INSTRUCTIONS: Read the essay and answer the questions that f…
INSTRUCTIONS: Read the essay and answer the questions that follow. Benefits of a Gap Year It is that time of the year again—graduation season. High school students are graduating and many of them will be starting university soon. However, look closely; a lot of them are tired and stressed from the challenges of high school classes and university admission tests and applications. Will they be ready to start their university studies? Will they be motivated to study hard when they get there? Some certainly will, but others may not. Those students may wish to consider another option. Thousands of students worldwide, particularly in Europe and increasingly in the United States, are taking a gap year—a year of work, service, travel, or exploration—before beginning college. Taking a gap year may not be the right decision for everyone, but for many students, it offers personal, academic, and professional benefits.During a gap year, students can choose a wide range of activities that encourage personal growth. Students can experience a new culture, learn a language, explore career options, or perform community service. Gap-year students report an increase in self-confidence and a greater ability to deal with the problems of everyday life. As a result of their experience, they are generally more mature than students who enter college directly after high school. This means they are more able to manage the challenges of college life.The year away from studying can help students make decisions about their future. Two research studies, one in Australia and one in the United States, compared college students who had taken a gap year with those who had not. They showed that the gap-year students were more motivated in their studies and had a greater commitment to complete their degree. Many of these students had used the gap year to explore career options. Some started out the year with one idea for their careers, but then ended with a very different one. The experience helped them to decide on their career goals. This means they did not waste time in college. Finally, some students use the year to earn money for college. When they start college, they can concentrate on their academic work instead of worrying about money.A gap-year experience has one more significant benefit. It may help students get into the university of their choice. University admissions officers say they are often more attractive applicants than students who enter college right after high school. They are aware that gap-year students often perform better in college. A study of these two groups at U.S. colleges showed that gap-year students earned better grades. This advantage continues even after students complete their degree. There is some evidence that the experience and skills gained during the gap year make them more attractive job candidates as well.Despite these clear benefits, parents often discourage their children from taking a gap year. Some educators agree with this point of view. They argue that if students take a break from their studies, it increases the chance that they will never go to college at all. On the surface, this argument has some merit. Young people who work between high school and college like having their own income and might not want to give it up. It is also true that some of them like to have their evenings and weekends free to enjoy themselves instead of studying. However, educational research refutes the argument that those who do not attend college directly after high school do not continue with their education. Karl Haigler, author of The Gap Year Advantage, has conducted research that shows 90 percent of all gap-year students return to their education. Most other studies show the same results.The gap-year experience is not for everyone. Some students go straight to college and are very successful. For many students, however, the gap year is the perfect break that encourages personal growth, leaving them better prepared for college and their future careers. These demonstrated benefits are significant, suggesting that more students should consider this option. What reason is given in the third paragraph for supporting gap years? Write the topic sentence here.