1 . Mark and Rosa have been wanting to go on holiday for many years. They _________ quite hard for several years. Finally, they saved up enough money for their dream _________ at a place called San Antonio in the Caribbean — _________ the dream was more like a nightmare (噩梦)! The holiday cost over five thousand dollars each, but they _________ to go for two weeks in the spring _________ they heard that the weather was perfect there at that time.

The _________ began when the flight was delayed (延误) because of bad weather and they couldn’t _________ until night. They finally got on the _________ twelve hours later! _________, they couldn’t fly to San Antonio because there was a storm and they had to fly to the capital city __________, where they stayed in a(n) __________ hotel by the airport.

The hotel was next to the __________, but it wasn’t near a beach: the sea was so dirty you couldn’t swim in it and the hotel swimming pool was full of leaves! To make things __________, the food was terrible, too: for breakfast there were __________ different types of bread and the salad was full of mayonnaise (蛋黄酱)! The worst part was when the __________ arrived: they felt really terrible because of the wind and rain. Because of the weather they had to stay another night in the small hotel with nothing to do. They finally arrived in San Antonio three days later and someone told them the weather there had been wonderful all the time!

2 . As birth order is clearly one of the many factors that affect personality development, we should pay much attention to it. Big brothers and sisters usually develop leadership early in life, mainly because of the responsibilities for younger children given to them by their parents. The danger is that if the older child takes that role to an extreme, he or she can become an overbearing adult.

Studies of nearly 300 people have found that firstborns are usually the most strongly motivated (有积极性的) toward achievements. This is mainly the result of parental expectations (期待). Research also suggests that firstborn children generally become more conservative (保守的) than other children because they receive most of the parental orders and rules. Used to caring for others, they are more likely to move toward such leadership professions as teaching and politics. Less social and flexible because they become used to acting alone in the very early years, they may have difficulty making close friends.

By contrast (相比之下), the researchers say later children are more likely to be more relaxed and sociable than the eldest child because their parents are more relaxed. However, later children are often less ambitious (雄心壮志的) and may be uncomfortable making decisions for others, and will look for a job that is suitable for their needs . This may help explain why younger children prefer the creative fields such as music, art, and writing. Later children may make good sellers because persuasion (说服) may have been the only tool they had to deal with older children. Younger children tend to remain forever “the baby” enjoyable to be around, but at times too dependent on others.

3 . When someone asks me what my goals are for the coming year, I don’t usually know how to reply. Of course I, as most people do, want to see an improvement in my grades. This year, however, I’m hoping for something different.

Through the course of my school life, I’ve gradually developed a new understanding of the word “prioritization (优先次序)”. The first thing I wish to get in Senior 1 is the ability to manage my time better. I’ll surely become busier with the coming semester (学期), and proper organization is important. From school clubs to academic competitions, everything should be set up in a way that doesn’t influence my health, which leads me to my second goal.

My mother has always told me put my health first, so in the future, I hope to be both physically and mentally healthy. A person can’t study without having the energy to do so. In order to stay energetic, they must put their health first, no matter how busy they are, or how much work they have to complete.

And finally, I hope that I won’t be discouraged (使气馁) by my failure and never give up on my dreams. I hope that I’ll have the courage to try new activities and clubs. I believe my final goal can apply to every student around the world. We should all respect one another’s likes and dislikes, and focus on each other’s strengths, not our weaknesses. Everyone should try to take part in all of life’s opportunities.

Albert Einstein once said, “Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving. ” In my case, it’s the other way around. In order to keep moving, I must keep my balance (平衡)— the balance between studies and activities, efficiency and procrastination (拖延症), academics and health, passions and dislikes. The new journey is going to be a hard one, but if I establish these goals, I believe I will make it through to the end.

4 . Escape to the countryside for some fresh air, iconic landmarks and scenic surroundings. Here’s a list of the must-visit places in England that you can easily get to by car, train or coach from London.

Stonehenge

Though there is no clear evidence as to the intended purpose of Stonehenge, it is believed to be a place where ancient leaders tried to communicate with the gods. Located on Salisbury Plain, Stonehenge is older than all of the pyramids in Egypt — more than 5, 000 years old and the site was worked on for around 1, 500 years, which will take you by surprise.

Brighton

You would’ve heard of Brighton Pier, Brighton beach and of course you need have a taste of some authentic (真正的) Brighton Rock. This seaside town is always noisy with lots of events, sights, restaurants and shops.

Bath

Visit Britain’s one and only natural thermal spa. Take a dip in the Roman Baths that were constructed around 70AD for an experience of a lifetime. Not to mention the fact that Bath is rich in culture, history and heritage. You’ll fall in love with this charming town set in the countryside and its 18th century Georgian architecture.

Lake District

The scenery is wonderful, with hills, streams and waterfalls. The Lake District is a mountainous area, with some over 3, 000 feet providing the best rock and winter climbing in the UK. If that’s not your thing, then just simply take in the wonderful views.

6 . Your teen years are a time to learn about yourself and start thinking about your future. Doing well in school and leading a healthy social and personal life will make you happier and more likely to succeed. But don’t get too crazy with success.     1     .

