This year some twenty-three hundred teenagers
(young people aged from13~19)from all over the world will spend about ten
months in U.S. homes. They will attend U.S. schools, meet U.S. teenagers, and
form impressions of the real America. At the same time, about thirteen hundred
American teenagers will go to other countries to learn new languages and gain a
new understanding of the rest of the world.
Here is a two-way student exchange in action. Fred,
nineteen, spent last year in Germany with George’s family. In turn, George’s
son Mike spent a year in Fred’s home in America.
Fred, a lively young man, knew little German when he
arrived, but after two months’ study the language began to come to him. School
was completely different from what he had expected—much harder. Students rose
respectfully when the teacher entered the room. They took fourteen subjects
instead of the six that are usual in the United States. There were almost no
outside activities.
Family life, too, was different. The father’s word was
law, and all activities were around the family rather than the individual. Fred
found the food too simple at first. Also, he missed having a car.
“Back home, you pick up some friends in a car and go
out and have a good time. In Germany, you walk, but you soon learn to like it.”
At the same time, in America, Mike, a friendly German
boy, was also forming his idea. “I suppose I should criticize(批评)American schools,” he said. “It is far too easy by
our level. But I have to say that I like it very much. In Germany we do nothing
but study. Here we take part in many outside activities. I think that maybe
your schools are better in training for citizens. There ought to be some middle
ground between the two.”
1.This year ________teenagers will take part in the
exchange programme between America and other countries.
A.twenty-three
hundred B.thirteen
hundred
C.over three
thousand D.less than two
thousand
2.The whole exchange programme is mainly to__________.
A.help
teenagers in other countries know the real America
B.send students
in America to travel in Germany
C.let students
learn something about other countries
D.have
teenagers learn new languages
3.Fred and Mike agree that__________.
A.America food
tasted better than German food
B.German
schools were harder than American schools
C.Americans and
Germans were both friendly
D.There were
more cars on the streets in America
4.What is particular in American schools is
that________.
A.there is some
middle ground between the two teaching buildings
B.there are a
lot of after-school activities
C.students
usually take fourteen subjects in all
D.students go
out side to enjoy themselves in a car