Are you truly happy? {#blank#}1{#/blank#}.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}. It is easy to begin to think negatively when you are surrounded by people who think that way. On the contrary, if you are surrounded by people who are happy, their emotional state will be infectious.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}. These few minutes will give you the opportunity to focus on the positive things in your life and will lead you to continuous happiness.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}. Whether you treat yourself to lunch, take a long, relaxing bath or simply spend a few extra minutes on your appearance, you will be putting yourself in a better mood.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}. Find a way to make light of a situation that would otherwise make you happy.

Keeping healthy is another way to achieve happiness.

A. Finding the humor in situations can also lead to happiness.

B. The following tips may help you to create happiness.

C. Surround yourself with happy people.

D. There are some reasons in life that lead to unhappiness.

E. Being overweight or not eating nutritious foods can have a negative effect on your health.

F. Spend a few minutes each day thinking about the things that make you happy.

G. It‘'s also important to take some time each day to do something nice for yourself.

    As most of us know, talking and listening don't go smoothly every time. Will parents take you seriously, believe what you say, listen to and respect your opinions? {#blank#}1{#/blank#} But some of what happens depends on you, too. Since communication is a two-way street, the way you talk can influence how well a parent listens and understands you. So here are some guidelines to consider when talking to parents:

    Be clear and direct. Be as clear as you can about what you think, feel, and want.{#blank#}2{#/blank#} They can listen better or be more helpful if they understand what you mean and what's really going on.

    Be honest. If you're always honest, a parent will be likely to believe what you say. If you sometimes hide the truth or add too much drama, parents will have a harder time believing what you tell them. If you lie, they'll find it hard to trust you.

    Try to understand their point of view. If you have a disagreement, can you see your parents' side?{#blank#}3{#/blank#}Telling parents you understand their views and feelings helps them be willing to see yours, too.

    Try not to argue or complain. Using a tone that's friendly and respectful makes it more likely parents will listen and take what you say seriously.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}If you think your emotions might get the better of you, do something to blow off steam before talking: Go for a run. Cry.{#blank#}5{#/blank#} Do whatever it takes to sound calm when you need to.

A. Hit your pillow.

B. If you can, say so.

C. A lot depends on your parents.

D. Think twice before you make a decision.

E. Your parents won't always see things your way.

F. Give details that can help parents understand your situation.

G. Of course, this is hard for any of us when we're feeling heated about something.

    May the first is an important date in the college admission process in the United States. This is the last day for high school seniors to accept or reject offers of admission in the fall. But according to a recent report, there is a great change. Acceptance rates at the top colleges this year were lower than ever. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    These days, college applicants are applying to more colleges because online and common applications make the process easier. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}On the other hand, deciding students for top colleges to accept can be difficult because it takes much time. Students may not like being put on waiting lists. Also, common colleges work more to get the students they accept to accept them. Some colleges hold visiting days that offer a chance to attend classes and stay overnight. Some universities send gifts. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    For many families, the most important thing colleges can do is show them the money, especially this year; the weak economy makes parents nervous. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} The recent problems that spread from the housing market to credit markets have even affected student's loans. So lately, top schools have to spare lots of money to increase their financial aid for students. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} The Education Department expects the number of high school graduates to start to go down. This will happen as the last of the children of the baby boom generation finishes high school. The number is not expected to start rising again until 2019.

A. What contributes to it?

B. Besides, top colleges are facing changes in the population.

C. But a mistake can be costly if it happens.

D. It can mean several acceptances to choose from.

E. They have international students who know English.

F. But top colleges ignore them.

G. They cannot afford college as planned.

    We automatically assume that as adults, we're wiser than when we were children. However, actually we can learn a lot from our childhood self. For example, we can learn to develop optimism about the future. Do you remember how excited you used to be just before Christmas? {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Reintroduce that childlike wonder into our daily experiences.

    We can learn to dream big and imagine the impossible. How often have you heard a child say something like “One day, I'm going to be an astronaut”? Our adult minds immediately laugh at this idea and think about all the logical reasons as to why this might never happen. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}We minimize our chances of attaining what we dream about. It is okay to dream big just as our childhood self did.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Our childhood self looked at possibilities and believed we could achieve them successfully. If we wanted to build a tree house, we'd go about thinking about how to make it happen instead of focusing on all the reasons it might not happen. In this way we can fill our life with possibilities rather than regrets.

