We are often warned by our teacher not to waste precious (宝贵的)time, because time lost will never return. I think it quite true. What does time look like?  {#blank#}1{#/blank#}. Time is abstract (抽象的), so we have to think about it.

Time passes very quickly. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}.  It is because they don't know how to make use of their time. They waste it in going to theatres, cinemas and parks, and doing other things. Why do we study every day? Why do we work? Why do most people would rather take buses instead of walking? The answer is very simple. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}.

Today we are living in the 21st century. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}. When a person dies, his life ends. Since life is short, we must devote our time and energy to our study so that we may be able to serve the people well in the future. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}, for it does not only bring us failure but also does us other harm. If it is necessary for us to do our work today, let us do it today and not leave it until tomorrow.

Remember time is much more valuable (珍贵的)than money.

A. We look upon time as life

B. Nobody knows because we can't see it or touch it and we can't buy it with money

C. Some students say they don't have enough time to review all their lessons

D. Laziness is the thief of time

E. We wish to save time because time is precious

Nowadays in school life, a lot of students develop a fear of tests. It's not because tests are something to be afraid of. Most students are afraid of tests mainly because they don't always think they are well—prepared and they don't have enough self—confidence. If you follow the advice below, it's not difficult to overcome your fear of tests.

People who know that they are not well—prepared are usually those who fear tests most. However, most students don't know when they are truly prepared for a test. As long as you know that you have studied well and long enough, you have reason to believe that you are well—prepared.

Be confident about yourself. Confidence before a test can bring about two results: either you fail the test and feel as if your confidence was unfounded (毫无根据的) or you could actually do well in the test because of your confidence. Some students find that they experience the first result. However, this is only because those students might not have followed the first advice mentioned above. As long as you have studied well, you will be more confident of your chance to succeed in a test. If you feel as if you have not studied hard enough, then you will not be as confident as you should be.

Ask your teacher in advance (提前) about the material that is going to be covered in the test. In this way, you will know what you should prepare for and you can get confidence in the test. But you have to be brave enough to ask. Most students do not ask unless their teacher gives the information first, so make sure that you ask.

You should know that tests are only telling if you have got the knowledge, not how good or bad your IQ is. So, even if you do badly in one test, you should know that there are other tests to come. As long as you think that there is another tomorrow, you can overcome your fear of a test. However, make sure that you are going to prepare well for the other tests.

Fear can be a problem in the process of achieving success. However, with the right attitude (态度) and preparations, you can overcome your fear of tests by using these suggestions.

    "How can I improve my English?" A lot of my students have been asking me about this same question again and again.1 the answer won't be suitable for everyone, I'm still going to tell you some of my experience. I hope that you will improve your English learning skills.

    One thing I can tell you is that, once you start learning, you should try to think in English as

    2as you can. If you see something when you're riding your bike or walking down the street, just3"How would I say them in English?" At first, you may think with simple words but later with longer sentences. Now I'm in America, and for4the time, I would think in English and   speak it directly. It's amazing how much this helps.

    When I started learning, I was5 afraid of talking with others in English because I didn't want to make mistakes. Finally, I had a chance to6. And while traveling in America, I'd try to hang out with American friends,7 I'd have no choice but to speak English. Also, I decided if I said anything stupid and other people would look8 me, then so be it. After that, my English started to9 much more quickly.

    Besides, it may be a good idea to ask your American friends to look at the way you're writing, and give you some10 for improvement.

Few parents can hear the words "What can I do to help?" from their kids. Teenagers spend more time on video games, computers and mobile phones, so they help less with housework.

Students at a primary school in Fuzhou, East China's Fujian Province were required to clean the school toilets to help them develop good habits. But some parents are strongly against the idea. They can't see the advantages of students doing such chores. They think that the school should provide students with a proper education, not the chance to be school cleaners.

In fact, parents, schools and society play an equally (同等地) important role in developing the character of students. It is good for schools to give students such tasks, because few of the students will do them at home. Their parents want them to do homework only.

In recent years, some parents will make mountains out of molehills when students are asked to do some chores in schools. Some will complain the teachers if their kids get hurt in schools; some will even challenge the schools' teaching methods and management. As a result, many primary schools, especially those in big cities, do not let students join in outdoor activities during breaks, fearing that they might get hurt. This is bad for the development of students' best qualities.

What the primary school in Fuzhou doing is worth praising. Doing chores can put a sense of responsibility (责任感) into students' minds and teach them the spirit of rules as well as teamwork. Also, it can make students' in-school experiences more meaningful.

Do you like to have any online classes? It is becoming 1 to take classes at home during the early 2020. All you need is a computer or a cellphone. However, most students don't seem to like online classes. A 2 shows that only 33% of over 1,500 students from 10 cities would take such classes.

Many students said it was difficult to focus(集中) on 3 while taking online classes. Lian Ruohan, 15, at the Affiliated High school of Peking University, said, "There are no real classmates sitting near me; no real teachers watching me. I can easily surf the Internet or do 4 things if I want to. It's harder to be always focused."

In order to avoid that, Lian will prepare a lot before classes to make sure she will learn 5 in class. She also pushes herself to communicate(沟通) with teachers about difficulties. She often 6 or answers questions while taking online classes.

Wen Jiayi, 14, at the Yucai Middle School, thinks online interaction(互动) isn't 7. "I have few chances to communicate with the online teachers, and they don't really get to know me. When I don't hand in homework, all I get is only a short telephone 8 instead of real care," she said.

However, Lian thinks online classes still have many 9. "It saves time and money compared to(和……相比较) taking official classes. Also, if I can't 10 some part of a lesson, I can watch it again to make it clear."

    On Feb. 26th, 2020, when an Italian went to work with a mask to prevent COVID-19, his workmates thought he was "causing panic(恐慌)". You might wonder why the East and the West have different ideas about wearing masks.

In the West, people wear masks only when they get sick. People see masks as a tool(工具) to protect sick people and prevent the disease from spreading, so healthy people don't need to wear masks. Wearing masks in public easily makes them feel "worried" and "shy". They are "afraid of being looked at differently."

However, it's common in Asia. During the 2003 SARS epidemic, masks were widely used in China and East Asia. Many Chinese also like to wear masks to stay warm in winter or protect against air pollution.

In Japan, wearing masks shows your politeness when you get a cold or the flu. Some masks even have different colors and drawings. Young women may wear masks when they don't have their makeup on. Many pop stars in Asia also use masks to protect their privacy(隐私). This makes people in the East wear masks more often when epidemics break out(爆发).

But as the number of COVID-19 cases keeps on growing around the world, people in the West are changing. Many healthy people are starting to wear masks now to protect themselves.