Middle school days are both fun and busy. In China, students ________ spending their days in class, listening to the interesting and sometimes ________ words of the teacher. They spend the short breaks running, playing and shouting happily before going back to the classroom again. But ________ should students spend their free time outside school?

In western countries, it is common for students to have a part-time job after school and ________. Students can make their own money and learn more about the “real world”. They enjoy the independence and of course money, and parents enjoy the quiet house. However, it seems that, in China, parents ________ their children’s studies too much. They are so worried that they prefer to (更愿意) see their children spending most of their free time ________ and getting ready for all those exams. It is natural for parents to feel that way in China, but I believe the answer lies in balance (平衡). Sometimes, western ________ work long hours after school to make money, so they become too ________ to listen in class or have no time for homework. But Chinese students spend so much time on their studies that all else becomes less important. If they want to improve their independence, they can have a part-time job. They’ll be happy and their parents will ________ be happy because they’re spending the money they make, not ________!