Today we eat on the go, at our desks and even in front of computers. We eat takeout, delivered and packaged meals, {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    “Over the past three decades, people have started eating out more than ever before and purchasing more prepared foods at the grocery store, which tend to contain more fat, salt and sugar than their home-made foods,” noted US healthy living website SparkPeople.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} It encourages us to value the time we spend preparing, sharing and consuming food, as a recent USA Today article put it. It all started in 1986 with the efforts of Slow Food's founding father, Italian activist Carlo Petrini, who wanted to bring back food varieties and flavors that had gone dark in the face of industrialization. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Now, his idea is almost the mainstream.

    Starting at the table, the movement promotes an unhurried way of life founded on the idea that everyone has a right to cooking pleasure, and that everyone must also take responsibility to “protect the heritage (遗产) of food, tradition and culture that make this celebration of the senses possible”, wrote The Phnom Penh Post.

    “{#blank#}4{#/blank#} It means turning down the speed at which we eat and increasing the amount of time we spend dining together with other people,” Althea Zanecosky, spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association, told The Huffington Post.“ {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Dinner table conversations keep families together,” noted the Belgian non-profit organization Greenfudge.

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    Safety in the highway is not totally out of our hands. Here are four ways we can protect ourselves when we travel.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} people in small cars are injured more often and more severely than people traveling in large cars. Factories of small cars are strengthening their products' safety, which helps. But the mix of large cars and small cars on the road is the main reason of the problem.

    Being thrown into glass and mental cars parts, or being thrown from the car can really hurt or even kill you.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}The safety belt's main purpose is to pull you back if your car has a sudden crash with another vehicle or object, or if it rolls over. A belt can reduce the chance of deadly injury by 45% and the chance of serious injury by 50%.

    Air bags are important. More than half of all new cars sold have air bags. Air bags provide protection in frontal crashes—the type of crash that kills the most drivers—when they are also wearing safety belts. Most people are demanding air bags in the cars they buy.  {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Effective as they are, they can't take the place of safety belts.

    Drunk driving crashes are less likely to happen if you don't drink. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}Many people have realised that drunk driving can lead to death and injury, prison time and other results. There are movements to strengthen penalties(处罚) for drinking and driving.

A. How to drive safely?

B. You are safer in a large car

C. How to protect ourselves in the highway?

D. Air bags are not installed in all cars.

E. That's why safety belts should be worn.

F. Drunk driving is the most serious problem.

G. But the protection provided by air bags is limited in side or rear crashes.

How to Make Friends

    Friendship is a very important human relationship and everyone needs good friends. Good friendship has many benefits. It offers companionship, improves self-worth and promotes (促进) good health. There are times in our lives such as when we have recently moved into a new town, or changed our jobs or schools. Such changes often leave us without a friend. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} But for many of us the process is difficult and requires courage. Below are some helpful suggestions on how to make and keep friends.

● Associate with (与……交往) others.

    The first step to making friends is associating with other people. You can go to public places to meet new people. Besides, you will need to make yourself known by becoming an active member of such places.

● Start a conversation.

    Starting a conversation is the second most important step in making new friends. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} You can always start the conversation. Being able to make small talk is a very useful skill in relating with other people.

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    Choosing friends with common interests is important in building friendship as these interests would always bring you and your friend together. Hanging out (闲逛) will always be a pleasant experience.

● Let it grow.

    It is a good thing to stay in touch. However, try not to press your new friend with calls, messages or visits as this would likely wear him or her out and finally you may lose your friend.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} The best friendships are the ones that grow naturally.

● Enjoy your friendship.

    The best way to enjoy your friendship is to allow your friends to be themselves. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Try not to change them from who they are to what you want them to be. Become the kind of friend you will want your friend to be to you.

A. Do things together.

B. Be cheerful.

C. Making new friends comes easy for some people.

D. So you will need to give your friend time to respond to you.

E. Do not wait to be spoken to.

F. For a friendship to develop you need to stay in touch.

G. Try not to find fault with your friends.

                                        Wrong Reasons for Going to College

    A college education can be priceless{#blank#}1{#/blank#}If any of these following factors had a big influence on your decision, you're probably right to second-guess yourself.

    Because all your friends are going.

