Look up at the sky at night. What can you see? Before electric lights, people could often see about 2,500 different stars. Now, light fills the skies over our cities. This is called light     1    . Because of it, people in cities can often only see about ten     2    !

Most of the time, light helps us. We can     3     because of it. It gives plants energy. But light isn’t always     4    . We need times of dark     5    . One hundred years ago, we had those times of dark. Now the night is like day. Some scientists are worried about     6     this light effects our health. These scientists are studying the effects of light pollution.

Other scientists are finding ways to     7     light pollution and make our lives better. For example, many street lights now have covers. The covers focus the light     8     the ground. They stop the light from going     9     into the sky. They also save energy. The covers are a     10     change, but they can     11     have a positive effect.

Learning in class is a way for students to study. Students sit in the classroom and     1     to the teacher. Is this the     2     way for students to learn something? Of course not. There is another way to learn, that is, students can teach     3    .

How do you teach yourself? The     4     thing you must do is reading. Read something you are interested in,     5     what you have to read. The second is that you must ask yourself     6    . You can write down the questions. A clever student is usually good at     7     questions. The third is to answer the questions yourself     8     thinking hard, by reading the text or other books, and sometimes by asking     9     people. This is the way of teaching yourself. And you must do all these by yourself. If you keep doing like this for a     10     time, you are sure to get good grades in your study.

Cell phones have become one of the most useful devices in the past half century. The first cell phone had only one use—calling someone. Today’s smart-phones are really minicomputers that     1     users to do many things at once. People can send texts and emails, listen to music, take pictures and videos, and find information online.

Cell phones are perfect for learning in school. For example, students can find information on the Internet,     2     math problems and share notes. They can use calendars and alarms for reminders about homework, projects, and tests. They can even share ideas on social media.

Some schools don’t allow cell phones     3     they think the phones can distract(分心) students from their work. Some teachers worry that students won’t pay attention and will need to be reminded to put down their phones. They also worry that students will spend lunches and recess(暂停) playing games or using social media. Kids could miss out on quality time spent with friends.

Teachers and parents also worry about students using phones to cheat on tests or bully others. Cheating is unfair and does not help students learn. Bullying     4     classmates. Studies show that younger students are more likely to be bulled if they have cell phones.

However, researchers have found that most parents and teachers want students to have phones. It is important for parents and children to be able to keep in touch, Teachers like using phones during lessons because students are more interested and pay     5     attention.

Many teachers feel that the benefits outweigh(重于) the problems if students learn to use the cell phones     6    . Teachers and parents can teach kids to use cell phones in a safe way that helps them learn new things. In class, phones should be     7     and used only for lessons. Students should also track time spent on their phones and avoid using them too much. Students should be allowed to use cell phones in school. Setting good ground rules can improve learning for everyone.

These days, some middle schools in China are trying to do something different. The students choose classes     1     their own needs. For each subject, they can make a choice from different levels of     2    . So instead of     3     in the same classroom, they go to different classrooms to have their lessons. And the teachers make special teaching plans for them. Xia Rui, a 13-year-old girl, said, “I really love it. I think it’s nice that we can choose classes by ourselves. My English is poor. I used to     4     afraid to answer questions in class. I think that the good students may laugh at me when I make mistakes. Now I feel much more     5    .” But her classmate, Chen Gang,     6    . “I don’t think it is so good because it is difficult for students to find where the classrooms are,” he said. “During the break, students can be     7     here and there, running and shouting to find their classrooms.”

Their math teacher, Mr. Wang, said, “In my eyes, it is good for both students and teachers. As teachers, we can make teaching plans more brightly and the students will develop     8    .”

Hello, everyone. Because of the high rate (比率) of school violence (暴力) in some areas, teenagers’ safety     1     a serious problem. We are planning to set up an organization (组织), or you can call it a     2    —School Watch. It makes sure that students have a     3     school environment. Please be part of our plan!

What is School Watch?

School Watch is a volunteer project in our school. It helps us     4     violence and improve the quality (质量) of school life. It will keep yourself and your schoolmates safe. The other members of School Watch care for you and your classroom,     5     you do the same for them.

Is it for everyone?

Anybody can become a member of School Watch     6     everyone has something to offer.

What else can it do?

School Watch makes it     7     for us not only to help each other but also to make friends with each other. Some members may offer to help the schoolmates     8     have problems with their homework.

Who will be the Best School Watcher?

Our school will look for the Best School Watcher and give him or her lots of     9    . You could be the one!

How do you join it?

To be part of this plan, the only thing you need to do is to talk to the director of School Watch in your grade. You can check the official website at www.schoolwatch.com if you want to get     10     information.

Fights at school sometimes happen. But how can you keep away from a fight? Here are some ideas.

Keep calm. Sometimes, you feel so angry that you really want to teach somebody a     1    . But being angry and having a fight can’t solve problems. Instead, it will bring you     2     problems. In the school, everyone who joins in a fight will be     3    . There are no winners in a fight.

    4     loudly. If you know someone is about to attack (攻击) you, say “stop” in a loud voice before     5     away. Loud voice can probably make the attacker stop. If the person doesn’t stop, cry for help     6     calling out the teachers who are in the nearest office.

Learn to refuse. Your     7     may ask you to join in a fight. Learn to say no. Helping him fight is not     8     to him. Try to ask him to give it up, if you     9     want to give him a hand. Also, you can tell him if he joins in a fight, he     10     get hurt. Then, try to learn why he wants to fight and help him find a right way to deal with the problem.