In today's busy and competitive world, we all lead incredibly stressful lives. When stress becomes overwhelming, it can affect our mood and productivity. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} The good news is that it is manageable and can be reduced, or even relieved completely.

    Enter the world of books. Feeling stressed out? Pick up your favorite book and leave the reality and worries behind. It is the most effective way to relax and overcome stress. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Getting lost in a book before bedtime can calm your mind and prepare your body for a good night's sleep.

    Connect with people. Another way to successfully beat stress is meeting with friends. Friends and loved ones are important to any healthy lifestyle. If you're feeling a little overwhelmed and just can't seem to shake it off, call your best friend or a member of your family and talk to them. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    Walk it off. You can also effectively relieve yourself of stress by simply taking a walk around your neighborhood. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} There's a whole new world up there that you never seem to notice while rushing to work or talking to someone. Take a moment to admire a new building or a balcony somewhere high up that reminds you of a castle from your favorite movie. Enjoy your time alone and seize every moment of it.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Nothing brings you back on track like a good laughter. It is the most powerful antidote(良方) to stress and it brings joy into your life. Laughing brings people together and drives away all stress-related problems as if they never existed. It is absolutely the best medicine there is, and it will keep you both physically and emotionally healthy.

    Are you preparing any gifts for your friends now? {#blank#}1{#/blank#}, but choosing a proper gift can be a big headache, because it takes a lot of time and effort to think of the right gift for someone. Before you finish your list, keep these dos and don'ts in mind:

    Do put thought into your gift.

    If you like something, that doesn't mean that your friend is going to like it, too. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}. Don't get him/her an ordinary gift, and reflect back on your previous conversations to see if he/ she talked about a certain gift he/she had been wanting to get.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}.

    Make sure the gift you're buying is appropriate for the person. For example, if you're buying a friend a gift, remember not to overspend or personalize it too much. Take a moment to think about how your relationship is with the person before getting him/her something.

    Do get a gift receipt (收据)

    If you're purchasing something for your friend, make sure you ask the salesperson to include a gift receipt. It's just a polite gesture, and you know your money won't go to waste.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}.

    Don't leave the price tag (标签) on.

    Make sure you don't leave the price tag on the gift and that you're giving a gift receipt and not the original bill.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}, and it's not important for him/her to know anyway.

A. Don't buy an inappropriate gift

B. Don't be afraid of spending money

C. Giving gifts has forever been so pleasant

D. Take some time to really think about what he/she likes

E. If your friend doesn't like the gift, he/she can just exchange it

F. Giving someone you care about a very special gift can be tough

G. It's not proper to let your friend know how much you spent on the gift

    When you ask people how to make friends as an adult, they usually give you suggestions like, “just get out there,” “join a dance class,” or , “try speed dating.”{#blank#}1{#/blank#}.

    After all, making friends does require us to get out into the world and take a few emotional risks. Most of the time, however, we are not lacking for ideas on where to meet people. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    For this reason, most people find that reconnecting with themselves is a first step towards reconnecting with others.

    If you feel tired, out of shape, or sad, most of the time, making friends is going to be extremely difficult. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    Start small. Use the1-minute technique to gradually increase your commitment to exercise. Get out into nature. Set a timer to remind yourself to get up every hour to stretch. Try gentle yoga.

    While you build up your body, don't forget to nourish your mind. Write down one thing every day that you are grateful for. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    Learn to become your own best friend.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}Instead of relying on our social circumstances to bring people into our lives, we need to change ourselves first and then invite people into our lives.

A. On the surface, these are fine suggestions.

B. Spend a few minutes every day in reflection.

C. It will be even more difficult when you are an adult.

D. We only need to know how to start a conversation with strangers.

E. We are missing the motivation and self-confidence to get started.

F. Making friends as an adult is possible, but it requires a new approach.

G. Fortunately there are plenty of simple things that you can do to increase your physical and emotional resources.

    Each year there is an increasing number of cars on roads and streets as millions of new cars and trucks are produced. One out of every six Americans work at putting together the parts of cars, driving trucks, building roads or filling cars and trucks with gas. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Because most Americans find they are using their cars in almost every aspect of their life. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} The polluted air becomes poisonous and dangerous to health.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} That's what several of the large car factories have been trying to do. But to build a clean car is easier said than done. Progress in this field has been slow.

