A“Gap Year” is a period of time when a student takes a break before going touniversity.It is often spent traveling or working.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}.The advantagesof taking a gap year are as follows：

{#blank#}2{#/blank#}.Althoughyou don't have to go abroad to experience gap years，most gap year students catch thechance to travel abroad.You are able to work out who you are and what you arefor.The experiences of different cultures offer you interesting lessons.

FaceChallenges and Have Fun.A gap year is not only a time to take a vacation，but also a time to face challenges.Gapyear students usually work，volunteeror take service projects.You have to learn how to get along in the realworld.This process isn't always easy，butit is an important part of growing up.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}.

            Save Money and Improve Your College Admission Chances.There's a common thought thatgap years are only for rich students，butit isn't true. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}.Gap year students often take a part－time job.Besides，at the end of a gap year，students are much more likely to knowwhat to study in college.Clear learning goals can keep the students workinghard instead of wasting time and money playing.

Imaginean admission officer trying to admit only one between two students.Both of themare excellent and have high grades.However，onestudent has much practical experience or has volunteered in his vacation.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    There is an English saying that goes,“he who laughs last laughs the hardest.”High School Musical star Zac Efron is laughing a lot these days.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Because he was always the smallest in his class and was laughed at because he had a big space between his teeth. In sixth grade, Efron's basketball team made it to be the league championships. In double overtime(两个加时赛),with three seconds left, he rebounded the ball and passed it to the wrong team! {#blank#}2{#/blank#}.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Now at 21,Efron is one of People Magazine's 100 Most Beautiful People, graces(荣登)the cover of Entertainment Weekly Hollywood's most influential magazine, and is travelling the world promoting the third High School Musical film. Director Adam Shankman described Efron as “arguably the biggest teen star in America right now” Simply google “Zac Efron”, and you get more than 14 million responses. Yes, it seems Efron has a lot to smile about these days.

    Efron was born and raised in California. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} According to Efron,“he would flip out(发疯) if he got a B and not an A in school, and that he was a class clown.”It was his father who encouraged him to act. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} He also took singing lessons. He graduated from high school in 2006 and was accepted at the University of Southern California to study film. But he put it off —why study movies when you can star in them. Efron has risen all the way to the top of the movie business. And he can now laugh all the way to the bank.

A. He owed it a lot to his father that he succeeded.

B. But history, as they say, is a thing of the past.

C. He took part in school performances and acted in a local theater.

D. When he was young, Efron was an unqualified basketball player.

E. He took school seriously.

F. They scored and his team lost the game.

G.As a young boy, Efron was picked on by his classmates.

Help your child look forward to school

    Your child says that he is sick whenever the alarm clock goes off. Your child hides under the covers and cries, "I hate school" when it's time to get ready in the morning. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} If he behaves like that, there could be more than book reports and tests making him want to stay at home.

Talk to your child

    You can ask questions like "Did you have a good day today?" or "{#blank#}2{#/blank#}" If your child rides the bus, you can ask where he sits and why.

Talk to the teacher

    Meet with your child's teacher. Discuss the problems you are having at home and find out what is happening at school. Are there behaviour problems you do not realize? {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

Be aware

    Your child's problem may also be caused by a learning disability. If you think there's such a problem, talk to the school.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} Most schools have either an in-house psychologist (心理学家) or one who visits the school regularly. Set up a time to discuss the problem with his teachers.

{#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    If your child's homework is untidy, don't criticize (批评) his handwriting. Instead, praise him for completing the work. If his clothes don't match in the morning, tell him how proud you are that he got ready for school on time instead of criticizing him.

A. Look for the good.

B. Volunteer in the classroom.

C. Do other students make fun of your child?

D. How are you getting along with your classmates?

E. You might get angry when your child tell lies at school

F. Your child forgets to bring home his homework on purpose.

G. His teachers will pay more attention to while he's in class.

    Psychology says that many are unwilling to take risks. It's human nature to be nervous about putting ourselves on the line, whether physically or emotionally. But it's good for us to do that once in a while, especially when the risk is to achieve a desired result. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Our human nature should be to take risks, but some just sit and wish they would not have the fear to move on because of one or two failures in their lives. Please step out and don't let the past hold you back from living life to the fullest. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    In studying the psychology of taking risks, we find that human nature provides us with the desire to experiment and take chances. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} This risk-taking attitude has become a part of our modern culture. Roller Coasters and bungee jumping are two common risk-taking activities that even the average person seems to enjoy despite the logical understanding that danger is not fun. This psychological connection creates an interesting connection between what is safe and what human enjoys.

