When I was a little girl, my mom would say, “Half the fun of doing anything is sharing it with others.” {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Friends and mates allow us to enjoy our successes and our joys, comfort us in our hard moments, and provide a mirror for us to learn more about ourselves. I've always looked at friends as the family we choose. They enrich our lives. As Robert Louis Steven once said, “{#blank#}2{#/blank#}”.

    To be a good friend or partner, it's important to be a good listener. Hear what your friend or mate has to say first rather than jump to conclusions or get defensive. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} When they hear their words repeated back to them, it can help them to realize what they said was not exactly what they meant to say.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} You know the old golden rule, “Care for others the way you would like them to care for you.” The support of a friend during a tough time could make the difference between success and failure. Encouragement and confidence are the gifts that can help change a person's life.

    Take care, though, with whom you choose to have close relationship, for they can have a great effect on yourself – respect and life path. As someone once told me “{#blank#}5{#/blank#} They will either take you up or down.”

A. I am afraid so.

B. It is quite true

C. Friendship is the most important factor.

D. Sometimes it is useful to be their mirror.

E. A friend is a present which you give yourself.

F. The attitudes of your friends are like the buttons on a lift.

G. Patience, sympathy and understanding are also important qualities.

    Do you remember the last time you read a book, or a magazine? Is checking e-mails or updating microblog your daily reading habit? If you're one of those who don't make a habit of reading regularly, you might be really out.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Stress Reduction

    No matter how much pressure you have at work, in your personal relationships, or other issues in daily life, it all just slips away when you lose yourself in a great story.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    Knowledge

    Everything you read fills your head with new information, and you never know when it might come into use.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}Besides, you might lose everything else—your job, your money, even your health, but knowledge can never be taken from you.

    Vocabulary Expansion

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} As a result, this will gradually enlarge your everyday vocabulary. Then you might become more knowledgeable and well-spoken, which can increase your self confidence and even help you get promotions more quickly.

    Better Writing Skills

    Exposure to well-written work has a great effect on your own writing. In other words, writing styles of other authors will influence your own work.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    Now that reading has so many benefits, step away from your computer and go hunting for something new to read!

A. Here are some benefits of reading.

B. Here are some suggestions for your health.

C. The more you read, the more words you gain exposure to.

D. This goes hand-in-hand with the expansion of your vocabulary.

E. A well-written novel can bring you pleasure, and allow you to relax.

F. The more knowledge you have, the better-equipped you are for your life.

G. That is why beginners always learn how to write by reading the works of others.

    Body language is extremely important when it comes to making good first impressions.It's always helpful to know what body cues show you in a positive light,especially during interviews or networking when you're meeting someone for the first time.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}Keep these tips in mind when you're interacting with another person.

    Smile slowly.If you're too quick to come to a smile,your expression may not look genuine.Real smiles happen gradually,but remember not to do it too slowly because it can also look creepy.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}When you're nervous or excited,your voice may come out in a higher pitch.Take a deep breath and lower your pitch,because a deeper voice is considered to have more authority and confidence.In fact,even dogs respond better to deeper voices when you are trying to give them a command.

    Make eye contact.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}Don't go overboard and gaze without breaking eye contact,because that can make people feel uncomfortable.Spend the majority of the time making eye contact,but remember to briefly take breaks.

    Lean.Move your body slightly forward toward the person you're talking to{#blank#}5{#/blank#}However,if you want to show that you're relaxed,lean back a little bit.Don't overdo the leaning or it may either look like you have no idea of what personal space is if you lean forward too much or make you look uninterested and uppity if you lean too far back.

A. Have good posture.

B. Speak in a deeper voice.

C. This reflects interest.

D. Do your best to imitate a natural smile by practicing in the mirror.

E. t can make a difference and even make you more likeable.

F. When talking to someone, making eye contact shows interest and also confidence.

G. It can make you look less professional and less confident and enthusiastic.

Five Steps to Better Handwriting

    Some kids love handwriting, but others hate when it's time to put their pen to paper. Maybe they are worried about their handwriting. Are you one of them？{#blank#}1{#/blank#} Here are five steps that really work!