Another way is to take the place of the car engine by something else.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} Many makers believe that it will take years to develop a practical model that pleases man.

To prevent the world from being polluted by cars, we'll have to make some changes in the way many of us live. Americans, for example, have to cut down on the number of their total cars. They are encouraged to travel and go to work by bicycle. Bicycling is thought to help keep the air clean. But this change does not come easily. A large number of workers may find themselves without jobs if a car factory closes down.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    Although cars have led us to a better life, they have also brought us new problems.

A. Americans know cars very well.

B. Americans won't live without cars!

C. Inventors are now working on steam cars as well as electric cars.

D. However, the number of vehicles has continued to increase in recent years.

E. One way to get rid of the polluted air is to build a car that does not pollute.

F. Thus the problem of air pollution would become less important than that of unemployment.

G. However, some have realized the serious problems of the air pollution that is caused by cars.

    According to a sales report from askci.com on 2018's Double Eleven, the national shopping day, women's down garments were among the top 10 hit products.

    Statistics show that down garments have been popular for many years in both northern and southern China. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}. Especially during a fiercely cold winter, {#blank#}2{#/blank#}, cares about being stylish?

    All you need is warmth — the very light from heaven, which down garments can provide you with. However, as living standards rise, more expensive garments filled with goose down, instead of duck down, have appeared in the market.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}. What's the difference between the down from these two creatures? First, the down from mature geese is larger and thicker, which makes garments filled with goose down much warmer. Second, goose down is more flexible and fluffier than that of ducks. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}, goose down has no strange odor. Geese are often "vegetarians" and eat clean, while ducks are omnivorous, which could give their feathers and down a strong scent. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}.

    However, duck down is still a good choice if you live in place where winter is windy, yet not that cold.

    If you still want be stylish…

    Although most down garments can make people look big and sloppy, you could choose longer ones for a slimming look. For colors, metallic hues are more fashionable and pair more easily with other street-style outfits in your wardrobe.

A. Goose or duck

B. It seems the strong warmth provided by down garments has been nationally approved

C. These are the advantages that account for the higher prices of garments made with goose down

D. When you shudder in the wind

E. How to choose your down garment

F. The last difference is key for people sensitive to smells

G. You may like goose garment better

In recent years, more Chinese students have been choosing art school as their first choice when applying for universities overseas, according to the Report on Chinese Students' Overseas Study in 2018. Anyone applying to art school should know that one's portfolio (资历证明材料) is a crucial part of the application process.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}

Focus on original, recent work. Admissions officers see so many portfolios on a regular basis, so it's important to make yourself stand out as an individual.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}Presenting work that you've done within the last one or two years also provides a more relevant and accurate portrayal (描述) of your skills.

{#blank#}3{#/blank#}You don't want to spread yourself too thin, but working with a variety of media and different techniques can convey that you are able to express yourself in diverse ways.

Unless the school requires that only finished work be included in your portfolio, you should include images that reflect the progress of your work.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}It gives admissions officers insight into the thought that has gone into the work.

Make sure that your work shows your true talent.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}Remember never try to make up some merits, which will in turn be a mirror of your dishonesty. However, it is always helpful to look at samples of other art portfolios to see their approach.

A. Prepare your portfolio in different languages.

B. Show a wide range of work in your portfolio.

C. Be proud of what you submit and your own strengths.

D. Why is a good portfolio important to your successful application?

E. This may include images from a workbook behind the finished product.

F. Here are some tips to help you through this process and put your best work out there.

G. It's more impressive to express your personal opinion rather than copying another's work.