    Without taking risks, nothing good can happen. Getting in a car each day is a risk. Getting out of bed is a risk.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} We need to take risks so that we can accomplish things. Astronauts take risks when they get inside of a rocket; however, the things they achieve are literally astronomical. Investors take a risk when they buy parts of a company. However, without doing that, they couldn't receive money on their investment.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} It is impossible to move forward in life, earn money, enjoy a relationship, play a sport, or do anything else without taking a risk. That is all part of the game. It's not one of the most important parts of life.

A. Move forward and move on.

B. There is no such thing as a perfect safety.

C. In that way, we become stronger and braver.

D. Thus, we will achieve more success in daily life.

E. We need to take risks so that we can gain something.

F. You must spend more time thinking about the strategies of risk.

G. Risk-taking is a benefit that allowed ancient people to discover new places.

    I like my job. It may be my nature that draws me to this kind of job. I work at Izzy's Pizza Bar.

    One day an elderly couple came in just after 3p. m. The first thing they said was, Where is Nan?" Nan is my mother. She was not in that day. It was her day off.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#} , since they liked to talk with my mom. But when I explained I was her daughter, they were thrilled to meet me. We enjoyed our conversation, comparable to a girl speaking with her grandparents. They are the type of people who understand me and have a positive attitude towards my job.

    Later that night, I waited on two men. It took some effort to get them to be friendly. I explained I was waitressing over the summer to make some extra cash for school. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}, since she was also my coworker. They said they were very surprised at the idea of me and my mother waiting on people at the same restaurant. The two men were quite different. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}.

    Once all the customers had finished eating, I began my closing duties, using the time to reflect on my day, or rather, life. I rushed around getting everything done, thinking about those two men.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}. We should treat people with respect, regardless of their occupation. I could have let those two men make me feel ashamed, but I didn't. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}. I will always have pride in the person I was, am, and aim to be.

A. I had always received a positive response from everyone else I had told

B. Everyone should have equal opportunities in getting a job

C. I also said I was grateful that my mom had trained me

D. On the contrary, I felt really proud

E. This couple got a lot of enjoyment out of eating in this restaurant

F. You could say they were very disappointed to know that

G. Your job doesn't have to state who you are as a person

    My mother is a diligent and kind woman. She is very busy from morning till night. As a teacher, she works hard. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}Both my brother and I love her dearly as she loves us.

    My mother has been teaching math at a middle school in my hometown. She goes to work early in the morning and does not return home until in the late afternoon. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} She treats them with patience and teaches them well. For her excellent quality and very good teaching results, she has been elected as a model teacher several times.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Every day, when she comes back home from work, she sets about doing housework, sweeping the living room and bedrooms or cleaning the furniture, and putting everything in good order. She seems to be busy all the time. As she has been very busy working every day, she looks older than her age. But she looks as cheerful and happy as ever. Mother never buys expensive dresses for herself, but she often buys some inexpensive but high quality clothes for us. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} She just eats a plain meal outside when she is too busy to cook herself. She lives a busy yet simple life, without any complaints.(抱怨)

    Often she says to us, "work while you work, and play while you play. That is the way to be happy. If you do not work, you will become lazy and be of no use to society". What a piece of good advice this is! {#blank#}5{#/blank#} This advice of hers will always serve as a guide to my behavior. My mother is great indeed, and I always feel proud of her.

A. She enjoys listening to classic music.

B. As a mother, she takes good care of us and gives us every comfort.

C. She loves her students and cares for them.

D. She never goes to expensive restaurants to enjoy meals.

E. My mother is hard-working and never wastes money.

F. I never forget it and always bear it in my mind.

G. Can you tell us something about your mother?