Gradually the result was revealed； that there were more than 20 “100” in our class and the majority was higher than 90 while none of us was under 70。 That was a splendid result； Niobe admitted； and our high level forced her to a dilemma。 Since “the native” （students from the junior high school） in HSFZ had already learnt all the math for senior 1 and mastered the knowledge quite well； continuing teaching math for senior 1 seemed to be a waste of time。 On the other hand； the other students came from other schools had only learnt the knowledge on their own instead of being taught by teachers； so that they couldn’t use the new knowledge to solve problems freely。 How could one teacher meet the different requirement of speed？ “The native” claimed that another teacher should be cast to teach them at a higher speed and joked that they want Dean （a student who is talented at math） to be their captain。 Of course； Niobe wouldn’t agree with their ridiculous whimsy； because once doing so and if they failed to keep a priority in study to other classes （that seemed had became a tradition that each “class 1” is bound to be the best by logic）； Niobe was the one who had to shoulder the responsibility。
Glorious defeat（1）
Monday； September 24； 2007
An annual important event came unexpectedly： the HSFZ school wide petitions of table tennis and badminton。 Each class should form as one team to pete。 The event made the students in our class act with undue hurry and confusion。 The reason why we were in such a haste is that there are only 7 girls in our class while the petitions required at least 8 girls to participatetwo for singles； four for women’s doubles and two for mixed doubles and no one was allowed to take part in more than one event for either badminton or table tennis； which indicated all the girls should join in them no matter how badly she played。 In fact； one of us was unable to play either badminton or table tennis。 Therefore； the average of our petitiveness will be reduced。
With poor skills in table tennis （it seems so in my classmates’ eyesto which I strongly object）； I was appointed to play women’s double by the couch of our class team。 Reluctantly accepting the assignment； I applied myself to play better； in order to contribute to our group。 I am a part of a whole； so sacrificing my pride for the sake of our group is necessary。
In the first round of the elimination tournament； we played with class 7 and overcame them effortlessly； for the simple reason that they couldn’t even do a high toss serve demanded by the rules！ But the man’s single was not so smooth； the arrogant Jerry ran into an expert and the two did have a “blood fight” before Jerry eventually managed to beat him with a minimal lead。 We passed the second round without doubt as a result of our excellent techniques。 Jerry forced his opponent to make mistakes by putting pressure on his backhand and hitting open space on his forehand side。 Once the opponent managed to block it； a smashed ball would be fired； gaining another point on Jerry’s score board。 The score rocketed wildly to 104。 Confident of getting the last point undoubtedly； Jerry fooled his opponent with his serve； using so much backspin； and the ball almost died when it hit the other half of the table。 Thus Jerry succeeded in defeating his opponent。
The process of our mixed doubles was quite pleasing； with the pairing of Leo and Iris； they opened brilliantly with a 50 lead as the other pair looked bewildered。 Leo’s forehand chop was always an edge ball which contributed a lot to their rapid success。 As for me； my short serves kept my opponent on her toes； and Angela； my partner； fired the ball directly to where the girl got my return； making it virtually impossible for her to get away to let her partner push it back due to difficult footwork involved。
When it came to the third round； things began to go wrong。 The opponents were students from Senior 3； Class 4； among them there were some professional players—one of them went so far as to rank third in the tournament in Guangdong province。
Glorious defeat（2）
Poor Jerry happened to play against the “Ping…Pong King”。 At the very beginning of their match； the Ping…Pong king sent two hook balls with so much spin that once Jerry’s paddle reached it； it automatically flew out of the table。 Jerry did a backhand topspin serve； dreaming of getting even with him—which proved to be too nave； for the Ping…Pong king returned the ball easily； forcing it spin in a reverse direction； and sent a long drive to Jerry’s open forehand side。 Jerry couldn’t react in time； and another point was lost。 The following match was terrible； for the Ping…Pong king’s assorted techniques kept Jerry stunned； dazzled and confused； forehand chop； backhand sidespin； long drive； block shot； smash； and each one was enough to drive Jerry crazy。 To make the matter worse； the spin of the ball shot by the Ping…Pong king was really hard to read； he tempted Jerry with a return that looked like high pushes but actually had topspin； or cheated him by sending a chop…like ball which had a sidespin from time to time。 Therefore； the result of man’s single was bewildering； Jerry lost it by 11…1！
