Taking online classes is becoming increasingly popular,but students have different opinions about it.

Zhou Lan:

I love taking online courses.They give me a lot more choices and freedom.We can choose to learn whatever we want.Also,online classes enable us to study whenever and wherever we want,which is very convenient.

Liu Bing:

I don't think taking online classes is a good way to study.There are many temptations(诱惑)on the Internet.Students can be distracted(使分心)from their courses easily.The whole learning process is not as organized as it is in the classroom.

Wu Wei:

Online classrooms are beneficial.We might feel more concentrated on learning when we are alone in front of a computer with no one to distract us.In addition,taking courses online also means we can have more time to use a computer,which is a good way to practice our computer skills.

Liao Siying:

I think the idea of taking online courses is crazy.It can increase our exposure(接触)to computers and the radiation(辐射)from them could do harm to the human body,especially our eyes.Also,sitting in front of a computer for a long time without exercising can be harmful to our health.

The triathlon is a demanding sport. Many say that it is a real test of an athlete’s body and mind. It is difficult because it is three sports in one. It includes swimming for 13. 86 kilometers, bicycling for 180 kilometers, and running for 42. 2 kilometers. The top triathletes finish all three events in about 8 hours.

This sport is a real challenge. First, it takes time to train for competitions. Some people spend up to 8 months training for the race. Second, it takes money to compete. The equipment is not cheap. Bicycles for this event can cost up to$10, 000. Top-quality swimming gear (用具) and running shoes are expensive. Third, athletes must have strong minds. It takes willpower (意志力) to push themselves to keep training to reach their goal.

The triathlon is a recent sport. Triathlons began in California in the early 1970s. In 1978, competitors held the first professional triathlon race in Hawaii. In 1982, this race became famous because of the televised performance of Julie Moss. It was her first competition. Exhausted, she was running toward the finish line. Suddenly, 3 meters before the line, she fell down. She tried to get up, but she kept falling. She finally crawled (爬) across the finish line. She lost that year, but she tried again. Finally, in 1985, she won. This was the start of the triathlon's popularity.

Today, triathlons are much more popular among ordinary athletes. People of all ages can compete, as long as they are in good physical condition. In fact, it has become a great family sport. Triathletes are special people who have time in their lives for careers (事业) and families. Most are highly educated and earn top salaries (薪水) in their jobs. Many triathletes are happily married. In fact, two-thirds of triathletes say that their training has a positive influence on their marriages. Today, the triathlon is an Olympic sport and a respected event worldwide.

The more you know about how colleges in the United States choose their students, the better chance you will have to get in. If you understand how to evaluate yourself, how to research schools, and how to see differences between one college and another, your chances will be very great.

You will be choosing 10 or 12 colleges that you must get to know very well. You can read about them, research them online, and find other Chinese students at the school. You can email them about campus life. Find the email address of the admissions office on the college website and ask for the names and email addresses of other Chinese students.

Try hard to keep an open mind, as you research the hundreds of colleges in the US. The more you learn what a particular college is like, even if you have never heard of it before, the more informed choices you will be able to make.

That means collecting information from many sources(来源).It's easy to believe what others say, things like “Someone told me that Colorado College is too small,” and “Someone told me that Michigan is too big.” The truth is that every college has something for someone. There is no college that is wonderful for everyone. Not even the Ivy League schools(常春藤盟校)!Just because you have heard the name of a college does not mean it will be a good place for you. Just because you have not heard the name of a college does not mean that you will not like it.

Look at four-year accredited(鉴定合格的) residential(住宿的) colleges where at least 75 percent of the students live on campus. You must apply to some that are easier to get into than others. The typical residential college of 2,000 students feels different from a state university of 20,000 students. Most colleges of 2,000 are communities where everyone gets to know each other, and professors spend a lot of time with the students.

Culture Shock

Culture shock refers to the anxiety and feelings(of surprise,uncertainty,confusion,etc.)felt when people have to operate within a different and unknown cultural or social environment,such as a foreign country.

Generally speaking,we could say that there are four stages of culture shock.The first stage is called“the honeymoon”    11    And everything seems to be wonderful and everybody seems to be so nice to you.

The next stage is“the hostility stage(排斥期)”.In this stage,you begin to notice not everything is as good as you originally thought it was.    12    Moreover,people don't treat you like a guest anymore.

Then you come to the third stage called“recovery”.In this stage,you start to feel more positive.    13    The whole situation starts to become more pleasant.Now you begin to learn to adapt yourself to it.

The last stage of culture shock is called“adjustment".    14    You have learned enough about the new culture.The things that originally made you feel uncomfortable or strange are now things that you understand.Now you have adjusted to the new culture and you feel comfortable.

Not all individuals visiting another country will experience all these four stages.    15    It also occurs within cultures as individuals move from place to place or from one setting to another.