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.

根据短文内容，从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项为多余选项。

    Anyone who has ever tried to stop smoking knows how difficult it is to quit. There is no lack of information about how unhealthy smoking is for you- not to mention the unpleasant smell. So why would teens ever begin to smoke?

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Research shows that the majority of smokers lit up their first cigarette in their early or mid-teens, precisely at a time when children are beginning to establish their own identity apart from their parents. Smoking can be an act of rebellion(反抗) against parents or authority figures, as well as a way to fit in with others and feel accepted.

    Here are some things that parents can do to help a child stay smoke-free.

    Start talking to your teen about how bad smoking is for him early, well before his teens. Keep talking, too. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} For example, smoking makes your hair and clothing smell bad, stains the teeth, and reduces your lung power to play sports.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Talk about the addictive power of smoking and tell him while those few cigarettes are his choice, the addiction that occurs shortly afterwards makes him powerless to decide whether or not he wants to light up.

    Work on self-esteem(自尊) and self-confident with your teen. Much of the attraction of smoking is to gain acceptance. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

Health Mistakes to Avoid Making When Traveling

    Everyone is talking about amazing travel experiences. However, there is always the other side of the coin. If you want to add more wonderful travel experiences to your life, make sure you avoid these health mistakes during your next trip.

Refusing injections

    At times you are asked to have an injection in order to avoid a certain disease before traveling to your destination. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} In many cases, mosquito bites lead to malaria(疟疾） and there are many other health risks that you may face during your trip. Refusing injections is the worst thing you can do to your health.

Eating out in the street

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}. Yes, it is cheaper and tastier than restaurant meals. However, when visiting a country where clean food and dishes arc not priority (优先)，your stomach may not survive this experiment. Just because locals eat street food and feel healthy does not mean you will feel the same.

Drinking tap water

    Staying hydrated(吸入水分）is necessary, so is the water choice. Even if locals tell you that their tap water is safe to drink, it is best to choose bottled water. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}. it is at least clean. It is always better to be safe than sorry.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}. Google maps make our travel experiences easier since you can check out the place you are going to visit before you even book the ticket. Unfortunately, not all tourists take advantage of them. This is a successful way to really relax and enjoy the trip.

    Even an expert traveler is guilty of making most of these health mistakes. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}, you will probably not commit any of them during the trip, will you?

注意：每个空格只填一个单词。

    Many people believe that classical music is not relevant music is not relevant to young people today . However, this issue (问题) frequently causes heated debate.

    Some people say that classical music is associated only with old people .For example, if you look at the audience at a classical concert , the majority is over the age of fifty.

    Others say it is more popular than we first imagine . Many young people listen to classical music without realising .It is often used in films and advertisements. For example.a famous piece of classical music was used as the theme music for the 1990 World Cup . Not many people could have given its name , but millions enjoyed it .

    Also,some people point out that young people produce new music based on classical ideas: for example, it is said that rap(说唱)music was invented by a classical musician in 1912, but it is now used by young people in pop music.

    However, young people point to the fact that classical music has been outstripped(超越) by technology. To play a classical instrument, such as a violin, you need to study hard and practise for hours. Nowadays, you don't need to get aching arms from practising. A teenager can write and make music using a computer program in the comfort of their own bedroom.

    A final point to in mind is that the term "classical music" is used to refer to a great variety of music, from jazz to pieces  for large orchestras(管弦乐队).This makes it even more difficult to say whether classical music is relevant to young people.

    So, it may be only a minority of young people who play classical instruments , but when it comes to enjoying classical music, it depends on the piece of music. It may be more relevant to young people in the modern world than they realise!

Five ways to improve creativity

    Creativity is the ability to go beyond traditionally rules, ideas or relationships and create something new through imagination or progressiveness. There are many ways to improve your creative mind.

    Exercise the mind. Exercising your mind is an ideal way to boost creativity. Like the body, the mind needs exercise to work the creative muscles and make them stronger. Exercise your brain by learning new subjects, getting into a debate about politics and talking to other creative and intelligent people. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Be Passionate. One aspect of creativity is passion. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Find you internal motivation and follow your passion to improve your creativity.

    Change your routine. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} To boost your creativity, consider changing one to two elements of your daily routine. If you are working on a certain project, consider stopping one project to work on another project at regular interval throughout the day or week.

    Read. While reading provides many intellectual benefits, reading is also beneficial for boosting creativity, exercising your brain and provide creative inspiration. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}Consider reading about subjects that were previously uninteresting to you. This change in the norm might spark your creative interest.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}. Our packed schedules have no room for creative thinking. Take a certain amount of time every day to quiet, refresh and clear the mind while relaxing the body. This quiet .time can consist of a yoga workout, meditation or simply sitting still in a dark and quiet room, in a peaceful garden or on a beautiful beach.

A. Schedule quiet time.

B. It can become weak due to stresses.

C. Creativity is a natural quality.

D. Often, creativity is blocked due to a too-familiar routine.

E. These activities will encourage a flow of creativity.

F. Read as much as possible about several different subjects

G. Typically, students will do well in subjects they are interested in.