Gap year is often a time young people travel or work to make more money for school before going to college. Nowadays the idea of taking a gap year is {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (广泛地) spread in America, especially among children {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (出生) to wealthy families. Each year between 30,000 and 40,000 young people in US make a {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (选择) to take a gap year.

    Malia Obama, daughter of then-president Barack Obama, received a lot of media {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (注意) when she decided to put off her studies by a year, {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (虽然) she had already been accepted by her university. In fact, US colleges and universities are now {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (鼓励) students to put off their studies to make use of a gap year.

    Malia said she felt at ease when she {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (回归) to begin her studies at the university. She knew more about herself. Also, when talking with friends who went straight to college from high school, she found many had a difficult time in their {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (第一) year of college. Some students said they felt lost at the college, {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (其他) questioned the field of study they had chosen.

    These feelings are common among freshmen. Young people today have to do more than ever before to be seen as {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (成功的). Taking a gap year may help reduce some of the pressure, and they can have more time to learn about themselves and think about their decisions!