Become a curious reader.     2     . It can be anything from poetry to storybooks—just get reading! If you don’t know where to start, ask the librarian for suggestions.

Look ahead to life after you graduate from high school. Think ahead to what you will do in the future, whether that’s getting a degree, volunteering, or jumping right into the career of your choice.     3     . Just start to think about what you might want to do in the future according to your interests.

    4     . Make them a chance for you to relax and express yourself. Whether you’re into film, theatre, pottery, painting, or playing music, you can find classes at your school or courses at local recreation (娱乐) centers.

Set realistic academic and personal goals. To feel a sense of achievement about your school and personal life, set realistic goals for yourself.     5     . As for personal goals, you might plan to get really good at shooting 3-point shots in basketball or learn how to bake bread.

7 . How To Fight Back-To-School Anxiety

August is the time to prepare for a new school year.    1    These simple tips can help you or someone you love deal with the year ahead.

    2     Like any new activity, a new school year is always easier when you’re prepared for it. Get your class schedule in advance so you know exactly what to expect that first day. Make sure you’re prepared with all the supplies you’ll need. If you’ll be attending a new school, get familiar with the campus in advance of the first week.

Talk about it. Change is never easy, and can often be scary. If you have feelings of fear or anxiety about the upcoming school year, it’s important to express them.    3    If you’re unsure who to talk to, here are many free resources available for you.

Do what you love.    4    Whether you’re a bookworm or social butterfly,   it’s easy to feel depressed or anxious when you’re trying to be something you’re not. Find activities, clubs or organizations that truly interest you. Chances are, when you do, you’ll find a sense of belonging that’s completely genuine.

Get help. It’s not abnormal for any teen to feel stressed about an upcoming school year. But if your feelings of anxiety or depression are affecting your ability to eat, sleep or function on a daily basis, it’s time to seek professional help.    5    

Adam, a freshman, found it     1     really big challenge to go from junior high school to senior high school. At first, he didn’t know which courses     2    (choose) ,but his adviser helped him solve this problem. Though he knows Chinese is difficult, he hopes to be     3    (fluently) after graduation. His adviser recommended that he     4    (sign) up for     5    (advance) literature. Second, he had to choose extra-curricular     6    (activity). He wanted to join the school football team but was refused,     7     made him unhappy. Obviously, he won’t quit and will find a way to improve     8     his own and make the team next year. Now, he is a volunteer,     9     (hand) out food to homeless people. In a word, he’ll have to study harder and get used to     10     (be) responsible for a lot more. Studying hard isn’t always fun, but he will try his best to keep up with others.

An organization has taken measures     1     (add) chopsticks to the Shanghai Intangible Cultural Heritage list recently. Xu, chairman of the organization, says chopsticks are increasingly ignored in modern China despite the fact    2     they are unique Chinese items. Even China’s neighbor Japan has set aside August 4th as Chopstick Day already.

Chopstick culture in Shanghai     3     (date) back to the Tang Dynasty, when these items    4     (make) in the City God Temple area enjoyed widespread    5     (popular).

After opening as a commercial port, Shanghai is proud    6     having the first mechanized production line for chopsticks,     7     are not only supplied to Zhongnanhai and Diaoyutai State Guesthouse but also presented to foreign friends as gifts.

At least 1.8 billion people    8     (current) use chopsticks worldwide. Chopsticks, though small, serve as     9     means to pass down Chinese civilization. It’s believed that    10     (recognize) the cultural value of the custom matters in the promotion of Chinese traditions.

10 . It's “Baby Day” at the Riverpark seniors’ home in Ottawa—a twice-monthly event Eulah Johnson, 90, never misses. “I really enjoy it. It's a shift from the regular routine,” says the retired nurse.

Today, Johnson sits on a sofa and looks at a laughing child perched on the seat of her walker. After a few moments, the girl skips off to play with the dozen or so other small children and babies mixed with 20 of Johnson's fellow residents.

Some, like 12-month-old Owen, are regular visitors to Ottawa seniors' homes. “We've been doing this since he was three months old,” says his mother, Allison Rodgers, 33.

She loves the social calls, too. “I didn't have grandparents while growing up. It's nice to spend time with older people, and it feels good to know they're betting so much out of it.”

Babies Who Volunteer, the initiative bringing these generations together, is the inspired idea of Jessica Turner, a former educational assistant. The idea came about during a March 2018 visit with her 22-month-old daughter Amelia to a friend's mother, who was living in a long-term-care unit. She was most surprised by the response of her friend's mother; she hadn't spoken in two years, but with Amelia in her lap, she began singing. Turner went home and immediately put out a call on a mums' Facebook group: Would anyone be interested in dropping by seniors' residences with their babies?

A year later, there are now 1,500 volunteers, and the organization visits 39 homes in Ottawa. Everyone benefits from intergenerational programmes, she says. “This playgroup is good for the mothers, too. They're giving something to the community, which provides a sense of purpose and belonging. It can really help someone who is feeling isolated.”