1 . Which do you prefer to use when you are studying, ipads or books? Here is     1     survey about it. Some students think that iPads are     2    (good), because iPads can give them more choices. They can search for information in an iPad easily instead of     3    (look) everything up in different books. At the same time, students can send pictures     4    (direct) to a printer to photocopy them. With an iPad, they can keep all     5    (they）work in it. And homework will not be     6    (forget) easily because teachers can send all the homework to their iPads.

But     7    (other) think that books are more helpful for learning.     8    , reading books won’t hurt their eyes. Second, what they read in books can leave a deeper    9    (impress）on them. What’s more, some students usually use ipads to play games at school, which is bad     10     their study. So they prefer to use books.

We live in a world that prizes education. But most people think of education only in terms of formal classes. When people graduate from high school or college, they usually think their education is     1    . But it is possible to continue learning after finishing school. And making the effort pays off personally and professionally.

On a personal level, learning can be fun. It can deepen your     2    by giving you something interesting to talk about. And it’s good for your brain. Hobbies that require thought can help you keep your mental abilities at your age. Just as exercise makes your muscles stronger, your mind becomes sharper when you use it.

Being a lifelong learner can also help your career. Becoming an expert in an area outside of your     3    job gives you freedom. It allows you to take a job another field if you want to. Also, knowledge in other areas can help you     4     creative ideas in your current job.

So how do you become a lifelong learner? It starts with making a conscious     5     to do so. You need to be determined to keep making the effort to learn when it isn’t easy. It may help to find friends who will encourage your learning. It might also help to set aside specific items to study.

Try finding time to learn     6     your day. Carry a book with you, and read when you have to wait. Audiobooks and podcasts are also helpful     7    . You can listen to them while traveling or doing chores.

Finding ways to use what you learn can help you remember things. If you want to learn how to fix appliances, try fixing some at home. If you’re learning a foreign language, find someone who speaks that language to talk to. If you’re learning facts about     8     or science, explain what you’re learning to someone else. Then you can help that person be a lifelong learner, too!

3 . American schools are quite different from those in China. In America, at the beginning of the term, students must select (挑选) their subjects and teachers first.

Selecting is very important for your marks in America. So at the first term, don’t select too many subjects, or you’ll feel very nervous and tired. Then you have to ask for some teaching plans. There is some information about subjects, time arranging, marks and textbooks. At the same time, you must choose the teachers. Different teachers have different teaching methods. If the teacher is called “killer” by the last grade, many students will give up choosing him, because this kind of teacher will leave too much homework, too many exams and give too low grades. There is another thing after you select the subjects and teachers. How to buy textbooks makes each student feel hard. The textbooks in America are very expensive. Each one is about $30–50. In order to save money, many students buy some used textbooks, and some students usually borrow textbooks from the school library.

In class, discussing is very important. The teacher encourages you to ask questions or show your own opinions. They don’t usually ask you to sit well. Instead they allow you to sit or stand anywhere you like.

Where you sit and how you fit

    1     For more than seventy years, researchers and teachers have studied the link between the place where students choose to sit in class and what they are like as people and learners. Where do you usually decide to sit? Have you ever really thought about the reasons for your decision?

    2     But is this really true? Well, some researchers say it is not. In fact, shy students often choose the back row because it is fare away from the teacher and they don’t want to answer questions. At the back, students probably won’t speak much, but in big classrooms, it can be hard to see the board and hear what the teacher is saying. This could be the reason why students who sit here often get lower grades on tests and exams. For students with poor eyesight or hearing, a seat at the back of the classroom is not a good choice.

    3     However, they like watching and listening rather than joining in. These students are usually also very good at taking notes. Next time you miss a class, borrow notes from someone who sits here. On the sides of the classroom you will generally find modest and thoughtful people. These people usually get good grades in school and are interested in learning.

    4     Then the statistics (统计数据) say you probably like your teacher. You probably also have a good relationship with your classmates. Caring, outgoing, and cheerful people usually sit in the middle. They are normally serious about learning and feel disappointed with low grades on tests and exams.

    5     Students who sit here usually want to discuss things with the teacher and are often very interested in the subject. They want to be in the best place to see and hear everything the teacher does and says. The only problem with sitting here is that it can be difficult to see and hear what other students do and say in class. So, if you really want to hear what everyone says in class, choose a different place to sit.