Title: To be a {#blank#}1{#/blank#} student

Susan: I'm really busy this term.

Linda: How many classes do you have every day?

Susan: Six.

Linda: Do you have English lessons every day?

Susan: Sure. We have five English classes in a week.

Linda: Do you have an art lesson?

Susan: Yes, it's on Wednesday.

Linda: When do you have P.E.?

Susan: On Tuesday and Thursday.

Linda: What's your favorite day?

Susan: My favorite day is Friday, because I have music and handwork(手工).

But I don't like Thursday.

Linda: Why don't you like it?

Susan: Because I have two science lessons. Science is too difficult for me.

    Every child has a dream of what they want to be, right? When Rence Butts was little, her dream was to become a volunteer firewoman because her father was a fireman. Sadly, when she was fourteen, her father died(死)and she was never able to volunteer with him. Rence's story doesn't end there. She was strong and never gave up, at last she became a good firewoman.

    I think she's great. She's always glad to do anything for anyone in need. With 140 people in her station, Rence is one of the only three women. What's more, she is always glad to help others.

    What Rence did helps me believe that I can do anything. I hope someday to be just like her:

    To wake up and help people every day.

    Some time ago, an old businessman had a large store in Boston. He wanted a boy to work for him, and he put an advertisement in the newspapers. The next morning, many boys came to the old man's office, asking for the job.

     There was a post（柱子）by his desk, and there was a nail in it. He took a walking stick and said, “Everyone has three chances. If anyone can hit that nail（钉子）on the head with this stick more than once, I will give him the job.”

    The boys thought it was very easy. They all tried, but nobody could make it. So the old man said, “I'm sorry I can't take any of you,” and they left.

      He kept the advertisement in the papers, and the next morning more boys came, and among them he saw a thin boy who had been there the day before. The boy hit the nail successfully for three times. The old man felt surprised and asked how he did that.

     “Yes,” said the boy, “I failed yesterday, but I thought that if I kept on trying a while, I could do it. So I went home and practiced hitting a nail with a stick till I could do it, and I got up very early this morning, and tried again.”

    The old man said, “You are the boy for me,” and gave him the job. Whatever the boy had to do, he tried to do his best. It was not very long before he became the best clerk in the store.

根据短文内容，回答下列问题。

    Different countries have different ideas about how to be polite. In Britain, table manners are important. But how do you show good table manners in Britain? Here is some advice:

    How to sit: You should sit up straight in your chair. When you eat, don't pick up the bowl. This is called very bad manners.

    Noises at the table: It is never a good idea to make a noise at the table. 

Using your fingers: Usually we don't pick food up with our fingers when we are eating main dishes. But there are some foods such as pizza, sandwiches, chips and fruit we can eat with fingers.

Passing things: If someone asks you to pass something like the salt, only get it if you are the closest person to it. Never lean (倾斜, 倾倒) across someone else's food. It's more polite not to use it yourself first — pass it directly to the person who asked, and then use it later. It's best to taste your food before you put salt in it.

    Your mouth: It is not polite to talk with your mouth full of food, nor to eat with your mouth open.

    How much to eat: It is polite to eat up the food that you have been offered, so a clear plate is a good plate. It shows that you enjoy the food. If you can't finish everything and you can leave a little, that is okay. You could say something like “That was very nice, thank you.”

How to be a better student

    Maybe you are a common student. You probably think you will never be a top student. This is not necessary so, however. Anyone can become a better student if he or she wants to. Here's how:

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    When you plan your week, you should make a list of things that you have to do. After making this list, you should make a schedule of your time. First set your time for eating, sleeping, dressing, etc. Then decide a good, regular time for studying. Don't forget to set aside enough time for entertainment. A weekly schedule may not solve all your problems, but it will force you to realize what is happening to your time.

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    Look around the house for a good study area. Keep this space, which may be a desk or simply a corner of your room, free of everything but study materials. No games, radios, or televisions! When you sit down to study, concentrate on the subject.

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    Take advantage of class time to listen to everything the teachers say. Really listening in class means less work later. Taking notes will help you remember what the teacher says.

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    When you get home from school, go over your notes, review the important points that your teacher is going to discuss the next day, read that material. This will help you understand the next class. If you do these things regularly, the materials will become more meaningful, and you will remember it longer.

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    The purpose of tests is to show what you have learned about a subject. They help you remember your new knowledge. The world won't end if you don't pass a test, so don't be too worried.

There are other methods that might help you with your studying. You will probably discover them after you have tried these,