阅读理解。

     College is a big deal for American students as well as for Chinese students. During the college application,

some parents become extremely worried. This only adds to the pressure.

     Before I applied to the colleges, I told my parents I would get everything straightened out. If I needed any

help, I promised that I would ask them.

     As it turned out, I had no problem putting everything together on my own, including my resume and a

basic outline of my activities in high school. The only part where I asked for my parents' advice was the essays.

In writing and revising the essays, I needed feedback from an audience As my parents know me better than

anyone, they were perfect for the job.

     The essays are extremely important in college admissions. In a competitive pool of applicants, the test

scores and activities, as well as the recommendations are all going to be very similar. The essays are the one

area in which students can make themselves stand out. Essays don't have to be big and complicated. I wrote

three essays, all focusing on small matters and using simple sentences. The admissions officers have to read

hundreds of essays a day; they are already tired of SAT vocabularies and long sentences. Therefore, a

straightforward writing style is refreshing to their eyes as well as their minds. Essays were the key to my

success in the admissions game, I just wrote about what I wanted to say, not what I thought the admissions

officers would like to hear.

     In my main narrative-style essay, I told the story of my American journey at the age of 14: During that

time, I was not bogged down (陷入) by trying to fit into a new environment; instead, I looked up to Mother

Teresa for guidance and strength. I found my new self and grew to love the name Teresa and the memories

it held. In my two minor essays, I explained the major events of my life, why I loved writing and why my

dad is the person who has the greatest influence on me. Both provided details of my character. The essay

about writing, which is titled, "I Shall Not Live in Vain" (inspired by an Emily Dickinson poem), earned a lot

of praise.

     It is because I really looked into my heart and thought deeply in order to reach my answers.

1. I asked my parents for advice about my essays because _____.

A. they are more experienced

B. they know me perfectly well

C. they are the only people I can rely on

D. they are extremely worried about my application

2. In order to impress the admissions officers, the applicants should write their essays _____.

A. with a big vocabulary

B. with simple sentences

C. about small matters

D. in a straightforward style

3. What helped the writer gain admissions to his or her university of choice?

A. High scores.

B. Good recommendations.

C. Good essays.

D. Interesting stories.

4. According to the passage, _____ has the greatest influence on the writer.

A. Mother Teresa

B. his or her father

C. Emily Dickinson

D. admissions officers

5. The passage is mainly about _____.

A. the writer's experience in college admissions

B. the importance of college education for students

C. how parents' worries add to students' pressure

D. the importance of essays in college admissions