Problem-solving skills

    We face problems in our everyday life. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}Don't worry. The following tips may help you to solve problems.

    ⒈Know the problem

    First of all, it is important to know and understand the problem clearly.{#blank#}2{#/blank#} Following questions like why, what, how, when, where and who will take you to the root cause of the problem.

    ⒉Analyze the problem

    Analyzing the problem will give you time to think of a proper solution. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} It can be a diagram, a flow chart or a list, etc.

    ⒊Plan a strategy(策略)

    Planning a strategy will help you waste less energy and time in trying all the solutions. This step includes knowing the advantages and disadvantages of a solution. In this way you can rule out the strategy that you don't find worthy to apply.

    ⒋{#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    Leave out the information that is not required for the solving of the problem. You need to be accurate with the details. Keeping the irrelevant(不相关的) information usually won't simplify the problem as we tend to overlook the relevant information.

    ⒌Carry out the solution

    Carrying out the solution in a correct way to get the expected result is important while solving a problem. You need to be creative while carrying out a solution just in case some other problem arises while applying the solution.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    Solving a problem is easy if you understand the problem in the first place. By analyzing the problem, planning a strategy, using the best solution, and carrying out the solution in the best method, you will solve your problem smoothly.

A. Make a wise decision.

B. Delete irrelevant information

C. You can use various tools to analyze the problem.

D. Knowing the problem means solving half the problem itself.

E. It can be social problems, relationship problems, or problems at work.

F. Sometimes we can take wrong decisions for solving the problems in haste.

G. Being ready with other choices is also important in case a solution works only half way.

    Ways to Host an Eco-Friendly Cookout

    Eating in the open air may feel eco-friendly, but outdoor dining can result in unnecessary waste if you aren't careful.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}If you keep that in mind throughout your preparations, you'll be off to a good start.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

    Skip the paper invitations and use online services like Email, or Facebook events{#blank#}2{#/blank#}This way you'll avoid ending up with five different potato salads that go uneaten. Make it easy for guests to sort garbage by positioning different trashcans in a central location: one for kitchen garbage, one for recyclables, and one for non-recyclables.

Stop Using Plastic

    Plastic is a leading cause of litter and isn't easy to recycle. To make sure your cookout eco-friendly, consider some other options for making your cookout stand out. Use recycled jars as glasses. They're also far less breakable than regular glasses{#blank#}3{#/blank#} If guests know which glass is theirs, they don't need to reach for another one, which cuts down on the cleanup you'll be doing.

{#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    Wherever possible, shop for local produce and goods to serve your guests. This will reduce your carbon footprint and help support your local economy. Buy produce and meats at your local farmers' market. Look for organic, but favor local over organic if you have to make a choice.

Use Renewable Light Sources

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} As the sun goes down, illuminate your party space with LED lighting and solar- powered decorations. Invest in some citronella (香茅精油) candles and torches to help drive away insects naturally.

A. Support Global Economy

B. Think Globally, Shop Locally

C. Ask guests to bring glasses of their own

D. Keep track of what everyone is bringing ahead of time

E. Save on energy by hosting your party during the daylight hours

F. One of the keys to being green is to reduce waste wherever possible

G. Put up some labels to the jars so people can write their names on them

How to listen in English exams

    Listening is an important but difficult part for middle school students in English exams. The following suggestions may benefit you a lot.

Relax yourself.

    Before listening, it's necessary to have a peaceful state of mind. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} If that doesn't work, drinking some water or washing your face with cold water may help you to some extent.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    As soon as the listening starts, focus on it without thinking about anything else. While listening, you can also recall(回想）the related knowledge in common with the material concerned, such as the vocabulary about the subject or topic, which is beneficial to your better understanding.

    Grasp the main idea.

    Sometimes the monologue, dialogue or conversation you're listening to is a little bit longer than you expect. And it's normal that some unnecessary information is included. However, you don't need to understand it completely. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    Ignore the new words.

    Without doubt, there usually exist unfamiliar words in listening materials. In fact, it's almost impossible for you to know or understand all the words in the listening material sometimes. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} It's mistaken to waste much time on figuring them out while listening.

    Develop the habit of taking notes.

