Middle school days are both fun and busy. Students spend their days in class, listening to the interesting and 1 boring words of the teacher. They spend the short breaks, running, playing, and shouting happily 2 going to the classroom again. But 3 should students spend their free time outside school?
In Western countries, it is ordinary for students to have a part-time job after school and at weekends. Students can make their own money and learn more about the “ 4 world”. They enjoy the independence (独立的) and money, and parents enjoy the quiet house, 5 , it seems that , in China, parents 6 so much about their children's studies that they would prefer to see their children 7 most of their free time studying and preparing for all those exams. It is natural for 8 to feel that way in China, but I believe the answer lies in balance ( 平衡 ). Sometimes, Western school children work long hours after school to make money, and so they become too tired to listen in class or have no time for homework. But Chinese students spend 9 much time on their studies that all else becomes less important until they want that new MP4 player.
