全文 The whole set, with pinyin and English
一、连词成句 Put the words in order
上课的时候，小华专心致志地听老师讲课。
shàng kè de shí hou xiǎo huá zhuān xīn zhì zhì de tīng lǎo shī jiǎng kè
In class, Xiaohua listens to the teacher with full concentration.
下课铃一响，同学们就争先恐后地跑向食堂。
xià kè líng yì xiǎng tóng xué men jiù zhēng xiān kǒng hòu de pǎo xiàng shí táng
As soon as the recess bell rings, the pupils race each other to the canteen.
做事不能半途而废，要坚持到底。
zuò shì bù néng bàn tú ér fèi yào jiān chí dào dǐ
We must not give up halfway on anything; we should keep going to the end.
妹妹一边看书，一边津津有味地吃着饼干。
mèi mei yì biān kàn shū yì biān jīn jīn yǒu wèi de chī zhe bǐng gān
My little sister reads while happily munching biscuits.
王老师批改作业的时候总是一丝不苟，从来不马虎。
wáng lǎo shī pī gǎi zuò yè de shí hou zǒng shì yì sī bù gǒu cóng lái bù mǎ hu
Mr Wang is always meticulous when he marks homework, never careless.
老师一走进课室，课室里马上鸦雀无声。
lǎo shī yì zǒu jìn kè shì kè shì lǐ mǎ shàng yā què wú shēng
As soon as the teacher walked into the classroom, it went completely silent.
下课后，同学们七嘴八舌地讨论着明天的旅行。
xià kè hòu tóng xué men qī zuǐ bā shé de tǎo lùn zhe míng tiān de lǚ xíng
After class, the pupils were all talking at once about tomorrow's trip.
听了老师的解释，我才恍然大悟。
tīng le lǎo shī de jiě shì wǒ cái huǎng rán dà wù
Only after hearing the teacher's explanation did it suddenly click.
考试前他复习得很充分，所以胸有成竹。
kǎo shì qián tā fù xí de hěn chōng fèn suǒ yǐ xiōng yǒu chéng zhú
He revised thoroughly before the exam, so he felt confident.
放学铃一响，弟弟就迫不及待地冲出了课室。
fàng xué líng yì xiǎng dì di jiù pò bù jí dài de chōng chū le kè shì
As soon as the bell rang, my little brother couldn't wait and dashed out of the classroom.
毕业那天，我们依依不舍地和老师道别。
bì yè nà tiān wǒ men yī yī bù shě de hé lǎo shī dào bié
On graduation day, we said goodbye to our teachers, not wanting to part.
二、完成句子 Fill in the blank
考试的时候，他专心致志地答题，连铃声响了都没听见。
kǎo shì de shí hou tā zhuān xīn zhì zhì de dá tí lián líng shēng xiǎng le dōu méi tīng jiàn
During the exam he answered the questions with full concentration, and didn't even hear the bell.
💡 Not hearing the bell shows he was concentrating hard: 专心致志. 争先恐后 needs many people racing; 半途而废 means giving up.
老师问谁愿意帮忙，同学们争先恐后地举起了手。
lǎo shī wèn shéi yuàn yì bāng máng tóng xué men zhēng xiān kǒng hòu de jǔ qǐ le shǒu
The teacher asked who would help, and the pupils rushed to put their hands up first.
💡 Many pupils each wanting to be first: 争先恐后. 自言自语 is talking to yourself; 一丝不苟 is about careful work.
学钢琴才一个月，他就想放弃，真是半途而废。
xué gāng qín cái yí gè yuè tā jiù xiǎng fàng qì zhēn shì bàn tú ér fèi
He has only learnt the piano for a month and already wants to stop: he is giving up halfway.
💡 Stopping soon after starting is 半途而废. 津津有味 and 专心致志 describe enjoying or focusing, the opposite of giving up.
弟弟一边做题，一边自言自语：“这道题到底怎么做呢？”
dì di yì biān zuò tí yì biān zì yán zì yǔ zhè dào tí dào dǐ zěn me zuò ne
My little brother works on the question, muttering to himself: "How on earth do I do this one?"
💡 He is talking with no one else there, asking himself: 自言自语. The other two can't come before what someone says.
奶奶讲的故事很有趣，我们听得津津有味。
nǎi nai jiǎng de gù shi hěn yǒu qù wǒ men tīng de jīn jīn yǒu wèi
Grandma's stories are so interesting that we listen with great enjoyment.
💡 听得津津有味 means enjoying listening very much, which fits an interesting story. The other two don't describe how you listen.
老师宣布要考试时，课室里一下子变得鸦雀无声。
lǎo shī xuān bù yào kǎo shì shí kè shì lǐ yí xià zi biàn de yā què wú shēng
When the teacher announced a test, the classroom suddenly went completely silent.
💡 鸦雀无声 describes a place gone silent; 七嘴八舌 is people talking, and 迫不及待 is a person who can't wait, not a room.
听说要去动物园，同学们七嘴八舌地讨论起来。
tīng shuō yào qù dòng wù yuán tóng xué men qī zuǐ bā shé de tǎo lùn qǐ lái
Hearing they would go to the zoo, the pupils all started talking about it at once.
