Section B

1c Listen and check (√) the problems Wei Ming talks about.

Alice, help me! My parents are giving me too much pressure about school!

Hey, Wei Ming. Although you may be unhappy with your parents, you should talk to them.

Ask them why they give you so much pressure.

It's because they want me to get good grades.

But life shouldn't just be about grades.

Free time activities like sports and hanging out with friends are important, too.

I totally agree. I need more free time to do activities I enjoy.

This can help me relax and be healthier.

Yes, you won't get good grades if you're stressed out all the time.

I also keep worrying about getting better grades than my classmates.

Oh, you shouldn't compete with your classmates to get better grades.

You should all be helping each other to improve.

You're right. Thanks for all the good advice, Alice.

1d Listen again. What advice does Alice give to Wei Ming? Fill in the blanks.

Alice, help me! My parents are giving me too much pressure about school!

Hey, Wei Ming. Although you may be unhappy with your parents, you should talk to them.

Ask them why they give you so much pressure.

It's because they want me to get good grades.

But life shouldn't just be about grades.

Free time activities like sports and hanging out with friends are important, too.

I totally agree. I need more free time to do activities I enjoy.

This can help me relax and be healthier.

Yes, you won't get good grades if you're stressed out all the time.

I also keep worrying about getting better grades than my classmates.

Oh, you shouldn't compete with your classmates to get better grades.

You should all be helping each other to improve.

You're right. Thanks for all the good advice, Alice.

2b Read the article and answer the questions.

Maybe You Should Learn to Relax!

These days, Chinese children are sometimes busier on weekends than weekdays because they have to take so many after-school classes. Many of them are learning exam skills so that they can get into a good high school and later a good university. Others are practicing sports so that they can compete and win. However, this doesn't only happen in China.

The Taylors are a typical American family. Life for Cathy Taylor's three children is very busy. "On most days after school, " Cathy says, "I take one of my two boys to basketball practice and my daughter to football training. Then I have to take my other son to piano lessons. Maybe I could cut out a few of their activities, but I believe these activities are important for my children's future. I really want them to be successful. " However, the tired children don't get home until after 7: 00 p. m. They have a quick dinner, and then it's time for homework.

Linda Miller, a mother of three, knows all about such stress. "In some families, competition starts very young and continues until the kids get older, "she says. "Mothers send their small kids to all kinds of classes. And they are always comparing them with other children. It's crazy. I don't think that's fair. Why don't they just let their kids be kids? People shouldn't push their kids so hard."

Doctors say too much pressure is not good for a child's development. Dr. Alice Green says all these activities can cause a lot of stress for children. "Kids should have time to relax and think for themselves, too. Although it's normal to want successful children, it's even more important to have happy children. "