11 学习和成长- 高中高三英语阅读理解专项训练(含答案).docxVIP

11学习和成长

ADifferentKindofSpringBreak

FormanyAmericanuniversitystudents,theweek-longspringbreakholidaymeansanendlesspartonasunnybeachinFloridaorMexico.InPanamaCityBeach,Florida,acitywithapermanentpopulationofapproximately36,000,morethanhalfamillionuniversitystudentsarriveduringthemonthofMarchtoplayandparty,makingitthenumberonespringbreakdestinationintheUnitedStates.

Aweek-longdrinkingbingeisnotforeveryone,however,andagrowingnumberofAmericanuniversitystudentshavefoundawaytomakespringbreakmatter.Forthem,joiningorleadingagroupofvolunteerstotravellocallyorinternationallyandworktoaddressproblemssuchaspoverty,homelessness,orenvironmentaldamagemakesspringbreakauniquelearningexperiencethatuniversitystudentscanfeelgoodat.

Duringonespringbreakweek,studentsatJamesMadisonUniversityinVirginiaparticipatedin15“alternativespringbreak”tripstonearbystates,threeotherstomoredistantpartsoftheUnitedStates,andfiveinternationaltrips.OnegroupofJMUstudentstraveledtoBogalusa,Louisiana,tohelprebuildhomesdamagedbyHurricaneKatrina.AnothergrouptraveledtoMississippitoorganizecreativeactivitiesforchildrenlivinginahomelessshelter.OnegroupofstudentsdidgotoFlorida,butnottolieonthesand.TheyperformedexhaustingphysicallaborsuchasmaintainingrovinginvasiveplantspeciesthatthreatenthenativeFloridaecosystem.

Studentswhoparticipateinalternativespringbreakprojectsfindthemveryrewarding.Whilemostuniversitystudentshavetogettheirdegreesbeforetheycanstarthelpingpeople,studentvolunteersareabletohelppeoplenow.Ontheotherhand,theaccommodationsarefarfromglamorous.Studentsoftensleeponthefloorofaschoolorchurch,orspendtheweekcampingintents.Butstudentsonlypayaround$250formealsandtransportation,whichismuchlessthansomeof