In England and Australia， it is more common than in the United States for a student to take a gap year(间隔年). What is a gap year？ After high school， it's time for students to go to college. But some students don't go to college directly. ①They will spend one year traveling or doing some other activities before entering college. The year is called a gap year.

On the one hand， students can learn a lot during a gap year.②Before the gap year ， students who take a break from their education will come back to college. When they come back， they will have a clear opinion about what they want to do in their life. ③ may ， learning ， they ， their ， towards ， attitude(态度)， change.

On the other hand， delaying(延期) college for one year can mean increased education costs of 8% or more. Besides higher education costs， the cost of the gap year can be large. That depends on the activities the student chooses.

Taking a gap year has advantages and 　④　. After considering all the things， I might take a gap year. My dream is to be a tour guide. I will spend one year working as a travel agent. That would be a wonderful experience for me.

    John: I'm 15 years old and I love football. I also like reading, especially(尤其是) stories about people from other countries. I don't enjoy singing or playing computers. I think that rock music is terrible.

    Ann: Hi, I'm Ann. I'm 16 and I like dancing and computers. I also like rock music. I hate hiking and I'm not interested in classical music. I don't enjoy reading too much.

    Steve: I'm 14 years old and I love skiing. Other favorite hobbies are reading and singing. I don't like hiking. I think that rock music is too noisy and I think that football is boring.

    Peter: I'm from Australia. I'm 15 and I am fond of singing. I sing a lot, and when I'm not singing, I listen to rock music or use my computer. I don't like football and I think that classical music is terrible. I hate dancing!

    Sarah：My name is Sarah and I'm 14 years old. My interests are reading novels, playing football and singing songs. I think that rock music is terrible, and I don't like dancing. I don't enjoy computers, either.

    Joe：Hi, I'm Joe. I really like computers. I surf the Internet all the time and I like playing computer games. I don't enjoy football and I hate hiking. Rock music is OK, and so is skiing.

In China，learning some safety knowledge(知识) is becoming more and more important now．How should you keep yourself safe？

{#blank#}1{#/blank#}．

At school：

When students around you begin to push，try to hold onto something，or stay in a safer corner{#blank#}2{#/blank#}．

On your way home or to school：

Wait for the the green traffic light．{#blank#}3{#/blank#}．Wear clothes  in bright colors，so the drivers can see you easily．

{#blank#}4{#/blank#}：

Stay calm and leave quickly．To keep clear of smoke (烟雾),use a piece of wet cloth to cover your mouth and nose．

For riding on the escalator（自动扶梯）：

{#blank#}5{#/blank#}．You should hold onto handrails（扶手） and stand on the right side of the escalator，because right arms are stronger．

A.When there's a fire．

B.Here are some advice for you．

C.It is dangerous to run up and down on the escalator．

D.If you see a car coming，don't across until it really stops．

E.Find out what's wrong with him

F.If you fall down in a crowded place，cover your head with both hands．

The Art of Paper

    Chen Zijiang is a paper cutting expert whom I interviewed for my article on Chinese Art. Paper-cutting is something that he learned to do from an early age.

    "It is a Chinese folk art with a long history," Mr. Chen told me, "Paper cuts of animals have been found in tombs. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}" He added that by the Southern Song Dynasty, paper-cutting had become an important part of everyday life.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}They are paper cuts for decoration, for religious purposes (宗教目的) and for design patterns.

    Paper cuts for decoration are often seen, on windows and gates. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}They are also used on presents. A present for parents whose child has recently been born might show a paper cut of children, for example. Paper cuts which show the Chinese character for double happiness are often used to celebrate weddings.

    Paper cuts for religious purposes are often found in temples{#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    The third kind of paper cuts are these used to make patterns on clothing. They are also sometimes used to decorate jewelry (珠宝) boxes. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}.

{#blank#}1{#/blank#} ⑴The first thing to remember is that when a friend invites you over, you need to arrive on time. If your friend tells you to come "around 3:00", that means you can turn up a little bit after 3:00. But usually it is a good idea to arrive at the right time.

{#blank#}2{#/blank#} ⑵Often it is also nice to bring something to your friend's house. This could be a box of chocolate for you two to share, or maybe a movie that you can watch together. You can also bring some flowers. A little gift is a nice way to show your friend that you are excited to be at his house.

{#blank#}3{#/blank#} ⑶When you visit your friend's house, you may also meet his parents. You should tell them who you are and they may tell you their names, and then they may tell you to call them by their first names. Another way to show respect is to call them Madam or Sir.

{#blank#}4{#/blank#} ⑷As we all know, students should learn how to get on well with others. But in what ways? First of all, we should respect others. Everyone has their own way to do things, so we should understand each other. Besides, it is important for us to communicate with each other. What's more, we should be kind to others and offer necessary help to those who are in trouble.

{#blank#}5{#/blank#} ⑸Everybody has his parents. But not everybody gets on well with his parents. Well, first, we should respect our parents because they bring us up and care for us all the time. Second, we are supposed to do some housework at home. We should help clean the room, cook meals and so on. Third, we should care for them, have a talk with them about their work.