to take a more passive role or not try at all.

     These feelings of insecurity and self-doubt are both unavoidable and necessary if we are to change and grow. If we do not face and overcome these internal fears and doubts, if we protect ourselves too much, then we stop growing. We become trapped inside a shell of our own making.

In the author’s eyes, one who views personal growth as a process would __________.

A. succeed in climbing up the social ladder

B. judge his ability to grow from his own achievements

C. face difficulties and take up challenges

D. aim high and reach his goal each time

Which of the following can be viewed as the process of personal growth?

A. Our manager was always willing to accept new challenges.

    B. Little Tom won the first prize in the Speech Contest.

    C. Max picked up French while he was in Paris.

    D. Daddy’s salary rose from $3,000 to $3,800.

The best title for this passage should be _________.

     A. Facing new challenges     

B. Growth ―product or process

     C. Unavoidable feeling of self-doubt

D. Overcoming internal fears

    There are two basic ways to see growth: one as a product, the other as a process．People have generally viewed personal growth as an external （外在的） result or a product that can easily be identified and measured．The worker who gets a rise, the student whose grades improve, and the foreigner who learns a new language—all these examples of people who have measurable results to show for their efforts．

     By contrast （对照）, the process of personal growth is much more difficult to determine, since it is a journey and not the specific signposts or landmarks along the way．The process is not the road itself, but rather the attitudes and feelings people have, their caution or courage, as they meet with new experiences and unexpected difficulties．In this process, the journey never really ends; there are always new ways to experience the world, new ideas to try, new challenges to accept．

     In order to grow, to travel new roads, people need to have a willingness to take risks, to face the unknown, and to accept the possibility that they may “fail” at first．How we see ourselves as we try a new way of being is essential to our ability to grow．Do we see ourselves as quick and curious? If so, then we tend to take more changes and to be more open to unfamiliar experiences．Do we think we’re shy and indecisive? Then our sense of fear can cause us to hesitate, to move slowly, and not to take a step until we know the ground is safe．Do we think we’re slow to adapt to change or that we’re not smart enough to deal with a new challenge? Then we are likely to take a more passive role or not try at all．

     These feelings of insecurity and self-doubt are both unavoidable and necessary if we are to change and grow．If we do not face and overcome these internal fears and doubts, if we protect ourselves too much, then we stop growing．We become trapped inside a shell of our own making．

40．In the author’s eyes, one who views personal growth as a process would __________．

       A．succeed in climbing up the social ladder

       B．judge his ability to grow from his own achievements

       C．face difficulties and take up challenges

       D．aim high and reach his goal each time

41．Which of the following can be viewed as the process of personal growth?

       A．Our manager was always willing to accept new challenges．

     B．Little Tom won the first prize in the Speech Contest．

     C．Max picked up French while he was in Paris．

     D．Daddy’s salary rose from $3,000 to $3,800．

42．About personal growth, the author advocates all of the following except _________．

       A．curiosity about more changes

       B．quickness in self-adaptation

       C．open-mindedness to new experiences    

       D．avoidance of internal fears and doubts

43．The best title for this passage should be _________．

     A．Facing new challenges   

       B．Growth ―product or process

     C．Unavoidable feeling of self-doubt

       D．Overcoming internal fears

Sometimes people come into your life and you come to realize that they were meant to be there, to serve some sort of purpose, teach you a lesson, or to help you figure out whom you are or who you want to become. You never know 16　 these people may be, but when you lock eyes with them, you know in an instant that they will 17　 your life in some profound way.

And sometimes things happen to you that may seem horrible, painful, and unfair at first, but

18　 you find that without overcoming difficulties you would have never realized your 19 , strength, willpower or heart. Everything happens for a 20 . Nothing happens　 21　 or by means of good luck. Illness, injury, love, brilliant achievements, and sheer stupidity all occur to　 22　 the limit of your soul. Without these small tests, whatever they may be, life would be like a　 23　 paved, straight, flat road to nowhere. It would be safe and 24 , but dull and utterly pointless.

The people you 25　 who affect your life, and the success and downfalls you 26 , help to create who you are and who you become. Even the　 27　 experiences can be learned from. In fact, they are the most important ones. If someone hurt you or breaks your heart, 28 them, for they have helped you learn about　 29　 and the importance of being　 30 . Make every day count. Appreciate every moment and take from those moments everything that you possibly can, for you may never be able to experience it　 31 . Talk to people that you have never talked to before, and actually listen. Let yourself fall in love, break free, and set your sights high. Hold your head up because you have every 32　 to. Tell yourself you are great and believe in yourself, for 33　 you don’t believe in yourself, it will be hard for 34　 to believe in you.

You can make of your life anything you wish. Create your own life and then go out and live it with absolutely no　 35 . Most importantly (!!!), if you love someone tell him or her, for you never know what tomorrow may have in store.

16. A. who　　　　 　 B. what　　　 　　　　 C. why　 　　　　　　　　　 D. that

17. A. destroy　　　 　 B. affect　　　　 　　 C. end　　　　　 　　 D. give

18. A. in need　　　　　　　 B. by turn　　　 　　　 C. in reflection　　 　　 D. with guidance

19. A. promise 　　　　　　 B. potential　　　　　　　　　 C. belief 　　　　 　　 D. wish

20. A. point　 　　　　　 B. start　　　　 　　　　 C. success　　 　　 　　 D. reason

21. A. in surprise　 　 B. on time　　　　　　 　 C. by chance　　 　　 D. with pleasure

22. A. test　　　　 　　 B. keep　　　　　 　　 C. hold　　　　　 　　 D. send　　　　

23. A. shortly　　　 　 B. quickly 　　　　　　 C. terribly　　　　 　　 D. smoothly　　

24. A. heavy　　　 　 B. colorful　　　　 　 C. satisfying　　　 　　 D. comfortable

25. A. think　　　 　　 B like　　　　　 　　 C. meet　　　　　 　　 D. miss　

26. A. achieve　　 　　 B. experience　　　 　 C. overcome　 　 　　　　 D. suffer

27. A. bad　　　 　　　 B. rich　　　　　 　　 C. personal　　　 　　　 D. pleasant

28. A. forget　　 　　　 B. forgive　　　　 　　 C. remember　　　 　 D. love

29. A. clever　　　 　　 B. value　　　　 　　　 C. life　　　　 　　　　　 D. trust

30. A. helpful　 　　　　 B. smart　　　 　　　　　 C. careful　　 　　　　　 D. serious

31. A. too　　　　 　　 B. then　　　　　 　　 C. before　　　　 　 D. again

32. A. day 　　　　　　　　　 B. way　　　 　　　　　　 C. right 　　　　　　　　　　 D. hand

33. A. if　　 　　　　　　　 B. unless　　　　 　　 C. as　　　　　 　　　 D. until

34. A. the others　　 　 B. some other　　 　　　 C. another　　　　 　　 D. others

35. A. pains　　 　　　　 B. regrets　　　　 　　 C. fair　　　 　　　　　 D. stress