Questions 36 to 40 are based on the following passage.
Early decision—you apply to one school, and admission is binding—seems like a great choice for nervous applicants Schools let in a higher percentage of early-decision applicants, which arguably means that you have a better chance of getting in. And if you do, you’re done with the whole agonizing process by December. But what most students and parents don’t realize is that schools have hidden motives for offering early decision.
Early decision since it’s binding, allows schools to fill their classes with qualified students; it allows admissions committees to select the students that are in particular demand for their college and know those students will come. It also gives schools a higher yield rate which is often used as one of the ways to measure college selectivity and popularity.
The problem is that this process effectively shortens the window of time students have to make one of the most important decisions of their lives up to that point. Under regular admissions, seniors have until May 1 to choose which school to attend; early decision effectively steals six months from them, months that could be used to visit more schools, do more research, speak to current students and alumni and arguably make a more informed decision.
There are, frankly, an astonishing number of exceptional colleges in America, and for any given student, there are a number of schools that are a great fit. When students become too fixated on a particular school early in the admissions process, that fixation can lead to severe disappointment if they don’t get in or, if they do, the possibility that they are now bound to go to a school that, given time for further reflection, may not actually be right for them.
Insofar as early decision offers a genuine admissions edge; that advantage goes largely to students who already have numerous advantages. The students who use early decision tend to be those who have received higher quality college guidance, usually a result of coming from a more privileged background. In this regard, there’s an argument against early decision, as students from lower-income families are far less likely to have the admissions know-how to navigate the often confusing early deadlines.
Students who have done their research and are confident that there’s one school they would be thrilled to get into should, under the current system, probably apply under early decision. But for students who haven’t yet done enough research, or who are still constantly changing their minds on favorite schools, the early decision system needlessly and prematurely narrows the field of possibility just at a time when students should be opening themselves to a whole range of thrilling options.
36. What are students obliged to do under early decision?
37. Why do schools offer early decision?
38. What is said to be the problem with early decision for students?
39. Why are some people opposed to early decisions?
40. What does the author advise college applicants to do?
问题1选项
A.Attend the school once they are admitted.
B.Look into a lot of schools before they apply.
C.Think twice before they accept the offer.
D.Consult the current students and alumni.
问题2选项
A.To provide more opportunities for applicants.
B.To avoid competition with other college.
C.To make sure they get qualified students.
D.To save students the agony of choosing a school.
问题3选项
A.It makes their application process more complicated.
B.It places too high a demand on their research ability.
C.It exerts much more psychological pressure on them.
D.It allows them little time to make informed decisions.
问题4选项
A.It interferes with students’ learning in high school.
B.It is biased against students at ordinary high schools.
C.It places students from lower income families at a disadvantage.
D.It causes unnecessary confusion among college applicants.
问题5选项
A.Refrain from competing with students from privileged families.
B.Find sufficient information about their favorite schools.
C.Avoid choosing early decision unless they are fully prepared.
D.Look beyond the few supposedly thrilling options.
第1题:A
第2题:C
第3题:D
第4题:C
第5题:B
36. 【试题答案】A
【试题解析】细节辨认题。由题干中的obliged to do和early decision定位到首段首句。Early decision—you apply to one school, and admission is binding…由定位句可知，在提前录取体制下，你申请一所学校，其录取具有约束力。A项“一旦他们被录取就去上学。”；B项“在申请之前多了解一些学校。”；C项“在他们接受这个提议之前要三思。”；D项“咨询目前的学生和校友。”。结合题意可知，A选项和“约束”呼应，正确。故答案为A。
37. 【试题答案】C
【试题解析】推理判断题。由题干中的offer early decision定位到首段最后一句。首段末句中提到“But what most students and parents don’t realize is that schools have hidden motives for offering early decision.”学校提供提前录取是有其隐藏的动机的。接下来，由第二段第一句可知，Early decision since it’s binding, allows schools to fill their classes with qualified students;提前录取可以使学校录取到高质量的学生。A项“为申请人提供更多的机会。”；B项“避免与其他大学竞争。”；C项“以确保他们得到合格的学生。”，符合题意。D项“为学生省去选学校的痛苦。”故答案为C。
38. 【试题答案】D
【试题解析】细节辨认题。由题干中的the problem和for students定位到第三段第一句。The problem is that this process effectively shortens the window of time students have to make one of the most important decisions of their lives up to that point.定位句指出，问题在于这个过程实际上缩短了学生必须作出他们到那时为止人生最重要的决定的时间。A项“这使得他们的申请过程更加复杂。”未说明。B项“这对他们的研究能力要求太高了。”未提及。C项“这会给他们带来更多的心理压力”，D项“这让他们很少有时间做出明智的决定。”D项更符合题意。
39. 【试题答案】C
【试题解析】细节辨认题。由题干中的opposed定位到倒数第二段最后一句。In this regard, there’s an argument against early decision, as students from lower-income families are far less likely to have the admissions know-how to navigate the often confusing early deadlines.定位句指出，有人反对提前录取，因为低收入家庭的学生收到录取指南以助他们理解那些常常让人困惑的提前录取截止时间的可能性要小得多。A项“它干扰了学生在高中的学习。”；B项“它对普通高中的学生有偏见。”；C选项“它让来自低收入家庭的学生处于不利地位”符合。D项“这在大学申请者中造成了不必要的混乱。”。C选项符合，故答案为C。
40. 【试题答案】B
【试题解析】推理判断题。由题干中的the author advise和题文同序原则定位到最后一段。
定位段第二句指出，But for students who haven’t yet done enough research, or who are still constantly changing their minds on favorite schools, the early decision system needlessly and prematurely narrows the field of possibility just at a time when students should be opening themselves to a whole range of thrilling options.对于那些没有做足研究或者始终无法确定自己最喜欢哪所学校的学生来说，提前录取体制没有必要并且过早地缩小了他们此时的选择范围，而这个时候他们正应该放开自己以迎接一系列令人心动的选择。A项“避免与来自特权家庭的学生竞争。”B项“找到他们最喜欢的学校的充分信息。”，符合题意。C项“避免过早作出决定，除非他们准备充分。”D项“不要只看那几个令人兴奋的选项”。故答案为B。
