Ⅲ.综合运用

Relax；It's Only the Gaokao！

Nothing strikes fear into the hearts of Chinese high school students like the word gaokao.To get into a good u__1__,it's as if the students must first swim across the Yangtze River and then climb Mount Qomolangma.

In fact,the gaokao is generally considered the world's most difficult college entrance exam.America's SATs are simple by comparison,and many countries such as Canada and Great Britain do not have a college entrance exam.Students there are a__2__university places based on their high school grades.

China's situation，however，is different from t__3__of other countries，with millions of students seeking places in a limited number of top universities.And since winning a place in a top university is almost a guarantee of having a successful career，the pressure on students is intense（强烈的）.

You can get the idea of how intense the p__4__is on students and their parents if you've watched the TV series A Little Reunion（《小欢喜》）.It follows the story of three students，each with different personalities and family situations.The series demonstrates that，while the gaokao creates family tension（紧张局面），it provides an o__5__for parents and children to better understand each other，and it also brings students closer together as they help one another get through an extremely stressful time in their lives.Classmates who support each other in preparing for the test become friends for life.

As high school freshmen,you will be preparing for the gaokao the year after next.It will mean hours and hours of study and endless exercises and practice tests.At times you will feel exhausted and stressed out.But this is a c__6__you can overcome,and it is a challenge that you will not face alone.Your teachers will be working hard to get you across the finish line,and your classmates will be there to support you,as well.Your parents,however,may be a problem.They will support you 100 percent,but it's possible that they will feel even more stress than you.With the gaokao,it's as if you are driving the car and they are sitting in the back seat.They feel helpless.

So,if Mom and Dad start getting too stressed,just look over your shoulder and say,“Relax,I can h__7__this.It's only the gaokao！”

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