In Singapore, many middle school students spend a lot of their time on their studies. Good education is often regarded as a ticket to success in their future. So many of these students try their best to get a good mark in their examinations. They have a lot of homework every day and exams are a big headache. Sometimes some of them are even made to go to remedial（补习的）classes after school.
Schools run programmes outside school hours. The students can take part in sports and games, music and dance, hiking and rock-climbing, etc. They are also very active in community service（社区服务）.
In their spare time, most students like to listen to pop music. Hollywood blockbusters (大片). Hong Kong and Singapore movies are very popular among them. They understand IT very well. Some of them also spend their free time surfing the Internet, e-mailing their friends, playing computer and video games.
They sometimes go to cafes, fast-food restaurants, shopping centers and big bookstores.
So, it looks like life as a middle school student in Singapore is not easy but it is rich and colorful.
I have never taken cooking classes. I learned cooking from my mother because she was really interested in teaching me how to cook. The main reason for this was because when my mother got married, she didn't know how to cook anything, not even an egg. My grandmother never allowed her to stay in the kitchen when she was cooking.
My mother did not start to cook until she was twenty-five years old. In the beginning, it was very hard for her. Therefore, she had to take cooking classes to prepare（准备）our meals. After having that experience, she decided to teach me how to cook because she didn't want me to have the same experience.
I remember when I was seven years old, I started to learn cooking from my mother. Sometimes we prepared the meals that my mother already knew how to make, and sometimes we prepared meals from recipes. Thanks to that experience, now I don't need any help to cook a meal. I can cook for myself or for a group of people. It doesn't matter. I will do the same with my children because I don't want them to have the same experience as my mother. If one day I were not to be with them, I would be sure that they could continue their life without me.
A. How about your life? B. I like jumping, running, playing basketball and so on. C. Why not walk in the fresh air? D. How often do you exercise? E. Do you agree with me? F. I have to finish my homework first. |
（Da Wei comes across Li Lei, who is studying, in the school library.）
A: Hi, Li Lei. Are you busy with your homework now?
B: Oh, yeah, Da Wei. And you?
A: I'm here for a book. Hey, Li Lei. Have a break! We should be outside in the fresh air. It's good for us.
B: Sorry, I can't. I must hand it in tomorrow.
A: Oh, I see. But we can't always stay indoors. We must often take exercise.
B: Never. I hardly have time now. A sea of homework almost takes up all my free time. It's sad but that's life.
A: You mean my life? In fact, I'm also very busy like you. But you know I like sports. Whenever I have a little time, I will try them.
B: No wonder you are so energetic.
A: Yeah, better health, better grades.
B: Yes, you are right. It sounds as if I should also try to exercise often in the future. Da Wei, shall we play basketball for a while now?
A: OK. Let's go!
