{#blank#}1{#/blank#}Whatwe consider polite at home isn't always accepted outside our borders. Don't beregarded rude or disrespectful on your travels.

Giftgiving should be a happy, positive experience. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Giving sharp, pointyobjects as gifts is considered unlucky. Be careful when presenting flowers inRussia. Yellow flowers suggest cheat or a relationship breakup. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}Writing cards or notes while visiting South Korea, be mindful of   
           of your pen's inkcolor. Writing a person's name in red ink traditionally suggests that theperson has passed away.

{#blank#}4{#/blank#}If you are invited over to someone's home for a meal, it's recommended that youarrive 10 to 15 minutes later than the requested time.When having a meal inEgypt, don't use the saltshaker (调味瓶)．Spreading salt on your food means youfind the meal terrible.Japan is a very polite nation, and their politenessextends to the mealtime use of chopsticks.It's considered ill－mannered to point or play with foodwith chopsticks.{#blank#}5{#/blank#} Using the end that touches your mouth isextremely offensive (冒犯的),not to mention unhygienic (不卫生的)．

The Farmers' Fresh Market

    This morning，I went to the Farmers Market in Burlington ，Vermont. I didn't know what the Farmers Market is or how to get there.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    First ，I had to decide how to go there，and I chose both to walk and to take a bus. When I went，I would walk and when I came back，I would take a bus.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}

Walking to the market in this city，I was surprised because every house was beautiful，and they were all arranged in good order. In Korea's cities，most houses are not like that，and many apartments are like boxes which often screen off beautiful views like hills and mountains. Also，every road is not straight and narrow.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}It was a very small market，but a very interesting one. I don't know why farmers go there to sell vegetables or why people go there to buy them because there are many more products in large supermarkets.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    Also ，all the things sold there were very novel. In addition to fresh food，there was homemade food and many other things such as woolen blankets，quilts ，and wooden products.

    I wanted to buy some of them，but I didn't need them，so I just looked at them. It was a very exciting experience.

A. I visited a flower stand at the market.

B. Anyway，I was able to find the Farmers' Market.

C. So, to me, this American town was very impressive.

D. I decided to go early because the market is held in the morning.

E. I knew that it would take a long time to walk，but I wanted to see an American town.

F. I was attracted by the comfortable houses where they lived and the cars that they drove.

G. I think the reason is that the ones sold in the Farmers' Market are fresher and cheaper.

Rich and Famous

    Twenty years ago the most common ambition of American children was to be a teacher, followed by working in banking and finance, and then medicine. But today's situation is quite different. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Instead they most commonly say they want to be a sports star, or an actor—in other words, they hope to become a celebrity.

    According to experts, young people desire these jobs largely because of the wealth and the fame. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Let's take athletes and singers as an example. Their careers are short-lived. Many athletes' best time only lasts a few years and singers can have a very limited career. The field that was once the focus of their lives becomes something they have little or no involvement in. As a result, they'll have a feeling of worthlessness and a lack of control. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} The truth is quite simple: they have been so far removed from it for so long.

    In spite of these disadvantage, there is greater ambition than ever among young people to achieve that status. They are not satisfied just making a living—they want to be rich and famous. Globally, more and more TV shows provide talent competitions where winners can achieve their goals in just a few weeks or months. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} They unrealistically believe that this lifestyle is easily obtained and leads to great satisfaction.

    While many people argue that there is nothing wrong with having such ambitions, others feel that this trend will finally lead to dissatisfaction as more and more people are unable to reach their goals. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} That means they ignore the simple fact that great effort is needed before success. As a result, many people won't realize their childhood dreams, which could have a negative effect on their happiness.

A. The younger generation don't favor these professions any more.

B. In many ways this has been brought about by the celebrity culture.

C. Unfortunately, they do not always have a positive effect on people's life.

D. Besides, it can be difficult for them to adapt back to a normal everyday life.

E. People no longer have a sense of satisfaction once their goals have been achieved.

F. This quick way of gaining wealth and fame creates a celebrity culture among people.

G. The reason is that they don't realize it takes talent and hard work to be rich and famous.

    ISM is a large company in St. Louis, Missouri, but the top leaders are not satisfied with the performance of its staff. One day not too long ago the employees returned from their lunch break and were greeted with a sign on the front door. The sign said:{#blank#}1{#/blank#} We invite you to join the funeral in the room that has been prepared in the gym.

