Taking good notes is a time-saving skill that will help you to become a better student in several ways.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}Second,your notes are excellent materials to refer to when you are studying for a test.Third,note-taking offers variety to your study time and helps you to hold your interest.

    You will want to take notes during classroom discussions and while reading a textbook or doing research for a report.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}whenever or however you take notes,keep in mind that note-taking is a selective process.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    The following methods may work best for you.

    Read the text quickly to find the main facts and ideas in it.

    Carefully read the text and watch for words that can show main points and supporting facts.

    Write your notes in your own words.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    Note any questions or ideas you may have about what was said or written.

    As you take notes,you may want to use your own shorthand(速记).When you do,be sure that you understand your symbols and that you use them all the time,{#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A.Use words,not complete sentences.

B.There are three practical note-taking methods.

C.You must write your notes on separate paper.

D.Otherwise,you may not be able to read your notes later.

E.You will also want to develop your own method for taking notes.

F.That means you must first decide what is important enough to include in your notes.

G.First,the simple act of writing something down makes it easier for you to understand and remember it.

    If anyone had told me three years ago that I would be spending most of my weekends camping. I would have laughed heartily. Campers, in my eyes, were people who enjoyed insects bites, ill-cooked meals, and uncomfortable sleeping bags. They had nothing in common with me.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}

The friends who introduced me to camping thought that it meant to be a pioneer.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}We sleep in a tent, cooked over an open fire, and walked a long distance to take the shower and use the bathroom. This brief visit with Mother Nature cost me two days off from work, recovering from a bad case of sunburn and the doctor's bill for my son's food poisoning.

    I was, nevertheless, talked into going on another fun-filled holiday in the wilderness.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}Instead, we had a pop-up camper with comfortable beds and an air conditioner. My nature-loving friends had remembered to bring all the necessities of life.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}We have done a lot of it since. Recently, we bought a twenty-eight-foot travel trailer complete with a bathroom and a built-in TV set. There is a separate bedroom, a modern kitchen with a refrigerator. The trailer even has matching carpet and curtains.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}It must be true that sooner or later, everyone finds his or her way back to nature. I recommend that you find your way in style.

A. This time there was no tent.

B. Things are going to be improved.

C. The trip they took me on was a rough one.

D. I was to learn a lot about camping since then, however.

E. I must say that I have certainly come to enjoy camping.

F. After the trip, my family became quite interested in camping.

G. There was no shade as the trees were no more than 3 feet tall.

    Every minute, every single day, about a truckload of plastic enters our oceans. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} And to date, only 9％of that has been recycled.

    We buy a bottle of water, drink it for a few minutes, and toss its permanent packaging "away". We eat potato chips, finish them, then throw their permanent packaging "away". We buy produce, take it out of the unnecessary plastic wrap, then throw its permanent packaging "away".

    The cycle is endless, and it happens countless times every single day. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} As far as we try to toss a piece of plastic—whether it's into a recycling bin or not——it does not disappear. Chances are, it ends up polluting our communities, oceans or waterways in some form.

    For years, we've been told the problem of plastic packaging can be solved through batter individual action. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} But the truth is that we cannot recycle our way out of this mess.

    Recycling alone will never stop the flow of plastics into our oceans；we have to get to the source of the problem and slow down the production of all this plastic waste. Think about it: if your home was flooding because you had left the tap on, your first step wouldn't be to start mopping. You'd first cut the flooding off at its source—the tap. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    We need corporations—those like Coca-Cola, Unilever, Starbucks and Neatlé that continue to produce throwaway plastic bottles—to step up and take their responsibility for the mess they've created. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} We will continue to do our part, but it's time for the world's largest corporations to do theirs.

A. This is their problem to deal with.

B. Plastic pollution is becoming very serious.

C. But here is the problem—there is no "away".

D. In many ways, our plastic problem is no different.

E. We think that if we simply recycle we're doing our part.

F. It's impossible for us to get rid of plastic pollution completely.

G. Since the 1950s, some 8. 3bn tons of plastic have been produced worldwide.

    How to become a better reader?

