Great changes have taken place in Chinese education. The Chinese government started to carry out the policy of double reduction (双减政策) in 2021. Then, some ______ think they can have less homework and have more time to play. However, some are worried about how to study under ______ new policy.

How can you study under this new policy? Please read the following advice.

You are still supposed ______ hard and be self-disciplined (自律的). Listen to your teacher and take notes carefully in class. Good learning habits always ______ a lot. If you have problems, try to deal with them by yourself at first. And you should ask your teachers for help in time ______ you still can’t solve them. After all, except ______ parents, they are those who are knowledgeable and always ready to help you. You can also collect mistakes and review them ______ several times until you can solve the similar problems next time.

Under the policy of double reduction, exams ______ to test students’ understanding and practical application (实际应用) of knowledge, so remember to learn skills through practicing. Don’t forget to mark the key points with your pen and try to write down ______ this kind of problems. Students need to be hard-working as well as creative in their future studies. Chances ______ only for the prepared mind.

Orion Jean, a little boy in the United States, has a big goal. He wants to ______ kindness to as many people as he can.

It all started in August 2020. Jean ______ $500 in prize money after winning the U. S. National Kindness Speech Competition. He realized that it was not enough to just speak about kindness. The boy ______ the “Race to Kindness” project.

Jean started off by helping children in hospital. These children were not able to see their family members very often. Jean wanted to put a ______ on their faces. He used his money to buy many ______ while calling on people to do the same. In only a month, he had collected 619 toys. The boy sent them to a local children’s hospital. “It is one of the most ______ things I have done in my life,” he said.

In October 2020, Jean set the goal of donating (捐赠) 100, 000 free Thanksgiving meals to poor ______. With the help of a local charity (慈善组织), he reached his goal.

As a book lover, Jean knows how reading can ______ a person’s life. Last May, after he discovered the fact that two out of three kids from poor families had no books of their own, the boy decided to collect 500, 000 ______ for them.

Will he take a break after this? Who knows? “Maybe something even ______ will come,” Jean says, “Maybe we’ll do a ‘race’ to a million.”

Students must follow rules in schools. But some schools have unusual school rules and you may get a surprise when hearing about them.

In a school in the USA, students cannot wear some winter clothes like jackets or hats in class because they are “criminal symbols.” But the town is freezing even indoors in winter and the students don’t understand why they cannot wear warm clothes to school.

An American college has many dorm (宿舍) rules. One of them is that students must make their bed before 9 a. m. every day. One student said if he wanted to continue to sleep on Saturday morning, he must get up, make his bed, and then go back to sleep on top of the quilt.

Students in a school in Japan will get a punishment (惩罚) if he cannot finish the meal. What’s more, students must not talk at lunch. If a student is found talking to someone, he has to sit alone on a chair with no table.

Teachers in parts of the UK and Australia are told not to grade their student’s homework using red pens. What is wrong with red pens? Well, it’s partly because the color red is felt as danger, and schools think it makes children unhappy when they receive their homework with red marks. Teachers must use other colors like blue, purple, yellow or even with a pencil.

In 1924, Frederick Mitchell-Hedges led a team to Lubaantun, an ancient Mayan (玛雅人的) city in Central America. There, his daughter, Anna, found one of the most mysterious objects in history: a crystal skull (水晶头骨) that looked like a perfect human head. After that, more crystal skulls appeared in a short period across Europe and North America.

For years, those mysterious crystal skulls have caused a lot of discussion. Even now, no one knows exactly who made them and when they were made.

Some people believe that the people in Central America made them thousands of years ago. Some stories even say that the crystal skulls have special powers, such as the ability to make sick people well.

However, most scientists don’t believe these stories. They think the skulls are more modern. Scientists have found marks on the skulls that they believe only more modern technology could make it. Because of this, scientists are sure that the skulls are not thousands of years old. Instead, they think the skulls are from the 19th century. Scientists also say researchers in the British Museum have found many Central American objects, but they have never found a crystal skull. Scientists say this also shows they are not really from Central America.

Before we know more about the skulls, the mystery and the discussion will continue.

Amy was studying in England. One day, she got an invitation to the Smiths’ dinner party.     31     She was thinking of not going to the party. But it seemed impolite to be absent.

Amy put on a beautiful dress and stayed in her room. Chris, her new friend and classmate, came in. “    32     But why are you looking so nervous?” Chris asked.

“I’m going to Mr. Smith’s dinner party, but I don’t know much about table manners,” answered Amy.

“Don’t worry! I can teach you some now,” said Chris.

“    33     I’m leaving in 15 minutes,” said Amy.

“Take it easy, Amy. The first thing you need to learn is not to eat a lot. Just eat a little of everything.”

On hearing his words, Amy looked less nervous. That was easy for her. “    34    ” she asked.

“Of course. You have to use the knife and fork,” Chris said, “One more thing—never talk when your mouth is full.     35    ” Amy looked less worried because she never chewed with her mouth open.

“Last but not least, enjoy your party!” Chris added. “Thanks, Chris. I think I’m ready to have dinner with the Smiths,” said Amy, excited.

36. 盘子里有许多新鲜的葡萄。

There are many fresh ____________________ on the plate.