More than nine million American children are spending part of their summer at a camp. They are swimming, playing sports, making music or learning to use a computer. Traditional American summer camps offer children a chance to play many sports outdoors. These camps may be in the mountains, in the woods or in a lake. Other camps teach activities like painting, music or computer programming. Children at all kinds of camps meet new friends, learn new skills and develop independence (自立).

Some children go to camp during the day and return home at night. Others stay at camps all day and all night. Most children who attend camps are between the ages of about six and sixteen.

Some children stay at an overnight camp for one or two weeks. Others stay at day camp for as many as eight weeks. Parents pay from one hundred to more than seven hundred dollars a week for overnight camps. Day camps are much cheaper. The American tradition of sending children to summer camps began more than one hundred years ago.

1. How many American children are involved in summer camps?

A. More than 1,000,000. B. More than 10,000,000.

C. More than 9,000,000. D. Over 90,000,000.

2. How long does an overnight camp last?

A. From 6 to 16 weeks. B. One or two weeks.

C. From 1 to 8 weeks. D. Eight weeks.

3. What can we learn about the overnight camps?

A. Overnight camps cost more.

B. Overnight campers are older.

C. Overnight camps last longer.

D. Overnight campers can learn more.

4. How much do parents pay for a week overnight camps?

A. From one hundred to more than eight hundred.

B. From one hundred to more than seven hundred.

C. From one hundred to less than eight hundred.

D. From one hundred to less than seven hundred.

5. What is the passage about?

A. The American children’s activities.

B. The American children’s summer courses.

C. The American children’s winter camps.

D. The American children’s summer camps.

(B)

There are summer youth camps in most countries around the world. For some parents and children, summer camps have become a way of life every year. It is time for them to make new friends and try different things.

Most children can learn to do things themselves and develop the sense of independence. That can help them be confident and successful in life.

Of course, it costs money to send children to summer camps but some parents might have no time to be with their children over the holidays. For those parents who have to continue to work, it’s also a good chance for them to do things themselves.

Not only can summer camps be an enjoyable experience for children, but also they can give parents the chance to have more time for themselves. It’s a great way for mums and dads to take a breath.

If you choose a summer camp, you can use it as a chance to improve their skills. Your children can get many skills such as learning languages, general practical skills, problem-solving activities and so on, or even social skills for children. You may have many reasons for sending your children to a summer camp, but you can be sure that they will be having fun. These camps can teach people in an interesting environment and they can get the most valuable experience.

1. What does the writer think of summer camps?

A. It’s a waste of time to take part in them.

B. They are really boring.

C. They aren’t important at all.

D. They are very useful.

2. The summer camps can help children ______ .

A. learn to do things B. be more lonely

C. depend on parents D. be tired

3. If a kid is in a summer camp, he can get skills EXCEPT _______ .

A. language learning B. practical skills

C. fight with others D. problem-solving

4. Which of the following is RIGHT about summer camps?