If you are in a dilemma(困境) about being self-taught or getting formal education,you have come to the right webpage.In this article,we note the advantages of each of these to help you decide which one would be the best for you.

　　Perhaps the biggest advantage of being self-taught is that you are able to save a lot of money.With each passing year,the cost of getting a degree is on the rise.As a result,many students these days tend to graduate from college with a significant amount of debt.This makes it necessary for them to get a job as soon as possible,otherwise a number of serious issues may arise.Besides,it is possible to learn faster on your own,by focusing on only those areas that you are interested in.Finally,learning on your own can be a great confidence-builder.You have to struggle to gain knowledge but once you clear the basics on your own,you will find yourself being much more confident about your abilities.

　　One of the biggest advantages of formal education is that you get a degree which is a mark of recognition that you have achieved a level of knowledge in that particular field.Many companies tend to prefer candidates who have a college degree.What’s more,though formal education lacks the convenience and flexibility of self-education,it offers you much more in terms of the actual structure of the learning process.Last,being formally educated means that you will enter a college or other similar educational institutions.There you will get the benefit of being taught and guided by learned teachers and other subject experts.This will be a big benefit as you will be able to take advantage of their experience and gain in-depth knowledge about the subject.

　　Thus,both formal education and self-education have their own sets of advantages.The choice between the two comes down to inpidual preference as well as personal situation.

　　【语篇导读】本文分析了正规教育和自考教育各自的优势。自考教育或接受正规教育的选择取决于个人喜好和个人情况。

　　1.Which of the following is an advantage of self-education?

　　A.A faster pace of learning.

　　B.Being guided by subject experts.

　　C.A wider range of ways to gain knowledge.

　　D.Having more chances of getting part-time jobs.

　　答案　A

　　解析　细节理解题。根据第二段内容,可总结出自学的三个优点“save a lot of money....Besides,it is possible to learn faster on your own,by focusing on only those areas that you are interested in....a great confidence-builder”。A项是其第二个优点。

　　2.To get the benefit of being taught by learned experts,you should 　　　.

　　A.choose self-education

　　B.enter an educational institution

　　C.work for learned teachers

　　D.make use of webpages about education

　　答案　B

　　解析　细节理解题。根据第三段中的“Last,being formally educated means that you will enter a college or other similar educational institutions.There you will get the benefit of being taught and guided by learned teachers and other subject experts.”可知,要想获得有学问的专家的指导,可以进入“an educational institution”,故B项正确。

　　3.What is the most important factor in choosing the way of education?

　　A.The reputation of educational institutions.

　　B.The knowledge of teachers and experts.

　　C.The opinions of relatives and friends.

　　D.One’s preference and situation.

　　答案　D

　　解析　细节理解题。根据最后一段的最后一句“The choice between the two comes down to inpidual preference as well as personal situation.” 可知,两者之间的选择取决于个人喜好和个人情况。

　　4.What is the author’s purpose of writing this text?

　　A.To promote a webpage about education.

　　B.To prove that self-education is the best choice.

　　C.To help readers choose between two forms of education.

　　D.To prove that it’s difficult to decide on the proper education.

　　答案　C

　　解析　推理判断题。本文第一段告诉读者“如果你正处于选择自考教育或接受正规教育的两难境地,那么你就来对了地方了。在这篇文章中,我们会举出每一种教育的优点,以帮助您决定哪一种最适合您的情况。”,接着第二段和第三段各自分析二者的优点,最后一段说 “因此,正规教育和自考教育都有自己的优势。两者之间的选择取决于个人喜好和个人情况。”由此可知C项正确。