    In the course of listening, it's a good habit to write down the content and leave out the unimportant details. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} By taking notes, we can remind ourselves of the key points.

A. Concentrate on listening.

B. The more words you memorize, the better it is.

C. Feeling nervous or worried is harmful and unnecessary.

D. What you need to do is turn a deaf ear to the new words.

E. Make a list of what you think is important while listening.

F. Instead, just pay attention to the key points and general ideas.

G. If you feel nervous or anxious, try taking a deep breath to calm yourself down.

    Do you know that you have “body amour（防弹衣）”? Yes, you do. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Here are three protective body parts and how they work.

    Skin

    Your skin might not feel much like the outside of an armoured tank, but it really gives you a lot of protection. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}Skin also protects our bones, muscles and insides by covering them up. Our skin may not be that tough when we touch it, but it can be very tough when it counts. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} The skin may get scraped（擦伤）and become bruised（青肿的）, but it helps to keep our bones safe so that they don't break easily.

    Eyelashes（眼睫毛）and Eyelids

    The little soft eyelashes attached to our eyelids are constantly working to blink（眨眼）away dust that would hurt our eyes. Our eyelashes and eyelids use reflex actions to close when danger comes near. Actually if we had to tell our eyelids to close, we could not do it fast enough to offer any real protection for our eyes. When our eyes and brain notice something that might be dangerous, they use lightening fast reflexes to close.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}.

    Hair

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} This is a kind of body amour that is very useful, since the sun shines down on our heads all day. Without this covering of hair it would be easy for us to get sunburnt on the top of our heads. We lose about 50 individual hairs from our scalp every day. But most of us have lots of new ones that are replacing them.

A. Think about what happens when we fall.

B. This protection keeps our eyes safe and sound.

C. But you might not know how the armour works.

D. Some of your personal armour might affect you.

E. The hair on our heads protects our soft scalps（头皮）.

F. By closing eyes, your eyelashes block out light closer to you.

G. Our skin is the biggest organ in our entire body and it helps to keep us safe.

    One of the biggest reasons people drop an exercise program is lack of interest. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} The good news is there are tons of different sports and activities to try to see which one inspires you.

    When picking the right type of exercise, it can help to consider your workout personality. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} If so, solo sports like running, biking, or snowboarding could be for you. Or do you like the shared motivation and companionship that comes from being part of a team? School sports, intramural leagues, club teams, and pick-up games are great ways to stay active with others.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} For example, whether your chosen activity is affordable and available to you (Activities like horseback riding may be harder for people who live in cities, for example.) You'll also want to think about how much time you can set aside for your sport.

    It's a good idea to talk to someone who understands the exercise, like a coach or fitness expert at a gym. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    Doctors know that most people benefit from regular exercise, even those with disabilities. If you have a health problem or other concern (like being overweight or very out of shape), talk to your doctor before beginning an exercise plan.

    Considering the benefits to the heart, muscles, joints, and mind, it's easy to see why exercise is wise. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Even small things can count as exercise when you're starting out -like taking a short bike ride, walking the dog, or raking leaves.

A. Without fun, it is hard to keep it up.

B. You also need to plan around practical considerations.

C. You have to make a list of your favorite exercises, too.

D. He or she can get you started on a program that's right for you.

E. Different types of exercise can strengthen different muscle groups.

F. And the great thing about exercise is that it's never too late to start.

G. For example, you may like to work out alone and on your own schedule.

First aid is a simple medical treatment that gives a person who suddenly becomes ill before a doctor can be found. It's believed that four hundred and eighty seconds after an accident can make a difference between life and death. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Here are some different situations where you can learn, how to give first aid.

Burns

{#blank#}2{#/blank#} It's the best to place burns under softly running water for about 10 minutes. Remember that don't use ice!

Nosebleed

Ask the person to lean forward and pinch the nose for five to six minutes. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} If so, the blood may run into the mouth.

Dog Bites

Wash the bite with plenty of water at a comfortable temperature. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Then, go to see the doctor at once and follow their suggestions carefully.

Chocking (窒息)

Stand behind the chocking person put your arms around his body and lean him or her forward slowly. Press his or her stomach. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} You can also hit his back with your hand.