Directions: Read the following passage. Answer the questions according to the information given in the passage.

Walk Out of the Comfort Zone and Try New Things

For most high school students, free periods are useless. From what I have seen, few do homework, instead many are on their phones 

and talking, making it impossible for those who actually want to do work to complete any. As a senior next year, I think extra periods should be used to take optional subjects.

Our school offers many classes. Now is the time to experiment in different fields of study. We will never know if we are interested or 

talented in a subject if we don't try it.

In my 8th grade, I was told that I had to take an art class as a graduation requirement; so in the 9th grade I took Studio and Art. One 

of the projects was to build a clay pot, but I built mine incorrectly, so it broke in the kiln 

(窑). I found out that I have no artistic ability at all, and now I know for sure that I do not want to be an artist. However, the class was

 one of my favorites that year. I was able to try new activities and test my ability.

Walk out of our comfort zone and try new things! College is when we should focus on a specific major, but high school is when we

 have to figure it out.

Half of all college students change their major at some point. By doing that hundreds of dollars are wasted on classes that they would 

have never needed to take. So use our extra periods to find out what we want to do in college. The classes we choose can impact us in

 future. Taking optional subjects will enrich our mind. It will also show colleges we are diverse students.

    From time to time, we all get a bit down. Maybe we are feeling bad because we're not doing well with our goals. There are many reasons for feeling down, but I'm not able to discuss all of them. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Make a list. Sometimes we are sad simply because we are troubled by all the things we have to do. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Make a list of the most pressing things you have to do. Thus you're getting things under control. You can see, right in front of you, what you need to do, and that can pick up your mood.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} You've made a list, and you still feel puzzled? Well, get started on the first thing you need to do. Once you get into action, you'll feel better. And once you start doing something, you will feel much better than lying around feeling sorry for yourself.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} I like Brown Eyed Girl, the Kinks, the Ramones, or an upbeat Beatles tune. You might have your own brand of feel-good music. Whatever it is, let yourself move to the beat. It may just be what the doctor ordered.

    Talk about it. Get a best friend, family member or coworker you can talk to. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} It can also help you work out the reasons you're feeling down.

How to Find Yourself

    Do you often feel lost？Do you think you are living somebody else's life? If yes, discover ways to find yourself by going through the following article.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#} If you are thinking, “how to find yourself when you are lost?”, then the first thing to do is to have a rest from everything—work, personal life and all worldly things. Give time to yourself to think why you seem lost. Is it because of over work? Is it because you are not leading a life that you want to? Or is it because you are not satisfied with the people or things around you? Try to find answers to these questions to determine the cause behind your restlessness.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} For once, instead of being the way others want you to be, be yourself. Look within and find yourself in you. Think about the things that you would want to do if you didn't have any family obligations or any money issues. Think about the kind of relationship you would want to be in, the place that you would like to stay in, the kind of lifestyle you would like to lead, if you didn't have the society or people around you, judging all the time. If you really want to know how to find inner peace, then think, what you would want others to describe you as—an honest person? Or adventurous? Or loving, or realistic? Once you look within, you will know the answer and then try to be exactly that.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}  Thinking deeply about the past, the time or situations when you were the happiest, is another way to find yourself .Think what you were doing or with whom you were, when you were the happiest. This will help you to identify things that you want to do in life that make you happy and also certain people whose company you enjoy.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Knowing yourself and determining what you to do with your life will not come to you in a day or two. Discovering oneself is an ongoing process and it can take months or sometimes even years to truly find yourself. So, it's important that you maintain a written record of all your feelings and thoughts, which you can go through at a later stage. Pour all your emotions and feelings about life in it and who knows may be one day going through it, you will find yourself.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}  Once you have discovered what you want to do with your life, make a move for change and self improvement. Even if it means taking up small things such as dancing or painting, go ahead and do it. If you want a career change, plan and take steps so that it can take place smoothly. If you are stuck in a bad relationship and find yourself unable to mend it, break away. At the beginning, you may find yourself slightly unbalanced, but with time everything will be fine.

    It is very important for you to truly find yourself, before it is too late. If you do not find yourself now, you will spend your life with somebody you do not even know, i.e. yourself.

     “The gaokao,China's national college entrance exam,is winning more recognition as a way for universities overseas to evaluate Chinese students,”recruiting officers said.

    Stanley Nel,vice-president of international relations at the University of San Francisco in the United States,who is responsible for the university's admissions from China,said he had had several inquiries from US universities about how to recruit Chinese students on the basis of their gaokao scores.

    The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) have long been two musts for students from other counties,including China,to apply to study in the US.

    USF,a private university in California,started a pilot program to accept Chinese students based on their gaokao scores in 2015.The idea came from USF President Paul Fitzgerald's belief that standardized tests like the SAT are not very good predictors of how well students will do at the university."We are aware of the many criticisms that have been made of the gaokao,but it has the advantage of being what educational experts call a 'criterion-referenced' exam: It tests whether students are able to master a given body of knowledge,"he said.

