A“Gap Year” is a period of time when a student takes a break before going touniversity.It is often spent traveling or working.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}.The advantagesof taking a gap year are as follows：

{#blank#}2{#/blank#}.Althoughyou don't have to go abroad to experience gap years，most gap year students catch thechance to travel abroad.You are able to work out who you are and what you arefor.The experiences of different cultures offer you interesting lessons.

FaceChallenges and Have Fun.A gap year is not only a time to take a vacation，but also a time to face challenges.Gapyear students usually work，volunteeror take service projects.You have to learn how to get along in the realworld.This process isn't always easy，butit is an important part of growing up.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}.

            Save Money and Improve Your College Admission Chances.There's a common thought thatgap years are only for rich students，butit isn't true. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}.Gap year students often take a part－time job.Besides，at the end of a gap year，students are much more likely to knowwhat to study in college.Clear learning goals can keep the students workinghard instead of wasting time and money playing.

Imaginean admission officer trying to admit only one between two students.Both of themare excellent and have high grades.However，onestudent has much practical experience or has volunteered in his vacation.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    The Lantern Festival is a traditional Chinese festival with great significance, which is on the 15^th of the first lunar month, marking the end of New Year celebrations. Here are several things you should know about the Lantern Festival.

    The Origins of Chinese lanterns

    The origins of Chinese lanterns date back to the Stone Age. The coming of the Bronze Age saw the development of various kinds of lanterns, of which palace lanterns were the most fascinating{#blank#}1{#/blank#}Various lantern festivals became a hit during the Sui Dynasty, and during the Southern Song Dynasty, the custom of writing riddles on lantern arose. During the Qing Dynasty, magnificent exhibitions of lanterns were held in the capital city.

    Eating small dumpling balls

    Just as the name implies, an important part of the Lantern Festival, or Yuan Xiao Festival, is to eat small dumpling balls made of sticky rice flour. We call these balls Yuan Xiao, or Tang Yuan.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}The dumpling symbolizes family unity, completeness and happiness.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    When it comes to the Lantern Festival, “Guessing lantern riddles” is an essential component. Lantern owners will write riddles on a piece of paper and post them on the lanterns in advance. If visitore can answer the riddles, they will get a little gift.

    Watching fireworks

    At night, in addition to lighted lanterns, fireworks form a grand scene. Most families save some fireworks from the Spring Festival and set them off during the Lantern Festival.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    Dragon dance

    The dragon dance is often performed during the Chinese New Year period.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}They are believed to bring good luck to people, therefore the longer the dragon in the dance, the more luck it will bring to the community.

A. Guessing lantern riddles

B. Chinese dragons are a symbol of China.

C. The ways of celebrating the Lantern Festival

D. Obviously, they get the name from the festival.

E. All the Chinese people like watching dragon dance.

F. Later, decorative lanterns came to be used in festivals.

G. Some local governments will even organize a fireworks display.

    We are humans, and we all make mistakes. The mistakes that we make are not usually on purpose, whether it is breaking a vase, or not completing a task.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}This article will provide you with ideas as to what to do once a mistake has been made.

    Admit that you make a mistake as soon as you discover it. Delaying it longer will only make you feel worse, or may drive you toward making the wrong decision to try and cover it up.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}Do not play the “blame game”. Most people are smart enough to realize that this is just a poor attempt to protect yourself. Perhaps you gave a task to another person and it was never completed. But is it really the entire fault of the person you gave the task to or is it partially your fault for not following up? Keep this in mind before placing the blame on someone else.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Maybe you broke your mother's favorite vase, or even forgot a friend's birthday. Just an apology can sometimes be viewed as a “quick fix”, and apologizing and asking to be forgiven gives the person opportunity to forgive you.

    Offer some compensation(补偿) for loss, damage, or injury caused{#blank#}4{#/blank#} By doing this, it may soften the blow to the person we've disappointed.

    Learn from your mistakes. In the case of a job or a task, write a "to-do" list with the deadline before leaving the meeting. As for forgetting a birthday, put the birthday on an electronic calendar for next year.

    Do better next time{#blank#}5{#/blank#}We should try to understand what happened and try to make sure that it won't happen again.