    Language and literacy(读写能力) are among mankind's greatest inventions. Evolving and even dying over the course of human history, languages are a reflection of our cultural and societal attitudes. Most humans acquire language in early childhood and speak fluently when they are about three years old, but our continued relationship with language gives shape and meaning to our lives. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    ⒈Take it slow

    Many readers feel that they read too slowly, especially compared with others but the truth is that the faster you read, the less likely you are to comprehend fully what you're reading. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Reading is a lifelong process; learning to read closely and slowly will help you become faster over time without missing anything.

    ⒉{#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    When humans first began reading written words, it was unusual to read in silence. Though general inappropriate for commuters or for late-night adventurers, reading out loud is one of the best ways to improve your reading ability. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} If so, you will begin to read more accurately and with better vocal expression. Try listening to the author reading their own work-you'll be surprised to find how clearly it comes through on the page.

    ⒊Write

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} How and what you read affects how and what you write, and the best readers often make the best writers. But while much can be learned from close, repeated readings, there are many secretive pleasures to language that can only be experienced through the practice of writing.

A. Read aloud.

B. Get into the rhythm of the authors voice.

C. Here are 3 ways to become a better reader.

D. Writing and reading go hand -in-hand.

E. Try writing every day for a month; you will never read the same again.

F. The ability to read is important to form an identity and express one's feelings.

G. In that case, do not hesitate to re-read the passage.

Make a difference

    I love to make a difference to others. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Do you want to contribute to other people's lives, helping them in small and big ways? If the answer is yes, but you are frustrated not being able to follow through, keep reading.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} It includes service, time, ideas and methods, leaving your mark on people so that if they were interviewed, they would say, yes, that person made a positive difference in my life.

    Being inspired to make a difference 'really increases your energy. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} But that's not the point! The problem is that we often don't think we have enough time or resources to make a difference—we're too busy living our lives or earning a living. Actually we can afford to spend time on it.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} In fact, other than the challenge of finding the time to do this, I can't think of a single disadvantage to this inspiration.

    This is truly one of my favorite tools to attract more enthusiasm in an easy way into my life. More importantly, I love making a difference in other people's lives. That's why I do it. Attracting enthusiasm is just the "side" benefit.

    We have all learned from Law of Attraction teachers that we will receive more of what we are "broadcasting" to the Universe. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. It is one of my top values.

B. It will help you attract more efforts and enthusiasm into your life.

C. Making a difference will help you attract more attention.

D. So get inspired to make a difference and your life will improve.

E. To make a difference, you can contribute something you have

F. If you want to make a difference, your energy will change when you focus there.

G. There is nothing but positive consequences when you focus on making a difference.

    Being content with what you do and your life can be troublesome these days. However, you can start being satisfied with what you have with some steps.

    There are times when some friends simply get too busy and with the passage of time visits and meet-up become less frequent. If there is anything that can help you be more content with your life, social media is certainly not the answer. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} That is simply so much better than letting your time just fly by in front of electronic devices.

    Finishing reading a book is also a good idea. We all know reading excites the mind. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}It can also improve your focus, concentration and communication skills. The reason we did not ask you to start reading a book is that finishing reading a book is far more satisfying than simply reading halfway through it. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    If you are stuck in a 9-to-5 job, then you need to seriously reconsider your physical activity. As time flies by, we all get older. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}So, exercise or join a sports club if you can. Exercising will not only improve your overall ability but also make you look good and know your true strength.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}However, simply giving your change to a homeless person wouldn't cut it. You need to find a cause that you deeply care about and then commit to it wholeheartedly. This will give you an opportunity to see how your small acts of kindness can bring out the best in you and the society.

A. Being selfless brings you more satisfaction.

B. You'd better start reading an interesting book.

C. Instead, you need to connect with an old friend.

D. So, pick up a nice book now and make it into a habit.

E. It is a great way to channel your energy in the right direction.

F. It works well in reducing stress and increasing your knowledge.

G. What you do with your body today can help you stay healthy in the future.