In July, 2021, China introduced the “double reduction (双减)” policy to reduce schoolwork burden (负担) on primary and junior high school students. The policy hopes for _______ homework and after-school classes. According to the policy, children _______ the third grade will not have homework any more. It should take less than 90 minutes for junior high school students to finish their homework. After-school training institutions (校外培训机构) are not _______ to offer extra (额外的) education courses on weekends, holidays or during winter and summer vacations. Almost one year has passed _______ the new policy began. How do students feel about this new policy?

“Our homework is clearly _______ than before,” said 13-year-old Shen Yuzhe from Beijing. “Our teachers are also giving us more _______ to do experiments and learn from real life.”

For 13-year-old Zhang Hangming from Tianjin, the best thing about “double reduction” is the increased time in after-school activities. “We can now _______ more time taking part in clubs and activities, such as dancing, volleyball and drama.

_______ Shen and Zhang find there are fewer exams now. But they think it’s not exactly a good thing. “Exams _______ me study harder,” Zhang said.

Shen also pointed out that when burden is lightened (减轻), self-discipline (自律) becomes very ________. “Some students now spend more time having fun when homework is finished early. But if you use all the free time to relax, you might fall behind other students,” he said.

【推荐2】Special homework was given to the students in Grade Four at a primary school in Foshan, Guangdong this April, that is to say, the children must _____________ 100 million grains (颗粒) of rice. A maths teacher Miss Chang asked her students to ______________ the homework in two days. If some students _____________ to finish in time, they would go on counting the rice at the weekend. Some parents thought that if it took a _____________ to count three grains, it would take more than a year to count 100 million grains of rice.

____________, others thought it was a good idea. A parent surnamed Lin said it could   ___________students to use their brains. “I will ____________ my daughter to count 100 or 1,000 grains of rice first, and then _____________ them and multiply (乘以) the figure to reach 100 million grains of rice. So she will have a clear _______________ of the number 100 million,” she said. “The special homework could _____________ help develop children’s patience,” Lin added.

Some Internet users also praised the special homework for encouraging children to __________ new ways to do their homework.

Miss Chang said earlier this week that she hoped the students could learn knowledge _____________ practical activities. She said she was _____________ that 10 of her more than 40 students had finished the special homework by using cups or other _____________ to count the rice. The homework helps students develop their abilities to _____________problems. It’s good for them.