学进去

Do you know how to cook, clean or grow plants? If not, you will master these skills soon. These will all be part of Chinese public education (公共教育) starting this autumn.

A new standard (标准) for labor education came out in April 2022. Students in primary and middle schools will have at least one class a week to try and experience different kinds of labor (劳动) and learn different life skills and even job skills. The standard includes different tasks (任务) for each grade. For example, fifth and sixth graders learn to cook two or three common dishes, like fried eggs or scrambled eggs with tomato.

This move is to enrich (丰富) Chinese students’ life and build their character through labor. Chinese school education didn’t pay enough attention to this in the past. According to a 2019 report, Chinese kids only do 12 minutes of practical activity each day, while American kids do 1.2 hours each day.

The standard also calls on families to take part in students’ labor education. They will make household lists to help students be more independent. Besides household skills, students will also learn to try new technologies like 3D printing and laser cutting (激光切割).

According to the new standard for labor education, middle school students need to learn some of the following skills:

*Organize their room and classroom.

*Pick proper clothes for travel and pack a suitcase.

*Make a healthy eating plan.

*Cook three or four dishes by themselves.

*Look after and fix up some home appliances (家用电器), such as washing the air conditioner (空调).

*Take part in local labor such as planting and fishing.

*Do one or two kinds of volunteering work, such as do some cleaning in the neighborhood, offer helps in the local old people’s home.

This story is about two friends. One friend is Chiku and the other is Meeku. They both used to study, play and watch movies together. They both enjoyed a lot when they were together. Both friends were very important to each other.

When they went to college to study they decided to go in fields of their interest. Meeku was very excited to study his favourite subject but Chiku was bored because his father let him for another field. Chiku was showing a nervous face. One year passed, Chiku didn’t pass his test. He cried and was very nervous. He didn’t know what to do.

Finally Meeku told Chiku’s mother that he was not interested in the field which his father chose for him. So his mother decided to change his field. Chiku’s father was angry but after some time his father decided to agree.

After changing Chiku’s field, Chiku was happy. After one year, Chiku got first place in his interested field.

Mr. Brown got up late this morning. He was going to be late for work. It was raining hard and the streets were wet. He drove so fast that he didn’t see the red lights. He couldn’t stop his car and hit a car. An old man got out of the car and called out angrily, “What are you doing? How can you drive so fast?”

“I’m sorry, sir.” said Mr. Brown. “I didn’t see the lights turn red,” Then he brought out a bottle of wine and gave it to the old man.

“It’s cold today, sir,” said Mr. Brown. “Please drink a little, and then you’ll get warm,” The old man drank some wine and became happy. He asked, “I’m feeling much better now. Why don’t you drink any?”

“I can’t drink anything now, sir,” answered Mr. Brown. “I’m waiting for the policeman. Only drunkards（酒鬼）cause accidents, you know!”

It would be difficult to find one herring (鲱鱼) swimming alone in the sea. Herring always swim in groups c1．schools. Sometimes hundreds of thousands of small, silvery herring swim together, covering the surface of the sea for miles.

In a school of herring, all the fish are about the same size and age. Since n2． of the fish is older or wiser than the others, there is no leader, or “teacher”. All the fish is in a school swim in the same d3． and at the same speed. When one turns, they all turn. When there is danger, the fish move closer together.

One 4． that herring swim in schools is that they are more protected from danger. Herring have no defense weapons (防卫武器) to use a5． their many enemies in the sea. When they crowded together, the fish inside the group are p6． by the bodies of the ones on the outside. A school of close swimming herring may look like a s7． , giant fish. Some enemies may be frightened away by the large shape.

As the herring g8． larger, the school is attacked by larger, hungry fish. Each time some herring are lost, but many survive. The survivors stay t9． in smaller schools or join another school of herring.

Female herring do not lay eggs u10．they are three or four years old. Each mature fish can lay as many as 40000 eggs. From these eggs come some new schools of herring to replace the disappearing older schools.

The Clever Learning Methods

Why do you need study skills? Because they will make it e1． for you to learn and do well in class, especially as you move up to middle school and high school.

◆Pay attention in class

Do you have d2． paying attention in class? Are you sitting next to a loud person? Is it hard to see the blackboard? Make sure you’re sitting in a good seat that makes you pay attention. Tell your teacher or parents about any problem that is stopping you from paying attention an taking good notes.

◆ Take good notes

Not sure how to take notes? Start by writing down important content that your teacher mentions o3． writes on the blackboard in class. Try your best to use good handwriting so that you can read your notes later. It’s also a good idea to keep your notes, quizzes (小测验), and papers o4． by subject.

◆ Plan b5． tests

It’s not wise of you to wait until T6． night to study for Friday’s test. It also makes it hard to do your best. You’ll feel sorry for p7． off things often. One of the best ways is to plan ahead.

◆ Get a good night’s sleep

So the test is tomorrow and you’ve followed your study plan, but s8． you can’t remember anything, not even 2+2! Don’t worry. Your brain needs time to digest (消化) all the i9． you’ve given it. Try to get a good night’s sleep and you’ll be s10． by what comes back to you in the morning!

假如你是李华，你的笔友Frank要来中国做交换生，他询问你关于中国的习俗。他想知道在中国如何表现得体，什么事情可以做，什么事情不可以做。请写一封电子邮件给他一些建议，主要内容包括：

You must be excited about coming to China soon. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Best wishes.

Yours,

Li Hua

In 2015, some American sociologists (社会学家) reported that empathy, the ability 1． (understand) other people and share other’s feelings among college students had fallen down 2． (quick) over the past 10 years. That could be because so many people have replaced face time with screen time, the sociologists said. Today, people spend 3． (much) time alone and are less likely to join groups and clubs.

Annie Moore is in charge of a teen program. She 4． (explain) differently. Turn on the TV, and we watch news and see reality shows full of people fighting, competing and treating one another with no respect. Humans learn by example - and some examples are not empathetic (有同理心的) at all.

There are good reasons not to follow 5． (that) bad examples. Humans are born with social relations. And empathy plays a key role in these relationships. The sociologists have also found that empathetic teenagers are more likely to have high self-respect. Besides, empathy can help us stay away from 6． (sad) and fear.

Empathy is also an ability for a good leader. In fact, Annie says, many top 7． (company) think that empathy is one of the most important things they look for in new managers. Good social skills, including empathy are a king of “emotional (情感的) intelligence” and it 8． (help) you succeed in many areas of life. “Academics (学术知识) are important. But if you don’t have emotional intelligence, you won’t be as 9． (success) in work or life,” she says.

What’s the best way to up your EQ (情商)? For starters, let down your guard and really listen to others. “One doesn’t have empathy by having a lot of opinions and doing a lot of talking,” Annie says.

To really develop empathy, you’d better volunteer a nursing home or a hospital, join a club or a team that has a diverse membership, have a “sharing circle” with your family, or spend time 10． (take) care of pets at an animal shelter.