You may use banknotes every day. But did you know that there is a lot of science behind the money? {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Australia was the first country to use polymer(聚合物）banknotes in 1988. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

They can stop water from making them wet. They are also cleaner because bacteria don't grow easily on them.

Now, the Australians have improved their banknotes again by creating a new 5-dollar note. The new one has a clear window in the middle in which there are pictures of an Australian bird and a building. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    Tilt (倾斜）the note a little and you will see the bird flapping its wings as if trying to fly away. Turn the note from side to side and you will notice the building come to life and spin. While these features are impressive and entertaining, that was not the reason why the Australian Government spent ten years perfecting them. Their primary purpose was to make it impossible to fake a banknote.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} The new $ 5 bill now has a raised bump alongside the two long edges, enabling the blind or those with limited vision, to quickly determine its value.

The Australian government will give the new 10-dollar note the same features in a year's time. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. Note makers still have a long way to go.

B. Other notes will have them in the future.

C. The magic of the new features lies in them.

D. They have many advantages over paper notes.

E. The new Australian 5-dollar note is a good example.

F. The new note is also the first touchable Australian banknote.

G. Their material and pattern set them apart from ordinary banknotes.

Advice for High School Students

    As a person who is graduating from high school very soon, I have some suggestions for students in high school or students who are soon going to be high school students.{#blank#}1{#/blank#} I am sure others can benefit from reading them and will not make similar mistakes like me.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Do not value first impression highly. Don't dismiss a person or an idea too early just because you immediately get a bad impression. You will miss many opportunities because of that.

    Although something seems bad at the first impression, it does not mean it is bad all the time. Try to give everything a fair chance.

    Don't try to please everybody. There is no way you can please everybody or get everybody to agree with you.{#blank#}3{#/blank#} It is a huge waste of time.

    Have respect for authority. No matter how much you may dislike them, just remember that teachers and parents care about you and they are only doing their jobs.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} Don't argue with them and just obey them.

    Realize a high school is not the real world. The real world isn't a closed environment. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} What is rewarded in high school such as popularity and agreement is different from what is rewarded in the real world. If high school isn't working out for you, you may find yourself better at handling the real world.

A. Do not be too quick to judge.

B. So just learn to say the word “No” a lot.

C. Listen to their advice and consider it carefully.

D. Many of these are based on regrets that I have.

E. Bad habits are hard to break and remain with you for a long time.

F. Don't spend any effort trying to please others who will never like you.

G. It is a free society where people accept responsibility for their actions.

    Traveling for business or pleasure can easily damage your health. It's easy to fail into the trap of high caloric meals and little exercise.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Keep a dictionary on hand

    If you are traveling somewhere with a different language, pack a dictionary and keep it close to help you negotiate(商议)the menu and make healthy food choices.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}Look up the words that you don't understand to help you learn about cooking methods and ingredients(材料)so that you can choose healthy food.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    The more you can research before your trip, the easier it will be to keep a healthy lifestyle while traveling. To stay on track with your food, try to find a nearby grocery store or healthy food store, look up a couple of well rated restaurants that offer some healthy choices, and try to stay somewhere with a fridge or kitchen.

    Walk every day.

    Exploring your destination(目的地)on foot is an amazing way to take some exercise while traveling. Walk through the nature to enjoy its beautiful scenery, listen to the sound of nature and take some wonderful pictures.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    Rent a bike.

    Cover more ground while burning calories by renting a bike. Many major cities have bike-sharing programs, or you could contact a local bike store to ask about bike rentals.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}If you have an open schedule, you could even research bike tours, which are a great way to cover a long distance in a short period of time.

A. Avoid junk food and deep fried food.

B. Research the food and store some upon arrival.

C. Take a bike map of the city, research day trips and get exploring.

D. If you are exercising while traveling, make sure to take in extra water.

E. Here are some healthy travel tips which will keep you in good health.

F. You can't avoid deep fried food if you don't know that they're in there!

G. This is also a great way to find hidden attractions that aren't in the travel guides.

                                                                         Is Online School for You?

