China’s top legislature (立法机构) passed the Yellow River Protection Law on Sunday. Due     1     (come) into effect from April 1, the law explains water conservation on the river basin, ecological protection and     2     (restore), conservation and intensive use of water resources, flood control and pollution prevention among other measures.

The Yellow River, the second     3     (long) river in China, is called the mother river of the Chinese nation. Since the founding of new China, large-scale protection of the river     4     (carry) out and remarkable achievements made. The introduction of the Yellow River Protection Law will further enhance the river’s governance (管理) and protection.

The law     5     (cover) a series of key issues, such as ecological environment fragility and water shortage. This means the settlement of some of the “pain points”     6     have long troubled the river now has a legal basis. The law also     7     (specific) highlights the need to strengthen the protection, inheritance and promotion of the Yellow River culture.

The Yellow River basin is home     8     a lot of cultural relics, ancient documents and other important cultural heritage, and     9     (they) protection is a very important part of the river’s protection and governance, since it is of irreplaceable significance to promoting     10     inheritance (继承) of Chinese civilization.

3 . Among the constant adjustive education standards and requirements, it’s important to ask a question: exactly what do we want in a high school graduate?

Some people think the goal is to enter college and earn a bachelor’s degree. Others find that interpretation too narrow, preferring that young people leave school with the skills to move into living-wage jobs. But one thing many people can embrace is that high school graduates are skilled in basic math and English.

A proposed law, House Bill 1308,could ruin that goal. Students must do the following things to get a diploma: earn 24 credits of coursework; complete a High School and Beyond Plan matching those courses; meet one requirement of a series of “graduation pathways”. The problem is that these pathways don’t work for all kids.

In large part, that’s because they guide students toward college standards. Last year, after surveying nearly 1,000 students, researchers discovered that 18% of students said they were “not good” at math, and 33% said they were poor test-takers. For them, the current pathways are a barrier because of their emphasis on these skills.

The new pathway is instead focused on performance. It would allow kids to create a presentation—say an exhibit or report — demonstrating mastery of two core subjects, but not necessarily math or English. When the bill came up for discussion, over 350 people showed their support, because it’s possible that through the performance pathway, a student could create a project emphasizing mastery in “fine arts” and “health and fitness”. Rep. Sharon favors the proposal. In a hearing, she spoke of her granddaughter, who wrote and self-published a novel while still in school, to illustrate the kind of project is workable. While Tafona Ervin worries that the lack of emphasis on math and English could lead students to graduate without solid skills.

If the purpose of education is to ensure that young people are prepared to pursue a fulfilling life, finishing school uncertain of one’s abilities in math and English weakens education’s goal.