American movies create myths about college life in the United States. These stories are

entertaining, but they are not true. You have to look beyond Hollywood movies to understand what college is really like.

Thanks to the movies, many people believe that college students party and socialize more than they study. Movies almost never show students working hard in class or in the library. Instead, movies show them eating, talking, hanging out, or dancing to loud music at wild parties. While it

is true that American students have the freedom to participate in activities, they also have

academic responsibilities. In order to succeed, they have to attend classes and study hard.

Another movie myth is that athletics is the only important extracurricular activity. In fact, there is a wide variety of nonacademic activities on campus such as special clubs, service organizations, art, and theater programs. This variety allows students to choose what interests

them. Even more important, after graduation, students’ résumés look better to employers if they

list a few extracurricular activities.

Most students in the movies can easily afford higher education. If only this were true! While it is true that some American college students are wealthy, most are from families with moderate incomes. Up to 80% of them get some type of financial aid. Students from middle and lower- income families often work part-time throughout their college years. There is one thing that many college students have in common, but it is not something you will see in the movies. They have parents who think higher education is a priority, a necessary and important part of their children's lives.

Movies about college life usually have characters that are extreme in some way: super athletic, super intelligent, super wealthy, super glamorous, etc. Movies use these stereotypes, along with other myths of romance and adventure because audiences like going to movies that include these elements. Of course, real college students are not like movie characters at all.

So the next time you want a taste of the college experience, do not go to the movies. Look at some college websites or brochures instead. Take a walk around your local college campus. Visit a few classes. True, you may not be able to see the same people or exciting action you will see in the movies, but you can be sure that there are plenty of academic adventures going on all around you!

Question 38: Which of the following is true according to the passage?

A.    American students do not like to watch Hollywood movies.

B.   You should see college movies to understand college life.

C.    American colleges in the movies are not like those in reality.

D.    Movies about college life are similar to life and fun to watch.

Question 39: Which of the following is NOT true?

A.    There is a wide choice of extracurricular activities for college students.

B.   Extracurricular activities are of no importance to employers.

C.    Not all extracurricular activities are students’ academic responsibilities.

D.    Learning is not only part of students’ college life.

Question 40: The word “they” in the third paragraph refers to            .

A. activities                  B. résumés                    C. employers                D. students

Question 41: The word “moderate” in the fourth paragraph is closest in meaning to “                                                                                                                            ”.

A. not steady                 B. sensible                    C. unlimited                  D. not high

Question 42: Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the passage?

A.    Most college students’ families are not well-off.

B.   All college students have to work part-time.

C.    It is important for students to get higher education.

D.    Most students in the movies can afford college expenses.

Question 43: American parents believe in             .

A.    the necessity of higher education in their children's lives

B.   the quality of their children's college lives

C.    the extracurricular activities that help ensure their children’s jobs

D.    how movie-makers describe American college life

Question 44: Many American students have to work part-time throughout their college years because        .

A. they are not allowed to work full-time          B. their parents force them to

C. they can earn money for their expenses        D. they want to gain experience

Question 45: Which of the following could best serve as the title of the passage?

A.    Extracurricular Activities and Job Opportunities

B.   American College Life and the Movies

C.    Hollywood Movies: The Best About College Life

D.    Going to College: The Only Way to Succeed in Life