A"Gap Year" is a period of time when a student takes a break before going to university. It is often spent travelling or working. It can give young people useful learning experiences and new skills. It's very popular in foreign countries.{#blank#}1{#/blank#} 

 Although you don't have to go abroad to experience gap years, most gap year students catch the chance to travel abroad. You are able to work out who you are and what you are for. The experiences of different cultures offer you interesting lessons. You can learn more about the world and get to know yourself better.{#blank#}2{#/blank#} 

A gap year is not only a time to take a vacation, but also a time to face challenges. Gap year students usually work, volunteer or take service projects. You have to learn how to get along in the real world. This process isn't always easy, but it is an important part of growing up. Only in this way can you enjoy life and have fun.{#blank#}3{#/blank#} 

 There's a common thought that gap years are only for rich students, but it's not true. Actually, taking a gap year can save your money. Gap year students often take a part-time job. Besides, at the end of a gap year, students are much more likely to know what to study in college. Clear learning goals can keep the students working hard instead of wasting time and money playing.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} 

 Imagine an admission officer trying to admit(录取) only one between two students. Both of them are excellent and have high grades. However, one student has much practical experience or has volunteered in his vacation. Who do you think the admission officer will choose?{#blank#}5{#/blank#} 

    One of the most {#blank#}1{#/blank#} ['beɪsɪk] human needs is a home. A home is a safe place. While most people around the world {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (valuable) their homes, there are many people in every country who are homeless.

Some people are homeless for a short {#blank#}3{#/blank#} ['pɪəriəd] of time because they are moving from one place to another, and other people are not able to find a home. They must live on the streets or in a shelter.

There are many causes of {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (homeless). Sometimes people cannot keep a home because they do not earn enough money, or because they do not have a job. Sometimes people are homeless because they have a problem {#blank#}5{#/blank#} drugs or because they have a mental illness. No one is ever homeless {#blank#}6{#/blank#}purpose.

{#blank#}7{#/blank#} [wɒt'evə(r)] the cause of homelessness is, the effects are the same. Homeless people must work very hard to live. They cannot raise their children. Sometimes they must steal food just {#blank#}8{#/blank#} eat. The government in every country has worked for many years to {#blank#}9{#/blank#} [help] the homeless but more needs to be done. We must think of the homeless as people, not just as problems.

    If you are easily angry or too tired, maybe you need better sleep. Many {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (reason) can influence(影响) a good sleep, such as relationship or illness. Start with the following simple sleep tips. Of course, if you often have trouble {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (sleep), see your doctor. He may help {#blank#}3{#/blank#} get a better sleep.

    Keep a sleep schedule

    Go to bed and get up at the same time every day, even on weekends and holidays. If you don't fall asleep in 15 minutes, get up and do something {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (help) so that you can feel relaxed. Go back to bed when you're tired.

    Care what you eat and drink

    Don't go to bed either be hungry or be full {#blank#}5{#/blank#} it can keep you up. If something you eat has nicotine, caffeine or alcohol, it can influence {#blank#}6{#/blank#} quality of sleep.

    Form a bedtime habit

    Do the same things each night to tell your body it's time {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (calm) down. You can take a warm shower, read a book or listen to relaxing music. Don't {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (useful) the TV set or other electronic devices as pan of your bedtime habit.

    Limit daytime naps

    If you have some naps {#blank#}9{#/blank#} the day, you will be active and can't fall asleep {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (quick) in the evening. Limit the naps in the daytime.

    More and more families go on a car trip each year. But the thought of trouble on the road may p{#blank#}1{#/blank#} you from going out. To avoid(避免)trouble, you need to m{#blank#}2{#/blank#} a careful plan for your trip.

    First of all, choose a proper route for your trip. Consider (考虑)w{#blank#}3{#/blank#} you are going and find some possible routes to it. Traffic and the t{#blank#}4{#/blank#} that you will spend on the road must be considered when you decide one.

    Consider your luggage(行李) needs. B{#blank#}5{#/blank#} you begin packing your things, think about how many people will be in your car and how much space they will need in order to t{#blank#}6{#/blank#} comfortably.

    Try to avoid busy time. Usually highways are busier on Friday and Sunday, so going on Tuesday or T{#blank#}7{#/blank#} will help you to avoid traffic jams. Driving at night is also a great way to miss the traffic and the kids can sleep d{#blank#}8{#/blank#} the trip.

    F{#blank#}9{#/blank#} , don't forget to check your car carefully before leaving so that you can have a s{#blank#}10{#/blank#} trip.

    When the teacher asks a question in class, Wang Xiaobin never raises his hand, this situation is very common at middle schools. The 15-year-old boy always {#blank#}1{#/blank#} for other classmates or the teacher to give the answer. “What if my answer is {#blank#}2{#/blank#}?” Wang asks.

    Wang said only six or seven students in his class raise hands when a question is {#blank#}3{#/blank#}. “I think it's a problem that might affect(影响) our studies, but I am afraid to make {#blank#}4{#/blank#} in front of my classmates,” he said.

    Why didn't the students raise {#blank#}5{#/blank#} hands in class? Hu Wei, a teenager expert from Chinese Academy of Science gave his explanation to us. He said, “They lack confidence, or they are afraid of {#blank#}6{#/blank#} faces because of giving wrong answers.

    To encourage students to raise their hands in class, Hu suggests that teachers should try to guide and encourage students to offer their answers {#blank#}7{#/blank#} repeating the question. Hu also advised students not to be shy, but brave enough to try. No matter whether your answer is right or wrong, being active in class can help you understand the information better.

    Sun Pin, 16 of Fujian, always raises her hand as soon as she comes up with the answer, {#blank#}8{#/blank#}  if she isn't sure she has gotten it right. Sun can't understand why some of her classmates keep silent in class. She enjoys raising her hand a lot. “It keeps me enthusiastic (热情) and confident to express my idea,” Sun said. “Raising my hand has really made me outstanding.

    Two men walked through the countryside toward another village. As they come to the edge of a river, they saw an old woman sitting there upset because the bridge was{#blank#}1{#/blank#}by the storm, and she was too weak to walk across the stream. The first man said{#blank#}2{#/blank#}, “We are tall enough, and we can carry you across” The second man thought it troublesome, but he agreed reluctantly（不情愿地）. So the two men {#blank#}3{#/blank#} the bridge, lifted her between them and carried her across the river. When they got to the other side, they set her down and she went on her way gratefully. After they had walked another mile or so, the second man began to complain “My back began to hurt for lifting her.” The first man {#blank#}4{#/blank#} smiled and nodded without a word.