You'd think the human race would have understood sleeping very well by now, but many of us are still sleeping poorly. Part of the problem is that we have wrong information and beliefs about this important health need. Let's set the facts straight. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    ⒈More sleep is better for you.

    There could be such a thing as too much sleep. The amount of sleep we need varies by person and also changes as we age. Harvard researchers found that a lot of sleep (9 hours or more) is linked with poor sleep quality. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Aim for better sleep.

    ⒉{#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    Alcohol can help most people fall asleep. However, it also can cause you to wake up more during the night, decreasing your sleep quality. Consider drinking non-alcoholic drink before bed instead.

    ⒊If you wake up in the middle of the night, lie in bed until you eventually fall back asleep.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}We all hope to quickly fall back asleep. So we tend to stay in bed hoping it'll happen at any minute now. If that doesn't happen, though, within 15 minutes, most experts recommend getting out of bed to do something that occupies our bodies and brains without overstimulating us. Try not to check the clock either.

    ⒋You can catch up on sleep on weekends.

    When we lose sleep during the week, we accumulate a kind of sleep ＂debt＂. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}Not so fast. This might actually make you sleepier the next week. Instead of waking up later on the weekends, you'd better go to sleep earlier or perhaps take a nap in the afternoon.

A. Alcohol helps you sleep.

B. Here are some things you might have been told about sleeping but aren't completely true.

C. Everyone should get 7—8 hours of sleep per night.

D. So don't aim for more sleep — even on the weekends.

E. Waking up in the middle of the night is the pits (烦心事), but it happens to all of us.

F. You'll have a better day and perhaps sleep better at night.

G. Can you pay that debt back by sleeping on Saturday or Sunday?

    How parents can help children with reading skills

    Making sure that your children read well can help them perform better in school and increase their confidence in their ability to communicate well. The following ways can be very helpful.

    Have your children read to you.

    Have your children choose their favorite book and sit down to read with you each evening. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} It doesn't matter whether that starts after dinner or around the time your children go to sleep.

    Stock (储备) your house with reading materials.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} It is reported that children who have different kinds of books and magazines to choose from at home actually score higher on standardized tests.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    Researchers suggest having your children read signs on the road, menus, game directions, movie listings and other daily things. This will help your children try to understand the importance and applicability (适用性) of being able to read well.

    Pay attention to reading problems.

    See how well your children can sound out words, understand what they have read and use reading context (上下文) to understand the meaning of new words. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} For example, you can take them to reading learning centers.

    Use other reading tools. 

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Take games as an example, try to use them as much as you can, since they can make children look forward to and enjoy the process of improving their reading ability.

A. Read wherever it is possible.

B. Take your children to a library.

C. Make reading an important part of each day.

D. Keep some reading materials available in your house.

E. Games, textbooks and books on tape are good choices.

F. If your children have difficulty reading, get them some help.

    Our personal strengths are part of what makes us unique as individuals, and part of the value we offer to the world around us. If we're not aware of our personal strengths, we can't use them well.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    The activities we enjoy often slow the skills we naturally have. Take a few moments to think about the things you really love doing and look at the potential parts that enrich these experiences for you.

    Ask trusted friends and family.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}Many of us come from cultures where it's polite to be modest, and this can make it hard to make out our own strengths without any outside help. Ask trusted friends or family what they think your personal strengths are, and see if any of the answers surprise you.

    What qualities do you like in yourself?

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}For example, if you like the fact that you stick to your goals, even when the going gets tough, one of your personal strengths might be determination.

    What makes you proud?

    Think about three examples in your life when you really felt proud of the way you acted or responded. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}What values did you display and why do you feel proud of the way you acted?

A. Notice what you enjoy.

B. Take a look at a list of personal strengths.

C. Sometimes it's hard to judge our strengths exactly.

D. Most of us have role models in our business and personal life.

E. What was it about your action or response that made you proud?

F. We potentially miss out on true achievements in our lie and careers

G. The qualities you like about yourself will show some of your personal strengths.

    Imagine a child standing on a diving board four feet high and asking himself the question:“Should I jump? This is what motivation or the lack of it can do. Motivation and goal setting are the two sides of same coin. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}Like the child on  the  diving  board, you will stay undecided.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} More than that, how should you stay motivated to achieve the goal? First, you need to evaluate yourself , your values your strengths, your weaknesses, your achievements, your desires ,etc. Only then should your you're your goals

    You also need to judge the quality and depth of your motivation. This is quite important, because it is directly related to your commitment. There are times when your heart is not in your work. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} So, slow down and think what you really want to do at that moment. Clarity（清晰）of thoughts can help you move forward.

    Another way of setting realistic goals is to analyze your short and long term objectives, keeping in mind your beliefs, values and strengths. Remember that goals are flexible.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} They also need to be measurable. You must keep these points in mind while setting your goals.

    Your personal circumstances are equally important. For example, you may want to be a Pilot but can't become one because your eyesight is not good enough.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}You should reassess your goals, and motivate yourself to set a fresh goal.

    You will surely need to overcome some difficulties, some planned, but most unplanned. You cannot overcome them without ample motivation. Make sure that you plan for these difficulties at the time of setting your goals.

A. This can affect your work.
B. So how should you motivate yourself?

C. However, this should not discourage you.
D. So why should we try to set specific goals?
E. They can change according to circumstances.
F. Motivation is what you need most to do a good job.

G. Without motivation you can neither set a goal nor reach it

    Growing up I remember my weekly "career" announcements. Anchor woman, flight attendant and teacher, among many, many others. Each week I heard "you can do that. You will be good at that". {#blank#}1{#/blank#}.

    Throughout life, I learned that not everyone believed in me the way my mom and dad believed in me. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}. I dug deep and gain success. I have 2 children of my own now and I echo those words of encouragement to them everyday. I often tell my nieces and nephews, {#blank#}3{#/blank#}.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} as I listen to other family members tell their children and even my boys telling that to each other.

    Most often when we think of what passes from one generation to the next it consists of artifacts and genes.

    I will pass these words on and I know they will carry on for each generation to come. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}.

    Credit card debts, loans and overdrawn (透支) accounts — these are costly mistakes you don't want your children to make when they grow up. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} According to Mylene Lopa, a chief marketing officer of Sun Life Financial, you should teach your kids about money as early as possible. Start simple and expose them to the following basic concepts.

    Spending

    Giving your children some pocket money is a good way to teach them how to be responsible. "The money should just be enough to buy them a treat, like a juice or a biscuit. It's for practice more than anything," Mylene says. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Tell your kid he will get a reward if he saves some of that money.

    Saving

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} They are always cute and colorful, making saving a fun and positive activity for kids. Encourage your children further by bringing them to the bank and showing them how to manage their savings themselves. It makes them feel more grown-up and they love it," says Mylene.

    Earning

    For children, earning usually comes in the form of gifts they receive for good grades or behavior. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} "Material rewards should be saved for even greater achievements," Mylene advises, "like if they top the class or they really go beyond the call of duty to help." This may let your children know making money is not so easy.

    Along with these basic concepts, another way to teach kids about money is being a good example. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} It's hard to teach kids about saving if they see you splurging (挥霍) and borrowing all the time.

A. Be careful when giving them.

B. Buy your children moneyboxes.

C. Make it clear what items the money is for.

D. Set up a fund for your children when they get older.

E. Tell your children to pay a visit to the bank frequently.

F. Teaching your children about money will help them form good habits in life.

G. Avoid borrowing money from other people and use your credit card responsibly.