I was diagnosed with allergies (过敏反应) when I was a little kid. Other than family, no one truly knows I have allergies, although I have to tell people it's allergies when my eyes start to tear up. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Sometimes my friends just tease in a friendly way.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}I look like a normal kid. I don't mind telling people about my allergies—after all, it's normal to have them. Having allergies hasn't affected my self-confidence.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}For example, I am a big traveler and I would enjoy going to see the cherry blossoms in Washington, D. C. But when I come anywhere within a 10-foot range of cherry blossoms it feels like I lose almost all my senses! Even though it's only temporary, I still feel miserable.

    My allergies haven't stopped me from traveling when I can, though. My class trip was to Williamsburg in Virginia. At first it was supposed to be during cherry blossom time, and that had me worried. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    I've had to rethink some of my dreams, too. Since I'm allergic to animals with fur, I may need to adjust my hopes of being a veterinarian (兽医) or working in an agricultural-science department. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    Now I have learned to deal with my allergies and even see the good side sometimes. Having allergies has taught me not to be prejudiced about people's health conditions.

A. I do get made fun of.

B. My allergies have been getting better.

C. If I don't take my medicine I can get really bad breath.

D. You can't tell by looking at me that I have a health condition.

E. Fortunately, it was changed to February, so I went and had the best time!

F. But I'm interested in so many things and there are plenty of other careers out there!

G. Sure, my allergies have held me back from doing some of the things that I love to do.

    A good book can be satisfying. If reading is a habit you'd like to get into, there are some ways to develop it.

    ☆Realize that reading is enjoyable if you have a good book. If you have a difficult book and you are forcing yourself through it, it will seem like a task. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    ☆Set time. You should have some time during every day when you'll read for at least 5 to 10 minutes. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} For example, make it a habit to read during breakfast and lunch and even dinner if you eat alone.

    ☆Always carry a book. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} When I leave the house, I always make sure to have my car keys and one book at hand. The book stays with me in the car, and I take it into the office and pretty much everywhere I go.

    ☆{#blank#}4{#/blank#} Find a place in your home where you can sit in a comfortable chair. Do not lie down unless you're going to sleep. There should be no television or computer near the chair, and no music or noisy family members or roommates. If you don't have a place like this, create one.

    ☆Reduce television or the Internet. If you really want to read more, try cutting back on time on TV or the Internet. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Still, every minute you reduce of the Internet or TV, you could use for reading. This could create hours of book reading time.

A. Go to bookstores.

B. Find a quiet place.

C. This may be difficult for some people.

D. Wherever you go, take a book with you.

E. Have some good tea or coffee while you read.

F. It means you will read no matter how busy you are.

G. If this happens, give up the book and find another one that you'll really love.

    I was ten when I first sat with my grandmother behind the cashier(收银台) in her grocery store. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} I quickly learned the importance of treating customers politely and saying "thank you."

    At first I was paid in candy. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} I worked every day after school, and during the summer and on weekends and holidays from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. My father helped me set up a bank account.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    By the time I was 12, my grandmother thought I had done such a good job that she promoted me to selling cosmetics(化妆品). I developed the ability to look customers directly in the eye. Even though I was just a kid, women would ask me such things as "What color do you think I should wear?" I took a real interest in their questions and was able to translate what they wanted into makeup(化妆) ideas. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    The job taught me a valuable lesson: to be a successful salesperson, you didn't need to be a rocket scientist—you needed to be a great listener. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Expect they are no longer women buying cosmetics from me; instead, they are kids who tell me which toys they would like to see designed and developed.

A. Later I received 50 cents an hour.

B. Before long, she let me sit there by myself.

C. I ended up selling a record amount of cosmetics.

D. Today I still carry that lesson with me: I listen to customers.

E. My grandma's trust taught me how to handle responsibility（承担责任）.

F. Soon I found myself looking more beautiful than ever before.

G. Watching my money grow was more rewarding/worthy than anything I could have bought.

One of the healthiest Foods on the planet

    There is probably no flower more hated, or misunderstood, than the bright yellow dandelion (蒲公英). {#blank#}1{#/blank#} In an effort to have the perfect green grass lawn, people try their best to kill all dandelions with chemical products. Or they dig them out at the roots—only to see them grow right back.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} They are a great source of vitamin K and also are a good source of vitamins A and C. They also have vitamin E, folate and small amounts of other B vitamins. Also, they provide lots of iron, calcium, magnesium and potassium.