    Currently,at least four higher education institutions in the US are recruiting Chinese students based on their gaokao performances.The Illinois Institute of Technology,a private institution in Chicago,started the practice first,in 2009.Outside the US,countries including Spain,Italy,Singapore,France and Australia also recognize gaokao scores.

    More than 200 students from China requested an interview with USF last year.74 of them were selected for a follow-up interview,44 received offers and 20 accepted the invitation and joined USF for the 2015 fall semester. Students admitted in this way have done "exceptionally well" in the past academic year,Nel added."The average GPA for all gaokao students is about 3.5 out of 4.For all other students—American and non-gaokao international students—American and non-gaokao international students—the average GPA is 3.2,"he said.

    Zhu Zihao gained admission in computer sciences at USF in 2015 through the program and performed well in his first academic year.He said that students who had experienced China's gaokao usually had comprehensive basic knowledge,which helps them excel in studies.

    Nel said,"students admitted through China's gaokao are not only smart but extremely conscientious（认真的）and hardworking."

    "This year we hope to recruit about 50 students in this way,and even more in years to come,"he said.

    As is well-known, drinking water benefits one's health. Especially when you get up early in the morning, you'd better drink water. Here are some reasons why you should do so.

    Improves Your Metabolism(新陈代谢)

    Studies have shown that drinking water on empty stomach can help increase metabolic rate up by 30%. This means that the rate at which calories are burned increases by nearly one third. Do you know what that means? Quicker weight loss!

    If your metabolic rate is high, then you will be able to digest food faster and maintain a slim figure despite eating those extra calories. However, this doesn't mean that you could bite down on all that junk food. Furthermore, you will need to drink around four litres of water daily for best results.

    Helps in Clearing Your Bowels

    Constipation(便秘) is one of the most irritating conditions which also results in deposit of poisonous materials inside the body. But did you know that one of the other benefits of drinking water is that it helps to clear out your bowels? The colon(结肠), which is in part responsible for bowel movements, require water to function properly. So just gulp down a glass of water and sit on your toilet for a clean colon.

    Improves Your Appetite

Early in the morning, with your stomach totally empty, it is natural you will feel hungry. So another benefit of drinking water is preparing you to have the most important meal of the day — breakfast. Besides this, we all know that having a healthy appetite is good for overall health.

Helps to Balance Your Nervous System

    Yes, drinking water on empty stomach especially if it's hot, can improve the health of your nervous system. Early morning, the stomach is most receptive. At this moment, if you indulge in coffee, which is a central nervous system stimulant, your nervous system will be affected from the get-go. On the other hand, if you just have a glass of warm water, it can ease your nervous system, which will help it function properly.

    Prevents Migraine(偏头痛) Attacks

    Again, if you tend to suffer from migraine attacks, then water can help fight it off. Your doctor might have already told you that migraines happen due to lacking water amongst other reasons. So just by increasing your water intake, you are basically preventing your chances from suffering another migraine attack.

    Prevents Early Aging

    And now to finish off, let's see how drinking water on empty stomach can prove to be some sort of good medicine. Water can help release toxins such as bacteria and other harmful elements from your system. This, in turn, can help your body fight the effects of free radicals(自由基) which can cause early ageing. Furthermore, if your skin doesn't lack water internally, it will feel refreshed, which can help it maintain a young state and shiny appearance.

    Now that you've learned the above benefit of drinking water early in the morning, why not develop the healthy habit from now on?

Why Do People Enjoy Extreme Sports?

    In recent years, the term extreme sports has evolved on grand scale. It can be divided into three main types: Air, Land and Water. Now you'll start wondering how they work and why people enjoy them.

    Often popular in younger-than-average crowd, the extreme sports are not organized by schools. These sports are practiced mostly on individual level, while in many cases professional coaching is also available.

    Now we tell you the secret recipe of their popularity:

    Control and Physics: The reason why people enjoy these sports is that they are normally played, exercised or practiced in free or uncontrolled environment like base jumping and sky diving. It means while traditional athletes play in controlled environment like fields and gyms, extreme athletes have to operate and display their skills in free-flowing natural environment. For this reason, the understanding of laws of physics and how to apply and use them are really crucial for success.

    Thrill: This is the single most attractive factor in people's interest in extreme sports. It makes extreme sports different from any other type of sports. The thrill one can get from extreme sports is the highest. But the athletes are fully exposed to direct danger. Thus, you have to fully understand the consequences before you decide to enjoy the thrill.

    Pushing the Limits: Extreme sports, as the name goes, is about pushing the limits. The response, nerves and the control over the un-controllable are the main reasons why people enjoy it.

    Man against Nature: As we mentioned earlier that it is about natural elements—Air, Water and Land, these games are loved because the natural elements react to human extreme. The passion of man to overcome the natural barriers is an addiction for these athletes.

    Some of the mainstream extreme sports are base jumping, bungee jumping, sky diving, gliding, extreme skiing, mountain biking, cliff diving, scuba diving and wind surfing. No matter what extreme sports you may enjoy, the No. 1 rule is to know your limits, or you'll be pushed.