高中英语话题阅读理解材料(2)
高中英语话题阅读(三)
Trying the SATs
YOU may complain that there are too many tests on the way to next year's college entrance examination, but an increasing number of students want to take one more. That is the Scholastic Aptitude Test, or SAT, an American test for students who intend to apply for college admission.
Chen Huanlu, 18 from Shandong Province took part in the SAT subject tests (SAT 2) in Hong Kong on June 2. She has also been scheduled (预定) to take the SAT reasoning test (SAT 1) in October.
"I hope to study environmental engineering at an American university, where I may have more opportunities to get cutting-edge (前沿的) knowledge in this area," said Chen, who is interested in environmental issues.
However, not all SAT test takers want to apply to American universities. Some simply regard the SAT as a challenge.
"I wanted to see how I would do when faced up with plenty of stress and also to evaluate (测评) my scholastic (学业的) level by an American standard. The SATs made my school life more diverse," said Senior 2 student Zhou Yuxiang from Sichuan Province.
The 17-year-old, a top student in his school, was inspired by some of his friends. They have taken this test and been admitted to American universities, including Harvard and Yale. Last winter vacation he took a 20-day SAT course at Chengdu New Oriental School (新东方学校).
"As I prepared for the test in the following months, I was forced to balance my everyday schedule better. Fortunately I was optimistic enough to have undergone (綷-历) the most difficult time," he said.
In May and June, Zhou flew alone to Hong Kong to sit for the SAT1 and SAT2.
"The reading section is a bit tough, but the math is a piece of cake for us Chinese," he said.
Zhou also discovered that the two tests have a lot in common.
"They are both the standards set for us to reach. What we should do more sensibly (明智地) is to try harder to prepare for them. Survival of the fittest (适者生存) is true both in America and China. That is something I have learnt beyond the SAT itself," he said.
What is SAT?
NEARLY every college in America accepts the SAT or Subject Tests as a part of its admissions process.
The SAT reasoning test (SAT1) is a measure of the critical thinking skills you'll need for academic success in college. The SAT1 includes three sections: writing, critical reading and math.
The SAT subject tests (SAT2) are designed to measure your knowledge and skills in particular subject areas. The SAT 2 falls into five general subject areas: literature, US history, world history, math, science (biology, chemistry and physics) and languages.
