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[學(xué)術(shù)的] ability. Many schools also offer “vocational[職業(yè)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[選修的]. For example， students can choose one course from each of the following areas： Arts （e.g. music， art， drama）； Humanities[人文學(xué)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[相關(guān)的] or essential[關(guān)鍵的]. Meanwhile， students who dont 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[對……產(chǎn)生影響] on the rest of their lives and while some find the process easy and exciting， for others it can be stressful and agonising[擔(dān)憂]. So students are always encouraged to take their time and talk to their teachers， parents and carers[看護(hù)] about what is right for them.

（十三四歲的）英國中學(xué)生到了九年級就必須選擇十、十一年級要學(xué)的科目。盡管這些科目會按照學(xué)習(xí)的難度分級，但是它們大部分都會與GCSE掛鉤。許多學(xué)校也會開設(shè)“職業(yè)類”選修課，以針對想要學(xué)習(xí)更多職業(yè)技能知識的學(xué)生。

英語、科學(xué)以及數(shù)學(xué)為必修課，其他科目都是選修課。例如，學(xué)生可以從以下類別中各選擇一門課程：藝術(shù)類（如音樂、美術(shù)和戲?。?；人文學(xué)科（地理或歷史）；現(xiàn)代外語；設(shè)計與技術(shù)。

對所有學(xué)生而言，選擇合適的課程就需要他們仔細(xì)考慮自己喜歡或者擅長哪些科目。如果學(xué)生知道自己未來的就業(yè)方向或是報讀大學(xué)的專業(yè)方向，他們的人生也會過得更自在些，因為這時的選擇與他們的未來息息相關(guān)并起到關(guān)鍵作用。而仍未知道自己未來方向的學(xué)生一般會保留選擇的權(quán)利，從而挑選一系列的課程。

學(xué)生在九年級所做的選擇可能會影響他們的一生。在這個選擇的過程中，有的學(xué)生覺得選起來很容易并且很刺激；有的則感到壓力巨大，充滿憂慮。因此，人們總會鼓勵學(xué)生們從容面對，多跟老師、家長和輔導(dǎo)員商量什么才適合他們。

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[軍事的] service for all male school leavers.（在一些國家，所有男性畢業(yè)生都必須參加義務(wù)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[詞組搭配]

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