💡 讨论 is talking, and 七嘴八舌 is many people talking at once; you can't discuss 鸦雀无声 (in silence), and 依依不舍 is about parting.
他想了很久，看到提示后才恍然大悟。
tā xiǎng le hěn jiǔ kàn dào tí shì hòu cái huǎng rán dà wù
He thought for a long time, and only after seeing the hint did he suddenly understand.
💡 After a hint, the answer suddenly becomes clear: 恍然大悟. 胸有成竹 means sure beforehand, and 自告奋勇 is volunteering.
比赛前小美练习了很多次，所以上台时胸有成竹，一点也不紧张。
bǐ sài qián xiǎo měi liàn xí le hěn duō cì suǒ yǐ shàng tái shí xiōng yǒu chéng zhú yì diǎn yě bù jǐn zhāng
Xiaomei practised many times before the competition, so on stage she was confident and not nervous at all.
💡 Lots of practice makes you sure of yourself: 胸有成竹. Nothing here is suddenly understood or said goodbye to.
老师需要一个人帮忙搬书，小强自告奋勇地举起了手。
lǎo shī xū yào yí gè rén bāng máng bān shū xiǎo qiáng zì gào fèn yǒng de jǔ qǐ le shǒu
The teacher needed someone to help carry books, and Xiaoqiang eagerly volunteered, putting up his hand.
💡 自告奋勇 is offering to help without being asked; the other two have nothing to do with volunteering.
小华的书桌总是整理得井井有条，什么东西都找得到。
xiǎo huá de shū zhuō zǒng shì zhěng lǐ de jǐng jǐng yǒu tiáo shén me dōng xi dōu zhǎo de dào
Xiaohua's desk is always neat and in order, so she can find anything.
💡 A tidy desk is 井井有条 (well ordered); 七嘴八舌 and 迫不及待 describe people, not a desk.
三、改病句 Correct the sentence
病句：老师讲完后，同学们鸦雀无声地讨论起来。
lǎo shī jiǎng wán hòu tóng xué men yā què wú shēng de tǎo lùn qǐ lái
After the teacher finished, the pupils started discussing in complete silence. (wrong)
改正：老师讲完后，同学们七嘴八舌地讨论起来。
lǎo shī jiǎng wán hòu tóng xué men qī zuǐ bā shé de tǎo lùn qǐ lái
After the teacher finished, the pupils all started talking about it at once.
💡 鸦雀无声 means totally silent, so nobody can be discussing: people discussing all at once are 七嘴八舌.
病句：他做作业半途而废，一直坚持到最后。
tā zuò zuò yè bàn tú ér fèi yì zhí jiān chí dào zuì hòu
He gives up his homework halfway and always keeps going to the end. (wrong)
改正：他做作业从不半途而废，总是坚持到最后。
tā zuò zuò yè cóng bú bàn tú ér fèi zǒng shì jiān chí dào zuì hòu
He never gives up halfway on his homework; he always keeps going to the end.
💡 半途而废 (giving up halfway) contradicts 坚持到最后 (keeping going to the end): it must be 从不半途而废.
病句：看到好吃的蛋糕，妹妹依依不舍地拿起来就吃。
kàn dào hǎo chī de dàn gāo mèi mei yī yī bù shě de ná qǐ lái jiù chī
Seeing the tasty cake, my little sister reluctantly picked it up and ate it. (wrong)
改正：看到好吃的蛋糕，妹妹迫不及待地拿起来就吃。
kàn dào hǎo chī de dàn gāo mèi mei pò bù jí dài de ná qǐ lái jiù chī
Seeing the tasty cake, my little sister couldn't wait: she picked it up and ate it straight away.
💡 依依不舍 is for saying goodbye to someone; grabbing a cake at once is 迫不及待.
病句：王老师批改作业一丝不苟，常常粗心大意。
wáng lǎo shī pī gǎi zuò yè yì sī bù gǒu cháng cháng cū xīn dà yì
Mr Wang marks homework very carefully and is often careless. (wrong)
改正：王老师批改作业一丝不苟，从来不粗心大意。
wáng lǎo shī pī gǎi zuò yè yì sī bù gǒu cóng lái bù cū xīn dà yì
Mr Wang marks homework very carefully and is never careless.
💡 一丝不苟 (very careful) and 常常粗心大意 (often careless) contradict each other: he is 从来不粗心大意.
病句：同学们专心致志的听老师讲课。
tóng xué men zhuān xīn zhì zhì de tīng lǎo shī jiǎng kè
The pupils listened to the teacher with full attention. (wrong 的)
改正：同学们专心致志地听老师讲课。
tóng xué men zhuān xīn zhì zhì de tīng lǎo shī jiǎng kè
The pupils listened to the teacher with full attention.
💡 Before an action (听), the describing word takes 地: 专心致志地听.
