One morning, Wu Liang discovered (发现) that her classroom changed. She found that the desks were no longer in rows, but pushed together to make eight bigger desks. She was too excited about it for the first two days and she couldn’t listen to the teachers carefully. But soon she and her classmates got used to this new classroom arrangement (安排). “Now our class is quieter,” said Wu. “What’s more, we can come up with our own ideas and learn more through discussion. It’s a better way to study.”
Li Yu liked it, too. He said, “Group members first discuss, and then show ourselves in front of the whole class. It makes us believe in ourselves.” It was part of a reform (改革) at Li’s school. The school made this reform because they wanted to provide (提供) students with easier ways to study and more chances to discuss. “Our school hopes it can improve students’ abilities(能力) to study by themselves and work in groups,” said Zhang Ming, an English teacher.
However, the reform has demanded (要求) more from teachers. Now they have only 15 minutes to give the lesson which should be taught in 45 minutes before. It is difficult to teach in such a short time. The teachers have to find better ways to teach more effectively.
“The reform demands more, but I’m sure it is helpful,” added Zhang Ming.
【小题1】After the new classroom arrangement , it was easier for Wu Liang and her classmates to ________ in class.

He didn’t listen to the teacher carefully in class. ______, he couldn’t pass the exam.

John is 14 years old. He is a student of Grade Eight. He was a very active and happy boy two years ago. But everything changed after he started to play computer games. He never plays basketball or football with his friends any more. And when he sits in the classroom, he can’t listen to the teachers. He sleeps in class. And he spends less and less time in studying. So he gets bad marks in tests. But he is very different after school is over. He stays in the net bar until it is closed. Ah, he loses himself in（沉迷于）computer games. His parents can do nothing to stop him. Every morning in the school, when we see that he is so tired after a night’s “busy working”, we really feel sad. He is too tired!
【小题1】John was ______two years ago.