选对课程,规划人生

When they reach Year 9 of secondary school （ages 13-14）， UK students have to select which subjects they will study in Years 10 and 11. Most chosen courses will result in a GCSE注qualification， although subjects can be taken at different levels depending on academic[学术的] ability. Many schools also offer “vocational[职业的]” options， for those who want to acquire more work-related knowledge and skills.

English， science， and mathematics are compulsory[必修的]， while other subjects are optional[选修的]. For example， students can choose one course from each of the following areas： Arts （e.g. music， art， drama）； Humanities[人文学科] （geography or history）； Modern foreign languages； Design technology.

For all students， making the right choice means thinking carefully about what subjects they either enjoy or are good at. Knowing what career they want to follow， or what they want to study at higher education， can make life easier， as choices will be linked to what is relevant[相关的] or essential[关键的]. Meanwhile， students who don’t yet know what they want to do later in life tend to keep their options open and select a range of subjects.

The choices students make in Year 9 can impact[对……产生影响] on the rest of their lives and while some find the process easy and exciting， for others it can be stressful and agonising[担忧]. So students are always encouraged to take their time and talk to their teachers， parents and carers[看护] about what is right for them.

（十三四岁的）英国中学生到了九年级就必须选择十、十一年级要学的科目。尽管这些科目会按照学习的难度分级，但是它们大部分都会与GCSE挂钩。许多学校也会开设“职业类”选修课，以针对想要学习更多职业技能知识的学生。

英语、科学以及数学为必修课，其他科目都是选修课。例如，学生可以从以下类别中各选择一门课程：艺术类（如音乐、美术和戏剧）；人文学科（地理或历史）；现代外语；设计与技术。

对所有学生而言，选择合适的课程就需要他们仔细考虑自己喜欢或者擅长哪些科目。如果学生知道自己未来的就业方向或是报读大学的专业方向，他们的人生也会过得更自在些，因为这时的选择与他们的未来息息相关并起到关键作用。而仍未知道自己未来方向的学生一般会保留选择的权利，从而挑选一系列的课程。

学生在九年级所做的选择可能会影响他们的一生。在这个选择的过程中，有的学生觉得选起来很容易并且很刺激；有的则感到压力巨大，充满忧虑。因此，人们总会鼓励学生们从容面对，多跟老师、家长和辅导员商量什么才适合他们。

Word of the day： Compulsory （adj.）

Compulsory （from Latin） means that something has to be done. There is no choice. Example： Some countries have compulsory military[军事的] service for all male school leavers.（在一些国家，所有男性毕业生都必须参加义务性兵役。）

Comprehension

According to the article， are the following statements true or false？

a） Students wanting to go to university should choose vocational subjects.

b） A student in the UK will study the same subjects in Years 10 and 11.

c） Students can choose between English， Maths and Science.

d） The subjects you choose can affect your later career choices.

Collocation[词组搭配]

Match the verbs （a―e） to a noun （i―v）.

a） keep

b） choose

c） make

d） take

e） acquire

i） a choice

ii） skills

iii） your subjects

iv） your options open

v） your time