Have you ever wondered what an American high school is really like? This article will describe a typical (典型的) high school and its students.

A typical American high school has several large buildings and enough space for about 1,500 students. Every student is given a locker. When students first arrive at school, they go straight to their lockers to put away or get their textbooks and to hang up their outdoor clothes. As American textbooks are expensive, students would rather loan (租借) than buy them. Students must pay back if they lost any of them.

American students have different types of school transport. They usually take a yellow school bus or walk to school if they live close enough. Sometimes their parents drive them to school.

When they turn 16 years of age, most take a free driving class at school for one term. If students' exam passing grades in the class and also pass their state driver's exam, they can begin driving themselves to school.

Each day, students take six or seven classes. They must take science, math, English and social studies. They can choose art, homemaking, fashion design and other classes. In some schools students are required to take one or more of the following special classes: health education, physical education or foreign language studies. Students move to different classrooms for each subject. This is because cache teacher has their own classroom. There is a five-minute break between classes, to give the students the time to hurry to their next class.

The regular school day usually ends early in the afternoon. After school more than half of the students take part in after-school activities. These activities include sports, specially football, basketball, baseball and soccer or clubs, such as yearbook, speech, school newspaper, photograph or student government.

Title: {#blank#}1{#/blank#} in an American High School

When 1949 meets 2023

Hi, I'm Hanhan, a student from Beijing. I was born in 2008. In the past 15 years, everyone's life changed a lot. My grandfather Jianguo feels (感觉) the same. He was born in1949. "When I was your age, life was very different," he said to me. But how was it different? I'm going to talk to him.

Jianguo: When I was born, many families were poor (贫穷的). Most people could spend only about 50 yuan a year.

Hanhan: In 2023, most people spent about 30,000 yuan a year. It increased a lot. I have some pocket money (零花钱). I use it to buy my favourite toys.

Jianguo: In 1949, about 75% of Chinese people could not read or write. Going to school was a dream (梦想) for many people.

Hanhan: Now almost everyone can go to primary and junior high schools. In some poor places, students can enjoy free meals after class. We have good chances to make our dreams come true.

Jianguo: I used to (过去) live in a hutong with my family. My brother and I shared a small room.

Hanhan: My family lives in a tall building. I have my own bedroom, but life in the hutong sounds (听起来) so interesting.

Jack Brown, an office worker, lives in Washington. He inherited（继承）a million dollars when he was 23, but he wasn't happy at all. When his college friends were looking for their jobs, he didn't have to. Jack decided to live a simple life like everyone else. He gave $10,000 of his money to a charity to help poor children live a better life. Today he is 36. He still wears cheap shoes and clothes and drives a small car only, but he is very happy. 

Up to now Jack has helped some children from poor countries all over the world by sending them $200 a month. The money is used for the children's study, food, medicine and clothing. Jack receives a report each year on the children's progress. They can write to each other, but usually the children do not speak English. 

When Jack first heard about these children, he wanted to help them. "It was nothing special," he said. "Until I went to these countries and met the children I was helping, I didn't know anything about their life." Once Jack went to meet a little girl in Africa. He said that the meeting was exciting. "When I met her, I felt very happy," he said. "And I saw that the money was used for a good cause. It brought me happiness. I want to do everything I can to go on helping these children."

 Hainan Chicken Rice is a delícious rice. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} People in Hainan often eat it. It is one of the 50 best specials in the world.

 {#blank#}2{#/blank#} When cooking Hainan Chicken rice, some people cook rice with oil(油). Some people use Chinese green onions to make it hot(辣的). {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

 People in Hainan usually use White- cut Chicken for this dish. The chicken is soft(软的). {#blank#}4{#/blank#} They think this kind of Hainan Chicken Rice is the best.

 When eating Hainan Chicken Rice, you should drink a bowl of soup. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} They make the soup look beautiful and taste good.

Welcome to Happy School, one of the most beautiful schools in the city centre. Entering the school gate, you can see the classroom building in front of you. It's where we have lessons. Near the gate, on the left is the office building. Our headmaster's office is in the building. The playground is behind the office building in front of the sports hall. We play sports there in the PE class and after school. The library is on the right of the classroom building. There are five reading rooms for students and two for teachers. You can also borrow books, newspapers, magazines, and CDs from the library. The building in front of the library, on the right of the school gate is for science studies. There are ten labs for the students to do experiments (实验).

{#blank#}1{#/blank#} {#blank#}2{#/blank#} {#blank#}3{#/blank#} {#blank#}4{#/blank#} {#blank#}5{#/blank#}