What do you usually do after school? Do you do your homework, watch TV, play computer games or do 1 things? Do you know what students in America 2 after school?
The students in America have exciting free time 3 school. In America, school 4 at about 3:00 in the afternoon. American students have much time 5 all kinds of activities after school. There are many ball games 6 basketball, football, baseball and so on. There are 7 many kinds of clubs for students: dance club, art club, and other interesting clubs. Students have fun taking part in these activities. They can even learn 8 outside class. They can learn to cook or make clothes. Some students make money after school. They 9 their neighbour's children or read something 10 an old person. Some students go home to do homework, watch TV, or play computer games, just like Chinese students.
A
On a Quiet Night
———- Tang Li Bai
I saw the moonlight before my couch
And wonder if it were not the frost on the ground
I raised my head and looked out on the mountain moon
I bowed my head and thought of my far-off home
B
Homesickness
————-by Yu Guangzhong
In my childhood
Homesickness was a small stamp
I was here
And my mother was over there
When I grew up
Homesickness was a narrow ship-ticket
I was here
And my bride was over there
And then
Homesickness was
With me outside
And my mother inside
But now
Homesickness is a shallow strait
I am on this side
And the mainland is on the other side
In Singapore, many middle school students spend a lot of time on their studies. People think good schooling is a ticket to success in their future. So, many of these students try their best to get good marks in their exams. They have a lot of homework every day and exams are usually difficult. Sometimes, some of them have to go to remedial classes after school.
There are many after-school activities: sports and games, music and dance, hiking and rock-climbing, etc. They are also very happy to do community service (社区服务).
In their free time, most students like to listen to pop music. Hollywood blockbusters (好莱坞大片), Hong Kong and Singapore movies are very popular among them. Some of them also spend their free time surfing the Internet, e-mailing their friends and playing computer games.
They sometimes go to cafes, fast-food restaurants, shopping centers and big bookstores.
So, it looks like the life as a middle school student in Singapore is not easy but it is rich and colorful.
To travel around the world is the dream of many adventurous people. But very few people can afford a global tour because hotels, food and airplane tickets are too expensive. Some people, however, have thought of some ways to realize their dreams.
Laura Cody and Tanbay Theune, a couple from Britain, decided to travel around the world. They have found a good way to pay for their trips. They look after pets for rich house owners. In exchange, they can stay in the houses for free. They have looked after horses, cows, cats, dogs and fish. In two years, the couple has been to Australia, Germany, Spain and Italy. They have stayed in big cities and small villages. The home owners are usually very generous and have given them food, wine and day trips.
Another person who tries to realize her travel dream is photographer Rhiannon Taylor. She travels around the world to visit, review and take photos of the best hotels. She shares the places she stays and the food she eats on the Internet with tens of thousands of followers.
With these ways of making money, traveling around the world is no longer a dream. More and more young people are thinking creatively to make their dream come true.
The weekend is usually a period(一段) of time for resting. But today's Chinese students can hardly rest during the weekend.
According to (根据) a survey, 25% of the Grade 8 students in Beijing have classes at the weekend. Over 38% of the middle school students have less than eight hours' sleep each night because of the hard study. And this isn't only in Beijing. Nan Weitong is a Grade 7 student in Hubei. The 13-year-old girl has to get up at 6: 30 am on Saturday. Then she has a whole day of classes. On Sunday, she has extra(额外的) classes for math and English. But Nan Weitong doesn't complain(抱怨). She says her classmates all work very hard.
However, some students are much luckier. They don't have to go to school on weekends.
Zhang Qian, a Grade 9 student from Jinan, is one of them. And she's a top student. During the weekend, she usually gets up at 8: 00 am. Then she spends some time doing her homework. After that, she is free to go shopping or watch TV. Zhang Qian said her mother once wanted her to try extra classes. "But my teacher said it was unnecessary. I didn't need to push myself too much. Learning well at school is enough," Zhang Qian said. "I feel pretty lucky."
There are many things that you should be careful with when you are alone at home. Read the following solutions to protect yourself.
Keep the door locked when you are alone at home. Many people think it's the best way to protect themselves.
Keep a list of phone numbers to call for help—such as 110, the police station or a neighbor's number.
Be careful with the electrical appliances (电器). If you don't know how to use them, ask your parents. Make a safety check before going to sleep.
Look through the keyhole when you hear the doorbell. If there are strangers, ask "Who's that?" with the door locked and say "Come back later." Don't tell them that your parents are away. Say "Mum's having a shower." or "Dad's having a sleep."
Protect Yourself When Home Alone | |
Situations | Solutions |
You are alone at home | Keep the door . |
To | Keep a list of phone numbers. |
Before | Make a safety check of the electrical appliances. |
Talk to the strangers | Ask "?" |
Don't say your parents | . |
Most middle school students wear uniforms. Some students like uniforms, but others don't. However, recently, a Japanese government survey (政府调查) shows that more students in Japan like uniforms now because school uniforms are more fashionable(时尚的) than they were before.
I surveyed some Japanese students about what they thought about school uniforms. I asked them, “Are fashionable uniforms popular or not?” There were lots of different opinions(观点,看法).
Hiromi said, “I like school uniforms because I don't need to choose clothes every day. I think that fashionable uniforms are good. My high school uniform is fashionable, but there is a problem. Fashionable uniforms are too expensive.”
Miki said that she didn't like fashionable uniforms because she didn't want to spend so much money on uniforms. She thought that the uniforms should be changed(被改变). They should be cheaper and easier to get.
Mitsuaki said, “I don't like school uniforms because I want to look different. I also agree that fashionable uniforms make many students want to wear uniforms in high school. If students like fashionable uniforms, it is good.”
