Certain things confident people simply don't do.

They don't make excuses.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#}That's why you won't hear them blaming traffic for making them late. They don't make excuses, because they believe they're in control of their own lives.

{#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    Confident people don't give up the first time something goes wrong. They will figure out why it went wrong and how they can prevent it the next time.

They won't wait for permission to act.

    Confident people don't need somebody to tell them what to do or when to do it. Whether it's running a meeting or going the extra mile to solve a customer's problem, it doesn't even occur to them to wait for somebody else to take care of it. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

They don't need constant praise.

    Have you ever been around somebody who constantly needs to hear how great he or she is? {#blank#}4{#/blank#} . They don't think that their success is dependent on other people's approval, and they understand that no matter how well they perform, there's always criticism.

They won't put things off.

    Why do people postpone(拖延)? Sometimes it's simply because they're lazy. A lot of times, though, it's because they're afraid of change, failure, or maybe even success. Confident people don't sit around waiting for the right time. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}. If they think it's not the right time, they make it the right time.

A. They don't quit.

B. They won't lose heart

C. Confident people don't do that.

D. They are not afraid of failure at all.

E. They see what needs to be done, and they do it.

F. They know that today is the only time that matters.

G. Confident people believe that they can make things happen.

    I feel very excited at the thought that in another week I'll be with you again on holiday.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#} My host and my fellow-students are all very nice to me, but as they say in England, “There's no place like home”, and I think you will feel this above all at Christmas time.

    I'm leaving here early on Thursday, the 23^rd, and I'll be arriving in Paris on Friday morning. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Please meet me at the station. In some of my earlier letters I have told you all about the other students here. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}  Because he has no friends in England except me. He is a very nice boy. I know you will like him and I feel sure he will enjoy Christmas with us. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Please let me know soon if that's all right. I've got some Christmas presents for you all, but I'm not going to tell you what they are, so it will be a surprise.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} I hope you are all keeping well. See that father always puts on his big coat when he goes out so that he will not catch a cold. We don't want him ill for Christmas.

A. I will have him spend Christmas with us.

B. But I haven't invited him yet.

C. I enjoy my stay in England very much indeed.

D. How are you all at home?

E. So I'll be home about lunch time.

F. Well, I want to ask my Canadian friend, Jan, to come and spend Christmas.

G. Things at home are much better than things in other places.

    The most successful people all have certain habits in their daily routines. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}Forming a new good habit can be a struggle, but it is well worth the effort. Here are the four steps you can follow to form good habits.

    Set your goal. Before you can begin to work on your new habit, it is worthwhile to consider your goal. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}Make sure that your goal is specific, measurable and realistic to increase your chances of success.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Having good habits that are in line with the goals can improve your chances of attaining your goals. After you have set your goal and worked out all of the specifics of achieving that goal, identify a habit that is part of achieving that goal. Consider what good habit would help you accomplish that goal.

    Consider your motivation. Once you have identified your goal and the new habit you need to accomplish this goal, take some time to consider your motivation. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}Good motivation can be the difference between success and failure in terms of forming a new habit. So take your time to consider your motivation.

    Give yourself time. Forming a new habit can take a long time. Some people can form a new habit in as little as a few weeks, while other people will take several months. As you work to form your new habit, just keep in mind that it may be a while before it comes true. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. Identify ways to achieve goals.

B. Find the habit you want to form.

C. Good habits are sure to make you a success.

D. These habits help contribute to their success.

E. Figure out exactly what you hope to accomplish.

F. Try to be patient with yourself as you form your new habit.

G. Your motivation is the reason you want to form this new habit.

    Get a Thorough Understanding of Oneself.

    In all one's life time it is oneself that one spends the most time being with or dealing with.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    When you are going upwards in life you tend to overestimate(高估) yourself. It seems that everything you seek for is within your reach.{#blank#}2{#/blank#} It's likely that you think it wise for yourself to stay away from the outer world. Actually, to get a thorough understanding of oneself, you may as well keep the following tips in mind.