    At first everyone was sad to hear that one of their colleagues had died, but after a while they started getting curious about who this person might be. The excitement grew as the employees arrived at the gym to pay their last respects. Everyone wondered:{#blank#}2{#/blank#} Well, at least he's no longer here!

    One by one the employees got closer to the coffin and when they looked inside it they suddenly became speechless. They stood over the coffin, shocked and in silence, as if someone had touched the deepest part of their soul.{#blank#}3{#/blank#} There was also a sign next to the mirror that said: There is only one person who is capable to set limits to your growth: it is YOU.

    You are the only person who can revolutionize your life.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    You are the only person who can influence your happiness, your realization and your success.

    Your life does not change when your boss changes, when your friends change, when your parents change, when your partner changes, when your company changes.

    Your life changes when YOU change, when you go beyond your limiting beliefs,{#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. There was a mirror inside the coffin: everyone could see the person who passed away

B. Who is the person that passed away?

C. when you realize that you are the only one responsible for your life.

D. A mirror inside the coffin: everyone who looked inside it could see himself

E. Yesterday the person who has been limiting your growth in this company passed away.

F. You are the only person who can help yourself

G. Who is this person that was limiting your progress?

    No fight can end, and no friendship can move on, until everyone says these little words: I'm sorry. Sometimes, though, it can be difficult to say them. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    It is not about winning.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} When you start fighting with a friend, you may feel it is important that you “win” the fight by proving you're right and he is wrong, or by making him the first to apologize. In reality, you'll both lose if you let your fight ruin your friendship, and you'll both win if you find a way to heal it.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    You may have heard the expression "His pride stood in the way." It is usually used to describe a person who is so determined to be "right" that he lets an opportunity for happiness pass him by forever. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Remember that as time goes by, we usually forget who was right and who was wrong in a disagreement, and only remember the sadness of losing a friend.

    Take the first step.

    Are you sick of fighting? Do you think this fight is just not important enough to ruin your friendship? {#blank#}5{#/blank#} You don't have to take full responsibility for starting the fight, or even say that your feelings were wrong. But you should find something you did or said that's worth apologizing for. If you say you're sorry, it's like an invitation for your friend to do the same. Once you've both said it, you'll both feel a million times better.

A. Stop thinking about your pride.

B. Then try to be the first to apologize.

C. Here are some things to keep in mind.

D. Don't let this happen to a friendship you care about.

E. It's about taking some responsibility for the argument.

F. There are some special moments when you shouldn't take the first step.

G. Friendships aren't like the Super Bowl, and there should never be the determination of a winner.

Happier Babies Have an Edge

    Parents and teachers want children to grow up to be happy and successful.

{#blank#}1{#/blank#} A wide range of research, however, indicates happiness brings success in adults, and achievements do not always make adults happier.

    Recently in new study, John K. Coffey II, assistant professor of psychology at Sewanee, the University of the South, found that happiness during infancy (婴儿期) predicted childhood IQ and adult educational success.

    In his 29-year study, Coffey used the Fullerton Longitudinal Study (FLS). In 1978 the FLS research team recruited 130 parents with babies for a study that now has run for more than 30 years. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} When each baby was 18 months old, one parent reported how often his or her baby expressed positive and negative emotions and researchers measured the infant's IQ. When babies were children (ages 6 to 8), they completed IQ tests. When babies had grown into 29-year-old adults, they reported how many years of education they had completed and their life satisfaction.

    As expected, Coffey found that regardless of intelligence during infancy or parents' wealth, happier babies were more likely to graduate from high school and college. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} It suggests that happier babies learn more between infancy and childhood.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Parents wishing to help their children enjoy greater happiness can focus on small changes they can make in their day-to-day lives to create more positive moments. Parents do not need to aim for intense experiences or "best day ever" for their children. Although peak experiences can be fun, they also tend to be tiring for both children and their parents, which can lead to anxiety and conflict.

    Currently, Coffey and other researchers are exploring when and why some children are happier than others or whether we can increase it. Happiness during infancy and childhood is predicted by relationships with caregivers and teachers or by learning new skills. Inexpensive and easy-to-do activities like practising acts of kindness or appreciation can boost happiness. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. We often think that achieving success will ultimately make us happy.

B. We can use these activities to help children grow into happy and successful adults.

C. To test his theory, Coffey looked at how intensely children's emotions are experienced.

D. These happy babies aren't just growing up to be successful, but they are also happy adults.

E. Further, happier babies had more growth in their IQ scores between infancy and childhood.

F. Another important clarification is that happiness is about how often emotions are experienced.

G. Early on, parents reported on their background, for instance, education level and employment.