病句：听了这个笑话，大家都津津有味地哭了。
tīng le zhè ge xiào huà dà jiā dōu jīn jīn yǒu wèi de kū le
Hearing the joke, everyone cried with relish. (wrong)
改正：听了这个笑话，大家都捧腹大笑起来。
tīng le zhè ge xiào huà dà jiā dōu pěng fù dà xiào qǐ lái
Hearing the joke, everyone roared with laughter.
💡 A joke makes people laugh, not cry, and 津津有味 is for eating or listening with relish: the natural phrase is 捧腹大笑.
四、扩句 Make the sentence longer
同学们跑。
tóng xué men pǎo
The pupils run.
在哪里？跑去哪里？：运动会上，同学们向终点跑去。
yùn dòng huì shàng tóng xué men xiàng zhōng diǎn pǎo qù
At sports day, the pupils run towards the finish line.
加一个成语：运动会上，同学们争先恐后地向终点跑去。
yùn dòng huì shàng tóng xué men zhēng xiān kǒng hòu de xiàng zhōng diǎn pǎo qù
At sports day, the pupils race one another towards the finish line.
像什么？：运动会上，同学们像一阵风似的，争先恐后地向终点跑去。
yùn dòng huì shàng tóng xué men xiàng yí zhèn fēng shì de zhēng xiān kǒng hòu de xiàng zhōng diǎn pǎo qù
At sports day, the pupils race one another to the finish line like a gust of wind.
他看书。
tā kàn shū
He reads.
在哪里？：他在图书馆里看书。
tā zài tú shū guǎn lǐ kàn shū
He reads in the library.
怎么看？用成语：他在图书馆里专心致志地看书。
tā zài tú shū guǎn lǐ zhuān xīn zhì zhì de kàn shū
He reads in the library with full concentration.
怎么看出来？：他在安静的图书馆里专心致志地看书，连我走到他身边都没发现。
tā zài ān jìng de tú shū guǎn lǐ zhuān xīn zhì zhì de kàn shū lián wǒ zǒu dào tā shēn biān dōu méi fā xiàn
He reads in the quiet library so intently that he doesn't even notice me walk up to him.
五、造句 Make a sentence
专心致志 zhuān xīn zhì zhì · with full concentration
姐姐专心致志地练习书法，连妈妈叫她吃饭都没听见。
jiě jie zhuān xīn zhì zhì de liàn xí shū fǎ lián mā ma jiào tā chī fàn dōu méi tīng jiàn
My big sister practised calligraphy so intently that she didn't even hear Mum call her to eat.
只有专心致志地学习，才能把功课做好。
zhǐ yǒu zhuān xīn zhì zhì de xué xí cái néng bǎ gōng kè zuò hǎo
Only by studying with full concentration can you do your homework well.
争先恐后 zhēng xiān kǒng hòu · rushing to be first
老师一说出问题，同学们就争先恐后地举手回答。
lǎo shī yì shuō chū wèn tí tóng xué men jiù zhēng xiān kǒng hòu de jǔ shǒu huí dá
As soon as the teacher asked the question, the pupils rushed to put up their hands to answer.
新的游乐场一开放，小朋友们就争先恐后地跑去玩。
xīn de yóu lè chǎng yì kāi fàng xiǎo péng yǒu men jiù zhēng xiān kǒng hòu de pǎo qù wán
As soon as the new playground opened, the children raced to play on it.
半途而废 bàn tú ér fèi · to give up halfway
学游泳虽然很辛苦，但是我不想半途而废。
xué yóu yǒng suī rán hěn xīn kǔ dàn shì wǒ bù xiǎng bàn tú ér fèi
Learning to swim is hard work, but I don't want to give up halfway.
做任何事情都要坚持到底，不能半途而废。
zuò rèn hé shì qing dōu yào jiān chí dào dǐ bù néng bàn tú ér fèi
Whatever you do, keep going to the end; don't give up halfway.
六、仿写 Write on the pattern
例句：考试的时候，他全神贯注地看着题目。
kǎo shì de shí hou tā quán shén guàn zhù de kàn zhe tí mù
During the exam, he read the questions with full attention.
……的时候，……地……
画画的时候，妹妹一丝不苟地涂着颜色。
huà huà de shí hou mèi mei yì sī bù gǒu de tú zhe yán sè
When drawing, my little sister coloured in very carefully.
比赛的时候，队员们一心一意地向前冲。
bǐ sài de shí hou duì yuán men yì xīn yí yì de xiàng qián chōng
During the race, the team members dashed forward with all their hearts.
例句：他做事从来不半途而废，总是坚持到底。
tā zuò shì cóng lái bú bàn tú ér fèi zǒng shì jiān chí dào dǐ
He never gives up halfway on anything; he always sees it through.
从来不……，总是……
姐姐做作业从来不马虎，总是一丝不苟。
jiě jie zuò zuò yè cóng lái bù mǎ hu zǒng shì yì sī bù gǒu
My big sister is never careless with her homework; she is always very careful.
爷爷从来不迟到，总是提早十分钟到。
yé ye cóng lái bù chí dào zǒng shì tí zǎo shí fēn zhōng dào
Grandpa is never late; he always arrives ten minutes early.