    In only a few weeks' time, the whole friend group will be scattered to a half dozen different colleges in a half dozen different places. Not to go will set yourself apart{#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    Because someone else expects it from you.

    Perhaps you come from a family where everyone goes to college. Or maybe, you're the kid that everyone is proud to believe will be the first to get there{#blank#}3{#/blank#} It's become so much a part of the air you breathe that you've never stopped to consider whether you want to go or whether you're ready to go.

{#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    It's been tough to find even a summer job. You don't have an alternative plan. Everyone else is doing it(see above). You think you might as well go to school. That is the lamest(无说服力的) of reasons to spend $20,000 or more in the next year.

    Because you are afraid you'll regret it if you don't go.

    Your uncle tells you that his one regret in life is that he didn't go to college. Others tell you that they could have gone so much farther in their career if only they had a college education{#blank#}5{#/blank#}So this is not a persuasive reason for you to go to college.

A. Because you don't know what else to do.

B. It seems that for years everyone has just assumed that of course you'll go.

C. Because you don't want to work.

D. But maybe in your heart you know that you are going for the wrong reasons.

E. Friends will wonder what's wrong with you

F. Everyone seems more excited than you are.

G. Whatever the story is, there are always people who regret decisions they've made.

Best Way to Save Money

    Although the best way to save money can vary from person to person, depending on age, family size and other characteristics, there are still some easy things that all shoppers can do to keep more money in their bank accounts.

    Avoid impulse (冲动的) purchases.

    When you shop, a best way to save money is to have a plan in mind to help you avoid impulse purchases. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} And you only carry the exact amount of cash that you will need for your planned purchase. Some shoppers agree to discuss any purchases over a certain dollar amount with their spouses (配偶) first.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    Sometimes the best way to save money in the long term is to spend a little more money right now. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} A high-quality pair of shoes will last longer than a bargain pair and prevent foot pain. Leaner (瘦的) cuts of meat and organic produce provide health benefits for your family.

    Buy secondhand.

    Check classified ads, thrift stores and garage sales for used clothing, toys, furniture, and much more available at a part of their original cost. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} And there members offer unwanted items for free to anyone willing to pick them up.

    Borrow instead of buy.

    If you're only going to use something once, try to borrow it instead of spending your money on it. Borrow a tool from your neighbor. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Check out the resources at your local library. You'll also be reducing disorder in your home.

A. Make things by yourself.

B. Exchange books with a friend.

C. Know when to pay for quality.

D. Refuse to buy things you can't use.

E. For instance, you might leave your credit cards at home.

F. A good piece of furniture can stay in the family for decades.

G. For the most secondhand savings, check out groups like Freecycle.

    Psychology says that many are unwilling to take risks. It's human nature to be nervous about putting ourselves on the line, whether physically or emotionally. But it's good for us to do that once in a while, especially when the risk is to achieve a desired result. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Our human nature should be to take risks, but some just sit and wish they would not have the fear to move on because of one or two failures in their lives. Please step out and don't let the past hold you back from living life to the fullest. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    In studying the psychology of taking risks, we find that human nature provides us with the desire to experiment and take chances. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} This risk-taking attitude has become a part of our modern culture. Roller Coasters and bungee jumping are two common risk-taking activities that even the average person seems to enjoy despite the logical understanding that danger is not fun. This psychological connection creates an interesting connection between what is safe and what human enjoys.

    Without taking risks, nothing good can happen. Getting in a car each day is a risk. Getting out of bed is a risk.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} We need to take risks so that we can accomplish things. Astronauts take risks when they get inside of a rocket; however, the things they achieve are literally astronomical. Investors take a risk when they buy parts of a company. However, without doing that, they couldn't receive money on their investment.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} It is impossible to move forward in life, earn money, enjoy a relationship, play a sport, or do anything else without taking a risk. That is all part of the game. It's not one of the most important parts of life.

A. Move forward and move on.

B. There is no such thing as a perfect safety.

C. In that way, we become stronger and braver.

D. Thus, we will achieve more success in daily life.

E. We need to take risks so that we can gain something.

F. You must spend more time thinking about the strategies of risk.

G. Risk-taking is a benefit that allowed ancient people to discover new places.