In the woman’s double； there was something wrong with my sidespin serve； which always hit the table on the same side。 Because the rule demanded the serve to be crosscourt； several points were lost due to my unforgivable mistakes。 Apparently Angela lost grip of her ball； too。 She just kept driving the ball into the net or nearly missing the table。
Consequently； they defeated us by winning 3 sets over 2 sets。 Reluctantly saying goodbye to the match； we all swore that we’d perform better next year to get even。
Fascinating Chemistry
Monday； October 22； 2007
Never before had I been so intrigued by Chemistry until I began performing numerous experiments since I came to my new school （The Affiliated We are conducting and discussing the experiments in pairs。（左一：陈立）High School of South China Normal University）。 Before this； when I was a student in junior high school； we learned Chemistry only from books。 Only on occasions when such an experiment was highlighted in the textbook； would our teacher carry it out for the whole class； which made minor sense in parison with experiencing all the processes on our own （You will see what I mean below）。 Thus； I followed the mechanical method of memorizing everything from the textbooks； which did effectively help me bee one of the best students in Chemistry in my school。 However； it made Chemistry a dull subject that never appealed to me。 The single motive of working hard on it originated from my admiration of academic excellence instead of my own particular interest。 These experiments magically reversed my perception of Chemistry。 Let me tell you something about these experiments。
With only 12 students in the Chemistry group； the school took us as elites and a certain teacher was appointed to direct us into the world of Chemistry （Our class is different from others class because it is formed by three groups and each member was selected from a special entrance exam given by the school）。 Also because our main task is to pete for the first prize in national or even international petitions； every property of a new element or material we learn about always es by means of a series of exploratory experiments through which we were able to learn knowledge by heart。
In the past few days we have performed a series of experiments in an attempt to know the properties of the elements of the halogen family； in which the members are all oxidizing agents。 Belonging to the halogen family； fluorine is the most active nonmetal in the periodic chart。
When I mixed the solution of Cl2 and Na2S together； a lot of black…yellow deposit was formed in the solution and then precipitated to the bottom of the test tube； which was considered as S according to the introduction of Chlorine in the text book。 As we added more solution of Cl2； those deposits vanished。 Deeply attracted by the unexpected and illuminating phenomenon； I wondered how to explain such an observation。 Two plausible hypotheses were formed in my mind： Cl2 is a strong and ordinary oxidizing agent； the product S； which is the black…yellow precipitate； may have been oxidized by sufficient Cl2 to bee SO2…3 （hypothesis 1） or SO2…4 （hypothesis 2）； which are all soluble ions。 Hypothesis 1 may be possible had it not for one factor： BaCl2 solution is poured into the mixture and white precipitate not soluble in nitric acid is formed。 Thus that proves that hypothesis 2 is true。 Then a problem is resolved； I managed to work out the problem of why the yellow precipitate disappeares through my own effort。
By observing the odd phenomenon and trying to account for it at last with consultation of teachers or books； I felt a sense of achievement which filled me with enthusiasm and eagerness to explore the engaging world of Chemistry。
Life as a deputy mini…
Sunday； November 04； 2007
Since I became a member of the study department in the student Union； I have done many concrete things with my colleagues such as painting posters； designing questionnaires。 We took delight in cooperating to do our tasks better。
Our beloved minister； Jessica； was about to have her farm study （which means living in farmers’ house for 1 week； to help with farmers and apply what are learnt from books to practice and carry out research。 And it is a tradition of our school which last for roughly 20 years。）； so it was important to choose someone among us to take her position temporarily to ensure that everything went smoothly。
Thus Jessica began a small election campaign today and all of us had prepared to run for the position。 Each candidate gave a concise speech within 2 minutes to convince others of his ability。
After Jessica had read all the votes handed in； she announced： “Two of you； Juliet and Mary； who have got the same votes； are about to be the deputy minister when I am in the countryside。” Therefore； I rose to power as the deputy minister。
It had never occurred to me that a minister has that much to deal with only when I was in the position。 F