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Instead of hitting the beach, fourteen high school students traded swimming suits for lab coats last
summer and turned their attention to scientific experiments.
The High School Research Program offers high school students guidance with researchers in Texas
A&M's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Jennifer Funkhouser, academic adviser for the Department
of Rangeland Ecology and Management, direst this four-week summer program designed to increase
understanding of research and its career potential (潜能).
Several considerations go into selecting students, including grades, school involvement and interest in
science and agriculture. And many students come from poorer school districts, Funkhouser says. "This is
their chance to learn techniques and do experiments they never would have a chance to do in high school."
Warner Ervin of Houston is interested in animal science and learned how to tell male from female
mosquitoes(蚊子). His adviser, Craig Coates, studies the genes of mosquitoes that allow them to fight
against malaria and yellow fever. Coates thought this experience would be fun and helpful to the high school
students.
The agricultural research at A&M differs from stereotypes. It's "molecular (分子) science on the cutting
edge," Funkhouser says. The program broadened students' knowledge. Victor Garcia of Rio Grande City
hopes to become a biology teacher and says he learned a lot about chemistry from the program.
At the end of the program, the students presented papers on their research. They're also paid $600 for
their work-another way this program differs from others, which often charge a fee.
Fourteen students got paid to learn that science is fun, that agriculture is a lot more than milking and
plowing and that research can open many doors.
1. The research program is chiefly designed for _____.
A. high school advisers from Houston
B. college students majoring in agriculture
C. high school students from different places
D. researchers at the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
2. It can be inferred from the text that the students in poorer areas _____.
A. had little chance to go to college
B. could often take part in the program
C. found the program useful to their future
D. showed much interest in their high school experiments
3. When the program was over, the students _____.
A. entered that college
B. wrote research reports
C. paid for their research
D. found way to make money
4. The underlined expression "on the cutting edge" in paragraph 5 means "on the most _____ position".
A. important
B. favorable
C. astonishing
D. advanced
5. What would be the best title for the text?
A. A Program for Agricultural Science Students
B. A Program for Animal Science Students
C. A Program for Medical Science Lovers
D. A Program for Future Science Lovers