My mother was a housewife. She thought that successful people spent a lot more time {#blank#}1{#/blank#} than watching TV. So she asked my brother and me to read two books every week in our free time. She would check them with marks, {#blank#}2{#/blank#} she couldn't read the books at all.
When I went to school, I was an A-student, but not for long. I wanted cool {#blank#}3{#/blank#} and hung out with friends. I went from being an A-student to a C-student, but I didn't care. One night, I complained about not having enough Italian T-shirts. Then my mother gave me all her money. She said I could get the money {#blank#}4{#/blank#} to buy shirts if I finished buying all things the family needed. I was very {#blank#}5{#/blank#} that, but after I bought those things, there was no money left. I got to know how {#blank#}6{#/blank#} it was for my mother to do all this. I went back to my studies and become an A-student again. Finally, my dream {#blank#}7{#/blank#} and I become a doctor.
My story is really my mother's story--a woman with little education greatly changed my life as a {#blank#}8{#/blank#} . So, I believe there is no job more important than parenting.

Ladies and gentlemen，may I see your{#blank#}1{#/blank#} (护照)?

    Singapore worries a lot about the fitness of its people. One-third of the people in the country are overweight and about 6%of them are too fat. Every year, September is the health month for "Fighting Obesity(肥胖)".

    This fight against unhealthy lifestyles starts in the schools. Everyone is educated about eating w{#blank#}1{#/blank#}and taking exercise. Students whose weight is more than is should be are asked to join the school health club and take part in special activities to help them lose a couple of kilograms. D{#blank#}2{#/blank#}breaks they do not go to eat snacks, but to the school hall for some exercise. The school also talks to their parents to see if they can plan a healthier d{#blank#}3{#/blank#}for the children. Sometimes the parents realize that their cooking c{#blank#}4{#/blank#} the problem. Some children find it difficult to lose w{#blank#}5{#/blank#}, but they're not allowed to give up. Fun and games are used to a{#blank#}6{#/blank#}the students to running and jumping. Parents can print out a list of the food their child is eating and discuss it at home. F{#blank#}7{#/blank#}classes may be held on Saturdays for those who need them.

    In the Renaissance(文艺复兴) Period(1500 ~1650) , people became interested in higher education. They wanted to learn the a{#blank#}1{#/blank#}languages such as Greek and Lat-in-languages that were used in the old times, and study mathematics, science, and so on. Many universities were set up during the 16th century.

    University education was a privilege(特权) of the rich. Girls were not allowed to attend and poor people could not a{#blank#}2{#/blank#}to go. A member of a wealthy family could attend university at the age of ten. He might study in different universities and since the teaching was all d{#blank#}3{#/blank#}in Latin, it didn't matter which country he studied in. It was not unusual for a young boy to study one year in Italy and another in France with-out speaking either French or Italian.

    It was p{#blank#}4{#/blank#}in the 16th century to complete university without learning how to read or write. Since books were handwritten, there was not enough to give o{#blank#}5{#/blank#}to each student. Often, only the teacher had a book. He would read to students who would memorize what he said, Tests were oral, not written. In fact, many students finished school without ever writing a word.

    For the not so wealthy, grammar schools were built in towns. They learned basic grammar and mathematics, and took part in Bible study. At home, girls learned washing, cooking, dancing, and the basics of taking care of a household. Poor children r{#blank#}6{#/blank#}attended school

    The Renaissance was a time when learners did not simply accept what they were told. They did scientific experiments themselves to search for a{#blank#}7{#/blank#} to the mysteries of the space. Copernicus calculated that the Earth turned around the sun but was afraid to publish his works for fear that the Church would punish him. Galileo later supported this. The watch, the telescope and some others were some inventions of this period,