Americans are considering national education standards recently developed by teachers and other education experts. The National Governors (1) ______ and the Council of Chief State School Officers led the (2) ______.

The Unite States unlike other nations, has never had the same school (3) _______ across the country. The reason is that education is not discussed in the (4) _______. That doccument limits the responsibilities of the federal govermment. Other responsiblities, like education, fall to the(5) ______ states.

Local control of education probably was a good idea two hundred years ago. People (6) _______ in the same place and

schools knew what students needed to learn.

But today, people move to different cities. And some people work at jobs that did not (7) _______ even twenty years ago. Many American educators say that getting a good education should not(8) ______ on where you live. They say that (9) ____________ required by the No Child Left behind Act.

The new standards clearly state what a student should be able to do to be successful in college and work. (10) ______________. For example, in mathematics, students should be working with shapes in kindergarten and angle infourth grade.

Forty-eight states have already shown approval for the standards. Two states reject the idea (11) _______________. Supporters say the standards are goals and not tell states or teachers how to teach. They also say the federal government is not forcing acceptance.

Most astudents in the UK leave school or sixth-form college at the age of 18 and go to study for three years in a University. But in recent years many students have (1)__________ to take a one-year break between finishingschool and (2) ________ university.

This period is called a (3) ______ year and is a time when british students can (4) _______ their horizons by visiting foreign countries. Tens of thousands of gap-year travelers leave britain every year, with Australia as the most (5) _____ destination. While some volunteer for (6) ______ work in developing countries, others will enjoy eco-tourism or (7) _______ backpack through many countries. Many other gap year travelers try their hand at teaching English to the (8) ______ in the countries they visit. Students who take a gap year often say (9) _________.

An important part of any gap year is learning about the culture and society of other people. (10) _____________, such as when westerners wear clothes that are seen as unacceptable in more conservative countries. Developments in communications technology mean (11) ____________. Many gap year stuednts maintain a travel blog or upload their snaps to photo-sharing websiter so that others can see their adventures.