    Gain a correct view of oneself. You may look forward hopefully to the future but be sure not to expect too much, for dreams can never be fully realized. You may be courageous to meet challenges but it should be clear to you where to direct your efforts.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    Self-appreciate. Whether you compare yourself to a towering tree or a blade of grass, a high mountain or a small stone, you represent a state of nature.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} If you earnestly (诚挚地) admire yourself you'll have a real sense of self-appreciation.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} In time of anger, do yourself a favor by releasing (释放) it in a quiet place so that you won't be hurt by its flames; in time of sadness, do yourself a favor by sharing it with your friends so as to change a bad mood into a cheerful one; in time of tiredness, do yourself a favor by getting a good sleep.

    Get a full control of one's life. Then one will find one's life full of color and flavor.

A. It has its own value.

B. Do oneself a favor when it's needed.

C. Do yourself a favor when you resist the attack of illness.

D. But it is precisely oneself that one has the least understanding of.

E. Especially if it is well within your reach, you are just too blind to see it.

F. When you are going downhill you tend to underestimate yourself for your own incompetence.

G. So long as you have a perfect knowledge of yourself, there won't be difficulties you can't overcome.

Changing People's Bad Impression On Us

    Some of us have made bad first impressions in front of people we wanted to become good friends with. First impressions are important because they form the foundation on which all future thoughts about someone will be based. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} However, there are actions you can take to change people's bad impression of you.

    ●Apologize immediately. A sincere apology can go a long way because you will prove to everyone that you value their thoughts about you. Tell the people that you didn't intend to offend (冒犯) them and that you wish to correct the situation. Explain the reasons why you acted the way you did in your apology. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Otherwise, it will make others feel uncomfortable that you keep bringing up the past.

    ●Use humor. When you are around the people you made a bad impression in front of, play a small joke on yourself. Once they know you are not afraid to laugh at yourself, it can break up some of the tension. Remember to only direct humor at yourself. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    ●Do not make assumptions. After you have made a bad impression, it can be easy to assume that everyone thinks the worst of you. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Instead of assuming what someone thinks about you, explain to her that you feel ashamed about how you acted and ask him how your behavior affected him.

    ●{#blank#}5{#/blank#} In order to overcome a bad first impression, your words and actions in the time to come must be consistently good. With enough time and patience, gaining trust and changing wrong beliefs is possible.

Kids are begging parents for cell phones at younger and younger ages, leaving families with tough choices to make. It might take some time to teach kids how to use phones as tools, not toys. Here are a few ways to get the message across.

Tell them not to use phones at school. Phones can be a distraction (干扰) from learning when used in the classroom. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} In fact, 43% of teens admit that they often or sometimes use their phones as a way to avoid face-to-face communication with others.

Encourage them to contact long-distance relatives. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} They're also for keeping in touch with people who you may not get to talk to as often. If you have families who live in another city or state, ask your kids to strike up (发起谈话) a conversation.

Lead by example. Setting an example is not only about how you use your phone, but also about how much you use it. When you feel bored and expect to glance over social media, fight it by taking a short walk. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

Advise them not to use phones at the dinner table. For many families, the only time they truly get together is breaking bread at the end of a long day. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Asking your children to leave their phones far from the dinner table is a great way to solve the problem.

{#blank#}5{#/blank#} Sometimes, kids need a little push in order to make better choices about their phones. If they're struggling with healthy habits, put some real-world events on the calendar. Good options include going to an amusement park, working together on a craft project or signing your kids up for sports.

A. Plan other forms of entertainment.

B. Prepare a dinner together with your children.

C. Screen time before bed reduces sleep quality.

D. They can also prevent students from connecting with one another.

E. So it is wise of parents to stress the importance of parent-child time.

F. Also, instead of reading a headline, why not pull out a book to read?

G. Phones aren't just for texting the best friend who lives two blocks away.