    Have you ever wished you didn't have to wake up early and go all the way to school? For 700,000 American kids, this wish comes true. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}This kind of learning has different names: online learning or distance learning. Regardless of (不管) what it is called, this idea may create an impression of a lonely kid reading pages of information on a computer screen rather than from a book or an image of another kid spending the day playing video games instead of learning mathematics or reading a book. Where online education is concerned, both of these are false! Actually, online learning simply means learning differently.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}Flexibility is the main advantage. Students can attend school wherever and whenever they desire. Homework can be turned in from anywhere the student has Internet access. Additionally, many online schools will allow students to work at their own pace.

    Another advantage of online schooling is with the variety of courses. Most online schools teach the same basic classes like English, math, science, and history.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}However, traditional schools are often unable to offer these types of classes if there are not enough students.

    Online schools also have different types of learning tools for kids to use. For example, many online schools have special Web sites where only students registered in online classes can watch videos, see lessons presented, or chat with teachers and other students. Some online schools have live class times where students can call and talk with the teacher directly.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    Computer technology is amazing, and we use computers for chatting with our friends, listening to music, and playing games. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}Since 2006, at least 38 states either have had their own online schools or made rules for students attending them. It looks like online schools are here to stay, but only you can decide if this type of learning is right for you.

A. Online schools offer many benefits for the learners.

B. Of course, there are some disadvantages of going to school online.

C. Almost every part of our lives is affected by it, and school is no exception.

D. They attend school over the Internet using ordinary home or library computers.

E. Other online schools even have online clubs where kids can talk about their hobbies.

F. Some online schools also offer specialized classes in subjects such as space science, French, or zoology.

G. For some students, online school may be ideal, but for others, traditional school may better meet their needs.

    Have you ever imagined the benefits that a good memory can bring to you? {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Here are four ways to improve your memory.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} There is evidence that sleep plays a vital role in the consolidation of memories relating to learning motor skills, such as learning to play a musical instrument or ride a bike. Having a full night's sleep soon after gaining a new skill helps consolidate the processes involved, so they can later be performed well.

    It's rewarding to continue education. Older people are often told to adopt a “use it or lose it” approach to maintaining cognitive (认知的) function. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} In a 2016 study, US researchers found participants aged 60-90 who spent 15 hours a week for three months learning a complex skill, such as digital photography, saw significant improvements in memory tests.

    Taking a break counts. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} More than a century ago, German scientists showed that people performed almost twice as well in memory tests if they took breaks.

It's useful to stay social. Having an active social life delays memory loss as we age, US scientists who asked people in their 50s and 60s to do memory tests every other year between 2001 and 2007 found the decline in recall abilities of their most sociable subjects to be half that of the least well connected. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. Sleeping well helps strengthen memories.

B. Old people should participate in easy activities

C. Yoga, meditation or other relaxation techniques may help.

D. Memories can be destroyed if the brain doesn't have enough rests to sharpen them.

E. In fact, when it comes to memory, research suggests that only certain types of mental activities help.

F. Being able to remember important pieces of information can give you a powerful advantage in your life.

G. Having good friends, volunteering for charities and other forms of social engagement also protect memory.

Choosing the Right Path to Be a "Better" Person

    Life is a constant exercise in self-improvement. In the rush to achieve, the idea of being "better" can become lost sometimes. You may always wonder how to improve yourself and fulfill your dreams in an easier way. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} 

    Explore your talents

    Eveybody has some outstanding skills or interests. So it's often necessary to be patient and try many things before you find one that suits you.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}For example, people loving adventure may not be interested in the quiet chess club, but someone who enjoys other quiet activities might be. Determining who you enjoy being around may help you know what you'll enjoy.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    No matter how much money you make, you will not be happy if you spend your entire life doing something you hate. "It's important to at least, devote some of your lime to what makes you happy.

    If you're particularly unhappy at your job, consider why. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} If you feel your job isn't meaningful, or isn't in line with your values, consider finding another job.

    Experience something new.

    Research has shown that when we're in our comfort zone, we aren't as productive as we are when we sleep just beyond it. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Because of that, we may read slowly to our own positive experiences and interactions with others, even when those are little scary. Doing so can help you achieve more.

A. Do what you love.

B. Here are some lips for you.

C. Register in a class you're interested in.

D. Humans adapt very quickly to positive events.

E. It's possible that some changes may change your feeling.

F. Similar types of people may be attracted to the same activities.

G. Try not to allow yourself to focus so much on a certain aspect of your life.