    We can learn to be playful and silly sometimes, {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Children spend a large amount of time escaping from reality to mess about and have fun. Make time for your childhood self to come out and play. Run around the garden, wear a silly hat or spend time laughing. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. Don't imagine things could go wrong.

B. We can learn to hold a “can do” attitude.

C. That feeling of great joy is hard to beat.

D. Most children tend to think in a positive way.

E. All of these activities can make us feel happy and alive.

F. We employ self-limiting beliefs without even realizing it.

G. All work and no play makes a person very dull and upset.

    So, You Want to Be a Writer?

    What are some tips on becoming a writer?

    ⒈Read everything you can. Most writers are good readers. They read because they love to lose themselves in books. They like the sounds of language and the way that reading a good description can feel as satisfying as winning a race or eating really good food. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}. Do you like stories that are fast-paced and full of unexpected twists? Do you prefer to read books with characters who seem like someone you might know? Do you like to feel scared or do you like a story that makes you laugh until you cry? Think about the types of writing you like best, and try to identify the qualities that attract you.

    ⒉{#blank#}2{#/blank#} It's easy to forget a good idea if you do not record it immediately. If you get in the habit of carrying a notebook or journal with you everywhere you go, you can write down anything you want to remember. When you are talking to friends in the cafeteria or waiting for the bus, something might give you an idea for a character or a scene in a story. You might have a dream you don't want to forget, or you might just write down the lyrics of a song you love. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    ⒊Do your homework. If you decide that you would like to submit your work for publication, make sure you do your research. If you are sending your writing to a magazine, look through old issues. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} If you are submitting to a book publisher, explore their website to make sure your material is similar to (but not exactly the same as) other books they publish.

    ⒋Stay positive. A writer's life can be frustrating. Sometimes it's hard to sit down and write. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} This is why perseverance is an important quality for a writer to have.

A. Talk to friends.

B. Keep a notebook.

C. As you read, pay attention to what speaks to you.

D. You may get many refusals before you receive a single acceptance.

E. Does it seem like your writing fits in with other stories or articles?

F. These everyday thoughts and observations can be material for your writing one day.

G. Writing is a good way to clear your mind and make room for more of the "good stuff".

The quality of your sleep is just as important as the quantity. Getting the right number of hours every night is unlikely to benefit you if you are frequently waking up, if you sleep at wildly different times, or if you sleep shallowly. Here are some tips that help you get quality sleep.

{#blank#}1{#/blank#} You will sleep the most soundly if you go to bed and wake up around the same time every day. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Work, children, and other demands on your time may determine your rhythm. Many sleepers, especially night owls, may be tempted to sleep in longer on weekends. Try to keep the same wake-up time, even on weekends.

Determine your natural sleep schedule. If you have the freedom to determine your own sleep schedule, do so around the rhythms of your body. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Notice when you feel sleepy, and when you feel the most awake. To establish a natural sleep rhythm, spend a week or two waking up without an alarm clock. Keep a log with all the times you wake up.

Stay asleep.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}This can be difficult if you are an evening person, if you have children, or if you are a light sleeper. Making arrangements in your bedroom and winding down properly can make a huge difference, but so can prioritizing staying asleep. Tell yourself and tell everyone you live with that you need to stay asleep all night.

Sleep enough. Most adults need to sleep between seven and nine hours a night. Teenagers need eight to10 hours of sleep, and school-aged children need at least 10 hours. Sleeping too little can expose you to higher risks of illness, anxiety, and disease. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. Make lifestyle changes to promote better sleep.

B. Establish a regular bedtime and wake up time.

C. This rhythm helps your body prepare for sleep.

D. Your body has natural waking and sleeping moments.

E. Do everything in your power to avoid waking up at night.

F. Sleeping too much, however, may reduce the quality of your sleep.

G. If you haven't fallen asleep after 15 minutes, get up and do a brief, relaxing activity.