A. Take responsibility.

B. Never repeat your mistakes.

C. Apologize and ask for forgiveness.

D. People's faith in us can reduce quickly.

E. So sometimes it is necessary to write a letter to say sorry.

F. But not everyone knows how to admit making a mistake.

G. Offer to immediately complete the late task or pay for the vase.

    In a world full of uncertainty, having at least one thing you can count on is important{#blank#}1{#/blank#} For others it could be reading or running. For me, however, it is always art.

    Creating can be difficult, but that's what makes art special. You can start your project with what you want and you can change your mind many times{#blank#}2{#/blank#} Art has taught me to be patient with myself.

    If I could name my favourite thing about art, it would be that no two pieces are the same. Many people try to follow one another to be just like them, but that'll never happen{#blank#}3{#/blank#} Art has taught me that before anything, be yourself. You may be a little too colorful for some people but to others you're exactly the rainbow they've been looking for.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}The way certain colors mix together to make a new shade can paint an entire picture in your mind. You can learn about the world if you just pay attention. The small things you observe could be your inspiration.

    Listen, feel and see more, it will fascinate (使入迷) you how much more you appreciate the small things around you.

    Art is seen differently by everyone. However, one thing in common is creativity. You don't need to be good at painting to enjoy something beautiful. Be ready to be patient, be yourself and be good at observing{#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. The beauty of art is in the details.

B. I've learned some lessons from creating.

C. If so, there'll be no limits on what you can create.

D. It's something that nothing or no one could take away.

E. There'll always be certain things that make them unique.

F. The only thing that gives me any piece of mind is painting.

G. But no matter what, there will always be a finished product.

    When we were kids, if our parents wanted us to stop the screen time, they would turn off the TV. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} They grab the cell phone, the tablet or the laptop. Here we will talk about how to control their screen time.

    First, limit the time they use screens. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Kids are smart. Once you go back to your daily routine, they will quickly be back on a screen. Because they just don't understand that when you tell them to get off the tablet or computer, you mean for the rest of the day.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} It can be going outside to play, reading a fun book or cleaning their room. Presenting them with an alternative helps the under-developed planning part of their little brains get past what they can't do and see what else is possible.

    And third, hide the screen device. That one may not seem very fair. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} If they don't see the device around the house, they can't grab it. This way, works for us adult-types who may be a little too addicted to screens ourselves.

    Ultimately, the best way to help kids recognize how much is too much screen time is to limit our own. Yeah, you may have to stare at one all day for your job, but do you really have to come home and immediately turn on the TV or answer that email on your phone? Don't think your kids aren't taking excuses from your actions. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. Second, give them an alternative.

B. So, it's necessary to set a limited time.

C. It may seem easy, but it can be challenging.

D. Now, kids often have a choice of which screen they want.

E. They watch you just as closely as they watch those screens.

F. Now go to find a screen and turn it off, for you and for your kids.

G. But the phrase “out of sight, out of mind” actually works sometimes.

    Test-taking tips

    Passing tests is a huge part of succeeding at school. Clearly, if you want to do well on a test, you need to prepare by learning the material(资料) {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Just breathe.

    Even the best prepared student sometimes gets nervous before a test. Nervous feelings can cause people to forget facts that they know. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Breathing deeply is helpful for this. So is moving your body slightly, such as by rolling your shoulders around. Try to arrive for a test a few minutes early, so you can relax before it starts.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    When you are handed a test, look over all the questions before you begin. Read them carefully, noticing details. Also pay attention to how many points each question is worth. Divide your time based on the percentage of your grade each question is worth.

    First answer questions you know and then go back to the difficult ones. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}But try to write an answer for every question on the test, even if you're not sure of the answer. The only exception(例外) is if you will lose points for wrong answers

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}. If you're not sure whether you should change an answer, it's best not to. More often than not, your first instinct(本能) will be correct.

    Try your best.

    Above all, study well and try your best. If you do that, you can be proud of whatever score you get.

A. Pay attention to the time.

B. Read the test through first.

C. So one important test-taking tip is to try to relax.

D. But other actions can help make test-taking easier.

E. That way you don't spend too long on one question.

F. Check to make sure you have completed the whole test.

G. Try to finish early so you have time to review your answers and correct mistakes.