    Get a great grasp

    Try this—hold your pencil at the top and try to write your name. Pretty hard？ But when you hold your pencil the correct way, writing is much easier. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Hold it in place with your thumb, and your index(食指) and middle fingers.

    Let the lines be your guide

    Lined paper is your friend！ Those lines can help you create letters that are the right size and proportion(均衡)．{#blank#}3{#/blank#} Also be sure to fill up the lined space completely. Those capital letters should be from the bottom line to the top one.

    Slow down

    If your writing is hard to read, try slowing down a little. If you rush, it's hard to control where you stop and start your letters.

    Lower the pressure

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} That makes it harder to make the smooth lines. Try easing up and don't hold the pencil too tightly.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    Lots of games require you to write or draw pictures. So even though it's not schoolwork, you're still using the skills you need to control your pen better.

A. Play games.

B. Ask for more advice.

C. You've been writing since you were a little kid.

D. So "a" should be half the height of a capital "A".

E. Some kids press down really hard when they write.

F. The good news is that just about everyone can improve their handwriting.

G. The best way to hold a pen or pencil is to let it rest next to the base of your thumb.

    Do you ever feel like you've got a great idea, one that makes you feel unbelievably inspired and want to change the world? {#blank#}1{#/blank#} We've all been there. And we'll all be there again and again throughout life. So take a deep breath, and try these techniques:

    Start small.

    So often, we feel the need to take great leaps and bounds. Every day needs to be filled with productivity. But we reach a point where we get overwhelmed(不知所措的) by all the things we have to do. Break it down. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Take a baby step. Once you get going, it will be harder to stop.

    Do the thing you're afraid of.

    Often when we get overwhelmed, it's because the task ahead is daunting（吓人的）. There's no easy way around it. The more we think about it, the more frightened we feel. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Most of the time, things are never as bad as we imagined them in our minds.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    The biggest misunderstanding is that we have to do everything on our own. But that's simply not true. Success never comes without support. So reach out. Call a friend. Ask for advice. Your community will be more than happy to help, and you'll feel better.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} The harder you work for something you believe in, the better you will feel about it. And once you learn how to handle hitting a brick wall, it will get easier to deal with the next time around.

A. Ask for help.

B. Don't give up.

C. No one wants to live with regrets.

D. No one can do everything all at once.

E. So stop thinking about it, and just do it.

F. But once you start working on your idea, you start doubting yourself.

G. Remember that if it's not easy, it probably means it's worth it.

    The job interview is an important part of your job search because it's an opportunity for the employer to figure out if you're right for the job. The following tips may help you prepare for your job interview.

    ●Dress for success. Professional business clothes are always appropriate, regardless of the type of job you are applying for.

    ●Be there on time. Try to arrive 5 to 10 minutes early to be safe. Find out ahead of time where you're going and how long it will take you to get there. Drive or travel the route a day or two ahead, at the same time of day as you will on the day of the interview. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Have a backup(备用)plan.

    ●Let your personality shine. If you're excited about the job, don't be afraid to show it. Employers want passionate employees, so be yourself.

    ●Be confident. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} But just don't let your nerves overpower your interview. Eye contact and a calm, clear speaking voice are excellent ways to show your confidence.

    ●Watch your body language. During your interview, relax and sit naturally, but don't slouch(没精打采地坐)in your chair or lean on the interviewer's desk.

    ●Be polite. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Remember, this is your first introduction to the organization, so be polite to everyone you meet and turn off your cell phone.

    ●Listen and ask for clarification(阐明), if you need it. Remember to listen carefully to the interview questions so that you can actually answer the questions, and never interrupt. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    ●Let them know what you have to offer. When answering the questions, let the employer see what you have to offer to his organization. Talk about your past experiences and achievements honestly, and tie those experiences to how they can help you contribute to his organization.

    ●{#blank#}5{#/blank#} Although you want to be open and honest in your interview, avoid talking about your personal or financial problems.

A. Think before you speak.

B. Confirm how often the buses run.

C. This begins with a smile and a firm handshake.

D. If you believe in yourself, you will surely succeed.

E. Feeling nervous in an interview is perfectly normal.

F. Make sure you have enough to answer the questions.

G. If you don't understand something, just ask for explanation.