Every society has its own special expressions, and ways of saying things. One popular expression in the United States is “hitting the books”. It means studying a subject with great effort.
One of the great challenges for students is taking tests. The students must do well on the lest to advance. A student who hits the books spends long hours preparing for a test. They read all their books carefully, and then read them a second time, and very often a third time. They make sure they know all the material the teacher has offered and prepare for every possible question. They study every night. They are “hitting the books.”
In the United States, most children begin attending school when they are six years old. Public education is free and most children go to schools near their homes. Schooling in these early years is fun. The children learn to read and write. But they also play games and go on trips. There is no reason at such an early age for them to hit the books.
This situation changes as children become older. The subjects become more difficult. Students must learn world history, math, and the life sciences. Tests become more common. Pressure is growing to hit the books, study hard and advance.
However, most serious students only really begin hitting the books for long hours when they reach high school.
High school students who hope to stop their education at a college or university must lake a special national test called the S-A-T. The test has two parts. The first part tests the students’ ability with numbers and mathematical skills, the second part tests the students’ ability in the English language.
The S-A-T test is very important. A high school student who gets a high score on the two parts of the test has a good opportunity to enter a top American college. For this reason, many students hit the books for months to prepare for the S-A-T.
All this adds up to a lot of work, studying, “hitting the books”. Knowledge is a prize that is not easy to gain.
12. Students have many great challenges, one of which is ______.
A.reading books | B.taking tests |
C.attending school | D.learning to write |
13. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A.American students don’t have to pay for their education |
B.High school students in the U. S. don’t have to hit the books. |
C.It is not easy for a high school students to enter a top American college. |
D.American students at an early age learn a lot of subjects. |
14. The S-A-T is ______.
A.an international lest | B.a special language lest |
C.a special mathematical test | D.a special national test |
15. Which of the following might be the best title for the passage?
A.Public Education in the United States. |
B.The S-A-T Test. |
C.Hitting the Books. |
D.How to Gain knowledge. |