A primary school in Jinhua, Zhejiang Province, has announced (宣布) it no longer requires parents to sign their children’s homework. China Youth Daily _____:

Putting an end to the _____ that parents sign off the homework of their children _____ the burden on many parents, as otherwise they would have to look through primary school homework after a hard day’s work. But there are _____ that if parents stop having to sign off their children’s homework, the children will not get _____ grades.

_____, the most efficient way for children to study is to develop their _____ to learn and do their own homework.

When doing homework, students practice and _____ apply what they have learned. Truly, teachers are _____ to check students’ homework and ______ their mistakes. But some parents correct their children’s mistakes by themselves when signing off it.

It is the ______ of students to do their homework, be responsible ______ their studies and correct their mistakes. Parents’ supervising (监督) their homework, checking their answers and ______ the harder problems will only make children ______ aware of their mistakes and encourage them to ______ their parents’ help when they face any problems.

Children have to manage their own learning and ______ the ability to study by themselves, as competency (能力) will not be achieved ______ a student simply repeats fixed ______ in which he is helped in school by teachers and at home by parents.

An experiment ______ by Walter Mischel in the 1960s proved that children with better self-discipline performed better in their studies and interpersonal relationships.

There is little doubt that parents’ supervision can make children’s homework better. But it does not give children the ______ to practice their ability to solve problems independently.

HOT on the heels of equality

【小题1】 They lengthen the legs but shorten the steps; they give the wearer a sense of power but can also be painful to wear; they are worn by working women, but their visual appeal has nothing to do with work.

In Japan, a new social media campaign highlights the issues many women have with this footwear. 【小题2】In May, thousands of women signed an online petition(请愿书)demanding that the government ban the practice.

“【小题3】” said the movement founder Yuni Ishikawa, 32 yeas old, in an interview with the Associated Press. “It’s the view that appearances are more important for women at work than for men.”

As early as January, Ishikawa shared her frustration about the unfairness of this dress code on the Instagram social network. In her part-time job as a funeral usher(迎宾员), she was required to wear black heels between 5 and 7cm high.【小题4】. “High heels can cause bunions, blisters and strain the lower back. It’s hard to move, you can’t run and your feet hurt,” Ishikawa wrote in the petition, “【小题5】“

It’s a modest dream. Not too long ago, Japanese businessmen were expected to wear neckties, even on hot days. Then, the government encouraged companies to use less air conditioning and reduce electricity use. Men were freed from neckties. “This petition is the first step toward ‘creating a working environment free from unnecessary burdens’.” Ishikawa said.

   Parents and teens have long been warned that not getting enough sleep can be unhealthy. However, with the demands of schoolwork, activities and family responsibilities teens often don’t spend enough time on sleep. According to one study, only 15% of teens are getting 8-10 hours of sleep a night they need to function best.

High school English teacher and writer Emily Genser says, “My kids are always asking for nap time! Their lives at home are very stressful. I would be more likely to push for later start times for high school students. They would benefit from another hour of sleep.” Not enough sleep is not only bad for teens’ health, but it can also wreak havoc with their academic (学业的) and athletic performance. It is found that not enough sleep can be linked with drinking, smoking and drug use.

Some high schools are trying a different way. They are allowing tired teens to take a nap in school during the school day in specially designed Energy Pods or just allowing them to spend time in a “quiet room” where technology and conversation are banned. Schools say that a little rest during a packed school day helps students face mounting pressure to get into college.

Because students who sleep better do better and not all of our schools offer nap time, here are some suggestions to help our teens get the sleep they need:

▲Just like in earlier childhood, parents should create a calm atmosphere in the house at bedtime.

▲Encourage a relaxing, regular routine (常规) before bedtime which gives them an opportunity to relax.

▲Persuade them to avoid caffeine after 4 pm.

▲If they do nap, tell them to keep daytime naps less than an hour.

▲Teach them that alcohol and nicotine not only damage their health, but affect their sleep.

▲Show them how regular exercise and a healthy diet promote (促进) good sleep.

Amsterdam 【小题1】 (call) the “City of Bicycles” because of the convenience of riding bicycles there. In the 1960s, a group of cycling fans had 【小题2】 idea that it would be better for everybody if cars weren't allowed in the city centre and only bicycles were. They were 【小题3】 (hope) that this would help to save energy, reduce 【小题4】 (pollute) and provide free public transport. The group painted hundreds of bicycles white and placed them in lots of neighbourhoods around Amsterdam for people to use.

【小题5】 (fortunate), it didn't work because 【小题6】 (thief) took all the bicycles within weeks! However, more than thirty years later, the “white bike” is back in town — this time with a computer chip to record its every move!【小题7】 (take) a bicycle, you have to insert a special card. People who want to use the bikes 【小题8】 (park) at special parking places have to take them to another special parking place 【小题9】 has enough room. Thanks to the good ideas of lots of people, many people around the world have been enjoying city center streets 【小题10】 cars for many years.