    Besides nutrition, another great thing about dandelions is that you can eat every part of them—from the bottom of the roots to the top of the flower. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Do not eat ones that have been treated with dangerous chemicals or are growing near high traffic areas.

    Dandelions are said to provide several possible health benefits such as helping in digestion and improving some skin conditions. They may also reduce inflammation (炎症).

    Children in many parts of the world have had the simple pleasure of blowing the soft, white dandelion tops. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} In fact, there is a game children play with dandelions that have gone to seed. Pick the white top, make a wish, close your eyes and blow! If you blow all of the seeds off in one breath, your wish will come true! {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. Well, that is what many children believe.

B. They watch the seeds float easily in the air.

C. At least the seeds have traveled far and wide.

D. Just make sure to take care when picking wild dandelions.

E. You can let more of this nutritious food source continue to grow.

F. Dandelions are actually one of the most nutritious foods in the world.

G. In the United States, they are considered “weeds”, the name for any unwanted plant.

Tips on How to Get Along Better With People

    Your coworker may drive you up the wall, but you've decided you'll no longer rise to his or Her bait (引诱）.Try these tips for improving your relationship with his or her — and anyone else who pushes your buttons.

    ⒈{#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Thinking about potential criticisms ahead of time allows you to have an appropriate response on hand should you need it. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} If you don't get engaged in the content of his or her comment, you push his or her back into a positive intent, which makes a person think about why he or she offered a rude comment.

    ⒉Switch thinking ment.

    Realize that every single human being has a different way of looking at life, {#blank#}3{#/blank#} If you try to approach things from his or her angle, you may find that potentially sticky conversations will go far more smoothly.

    ⒊Slow Down

    Take the time to stop and compose yourself after someone says something you don't like. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}A lot of times you'll find out that the person's intent is not to hurt you, and once you've understood that, things often clear up.

    ⒋Be positive

    People who are at ease, polite, understanding and considerate are always charming and attractive. Dress well, work on accepting compliments gracefully —without worrying about whether you deserve them. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Practice these skills long enough, and they will become second-nature.

A. Prepare Yourself.

B. Be pleasant, and smile.

C. you can't have two competing emotions at the same time.

D. and then make an effort to understand the other person's point of view.

E. Take a few slow, deep breaths, relieve stress, and then talk with the other person.

F. This works to reduce anxiety, and staying calm can help you get along better with others.

G. So when someone says you gained weight, thank him or her for being concerned and then change the subject.

    Women's roles have changed throughout the world in recent years, but nowhere so obviously as in America {#blank#}1{#/blank#}. In many American homes today, the husband still carries on his traditional role of breadwinner ,while his homemaker wife is in charge of the home and child—raising. But it is more and more common to find that the children are left in day –care centers or nursery schools while both parents work{#blank#}2{#/blank#}. At home, household duties are shared in varying degrees by all family members .It is not unusual to find father cooking dinner, cleaning the living room or changing the baby .{#blank#}3{#/blank#}. Children have responsibilities, too .One of the goals of the Women's Liberation Movement has been to have both men and women share in childcare, housework and financial responsibility.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}.

    The high cost of living has made it necessary for many women to have jobs outside the home, but women often choose to have jobs in order to use their skills and education or to seek a more fulfilling and interesting life .Many American women enjoy the independence that an outside job and the salary give men and even some women—sometimes are not for women working outside the home ,and in some cases ,a woman might be paid less than a man who performs the same job .{#blank#}5{#/blank#}.

A. As the roles of women have changed, so have men's

B. The woman may earn as much or more money than her husband

C. Mother might be outside mowing the lawn or washing the car

D. Today many American women will not marry a man who is not willing to share equally in household responsibilities

E. American women, however, have met challenges since pioneer days, and they continue to work for true equality

F. women didn't play an important role in the past

G. women in America were not happy in the past