We will finish junior high school soon. Many students are     1     (worry) about the future. School is hard. We all think that success at school is important for     2     (we) futures. Some of us are lucky. We are good     3     studying. I am very lucky. My teachers say that I am a very good student. I     4     (especial) love studying math. It is a very important subject. You need it for physics, or if you want to be     5     engineer. Engineers and scientists are important for our country’s future.

My classmates and I are all a bit sad to be leaving junior high. But we are also excited about taking a new step in our     6     (life). Our future lives and jobs get     7     (close) than before every day.

The English say, “The future is what you make it!” I like this saying. It     8     (mean) that we control the future. It reminds us that we can try our best     9     (do) it, and to never give up. I really think we can all make a wonderful future     10     we remember this.

How time flies! I still remember the day when I first met you. Now you are going to graduate in J    1     .

We have been together for almost three years. Do you remember the basketball match in your second year of junior high school? You w    2     the first prize. You had worked so hard that you deserved (应得) it.

Here are some things that I want each of you to keep in mind. First, be honest and never tell a lie. S    3     , be nice to others and don’t do anything to hurt others. Third, read good books. We can learn a lot of things from reading, but the man who does not read good books has no advantages over the man who reads them. And you must believe in yourselves and be     4     (有希望的). I wish you could     5       (实现) your dreams some day. Farewell (再见), my dear students. I will remember you forever.   

Sincerely,

Your English teacher

These days, Chinese children are sometimes     1     (busy) on weekends than weekdays     2     they have SO many after-school classes. However, this doesn’t only happen in China.

The Taylors are a typical American family. Life for Cathy Taylor’s three children is very busy. They need to take part in all     3     (kind) of activities, like basketball practice, football training or piano classes. She believes these activities are important for     4     (she) children’s future. However, the tired children don’t get home until after 7: 00 p. m. They have dinner     5     (quick), and then it is time for homework.

Linda, a mother of three, knows all about such stress. She says that competition starts very young and     6     (continue) until the kids get older in some families. She thinks it’s unfair that mothers are always     7     (compare) them with other children. People shouldn’t push their kids so hard.

Doctors say too much pressure is not good for a child’s     8     (develop). All these activities can cause a lot of stress     9     children. Kids should have time     10     (relax) and think for themselves.

Until recently, Ajayi had never gone to school. Now fifty, she attends a school in Ilorin, Nigeria, wearing the same pink dress as two hundred other girls at the school. She studies with the students     1    （几乎）forty years younger than she is.

Ajayi runs her     2    （自己的）business making and selling bags, but in     3    （她的）opinion, it is still necessary for her to learn to read and write.

In class, she answers questions actively. She plays, talks and     4    （讨论）together with her classmates.

She is good at cooking. Children all like the food she makes.They enjoy themselves at school.

Ajayi’s daughter used to feel embarrassed（尴尬的）about their mother’s attending school with children. But now,they choose to support her efforts（努力）.

She makes a     5    （决定）to continue her education（教育）for four more years, saying it will help her business.

I think it is important for children to learn how to do chores and help their parents with housework. It is not enough to just get good grades at school. Children these days     1    （依赖）on their parents too much. They are always asking, “Could you get this for me?” or “Could you help me with that?” Doing chores helps to     2    （发展）children’s independence and teaches them how to look after themselves. It also helps them to understand the idea of     3    （公平）. Since they live in one house with their parents, they should know that everyone should do their part in keeping it clean and     4    （整洁的）. Our neighbors’ son got into a good college but during his first year, he had no idea how to take care of himself. As a result, he often fell ill and his grades dropped. The earlier kids learn to be independent, the better it is for their     5    （未来）.

These days, Chinese children are sometimes     1     (busy) on weekends than weekdays because they have to take so many after school classes. Many of them are     2     (learn) exam skills so that they can get into a good high school and later a good university.     3    (other) are practicing sports so that they can compete and win.     4    , this doesn’t only happen in China.   

The Taylors     5     (be) a typical American family. Life for Cathy Taylor’s three children is very busy. “On most days after school,” Cathy says, “I take one of my two     6     (boy) to basketball practice and my daughter to football     7     (train). Then I have to take my other son to piano lessons. Maybe I could cut     8     a few of their activities, but I believe these activities are important for my children’s future. I     9     (real) want them to be     10     (success).” But the tired children don’t get home until after 7:00 p.m. They have a quick dinner, and then it’s time for homework.

I think it is important for children to do homework. It is not     1    （足够的）to just get good grades at school. Children these days     2    （依靠）on their parents too much. Doing housework helps to develop children’s independence and teaches them how to look after     3    （他们自己）.It also helps them to understand the idea of     4    （公平）.Since they live in one house with their parents, they should know that everyone should do their part in     5    （保持） it clean and tidy.