Reading books is a good hobby for all kinds of reasons. First, reading books is fun. You can always keep yourself happy if you like reading. This is especially useful when the weather is bad. It is a relaxing hobby, too. You can really become lost in a book.

Next, you can read a book almost anywhere: in a car, in a waiting room, on a plane, in bed — even in a bath. All you need is a book. Reading is a convenient(方便的) hobby as it is easy to stop and then start again.

    Another good reason for reading books is that it is useful. If you keep reading as a hobby, you will get better and better at it. This means that you will read faster and will become better at understanding what you read. As your reading improves, you will find that your schoolwork becomes much easier.

    Some people say that reading is out of date. This is not true. You have to be able to read on the Internet. And the better you read, the better your computer skills will be. Reading is hardly (几乎没有)out of date!

    Good readers are most likely to be good writers, too. They are usually good at spelling as well, and have more things to write about.

Reading books is a wonderful hobby, one of the best. What other hobbies could be more useful or more enjoyable?

You probably talk to friends more than you talk to your parents. That's natural. Still, most of us want a parent's help, advice, and support at times. But talking to the parents may be difficult or terrible-especially when it comes to certain subjects. Here are some suggestions to make it easier.

    Talk about everyday stuff—and do it every day. The more you do something, the easier it gets. Talking to parents about everyday stuff builds a bond that can help you discuss something more serious with them later.

Find something to chat(聊天) about each day. Talk about how your team did at the sports meet. Share something one of your teachers said. Even small talk about what's for dinner can keep your relationship comfortable.

It's never too late to start. If your relationship with your parents makes you feel nervous, try getting into conversations slowly. Mention the cute thing the dog did. Talk about how well your little sister is doing in maths. Chatting with parents every day not only keeps the present relationship strong, but it can help a might-be-worse relationship get better.

    When parents feel connected to your daily life, they can be there for you if something really important             .

⑴Every year, thousands of students choose to study in another country for a term or a year. Studying abroad can be an exciting experience for many people. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

⑵Living in another country can make you learn a language and about another culture. You will see the world differently and learn more about yourself. The experience of studying abroad may also look good on your future resume(求职简历) Many companies today want people who can speak a second language or have experienced living or working in another country. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

⑶Once you decide to study abroad, you have to make choices. To choose the right country or school, ask yourself: Where do I want to go and why? How much do I want to pay? How long do I want to study abroad? Do I want to live with roommates, alone or somewhere else? {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

⑷Get your passport and visa early. Before you go, learn some of the language and read about some common customs in the country that you are going to learn about the money. Bring some of it with you. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

⑸After the first few weeks abroad, many students will feel a little homesick. They may miss their families, friends and familiar ways of doing things. Remember that it takes time to get used to a new place, school and culture. When you feel sad or homesick, try to talk to others or write about your feelings in a notebook. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

Four Funny Inventions

       ①        

    Are you a person who wants to know the time and temperature during the day? You might like Time Temp Glasses. These special glasses show the time above your right eye and a temperature above your left eye. It is surely easier than wearing a watch, and you never have to guess the temperature.

      ②        

    Do you eat too quickly? Do you eat too much? How can the Alarm Fork help you? Aren't you curious? Well, this special fork has two lights: one green and one red. When the green light is on, it's OK to take a bite of food. The fork "knows" when you take a bite, and soon the red light is on. Wait for the green light before you take another bite.

       ③        

    How do you know if your breath(呼气) smells nice or if it smells bad? It's difficult to know, because it's very hard to smell the air that comes out of your own mouth. Smell This is useful for this situation. Smell This covers your nose and your own mouth, so it is easy to smell the air that comes out of your mouth. Does your breath smell nice, or do you need a piece of gum?

       ④       

    Has this ever happened to you? You put a banana in your bag lunch in the morning and when you open the bag at noon, the banana looks like someone drove a car over it. If you put your banana in the Banana Suitcase, this will never happen. It keeps a banana safe, delicious and looking like a banana!

    Confidence(自信) is very important in daily life. It can help you to develop a healthy attitude (态度). A study shows that the people who are more confident are much happier. They can have more chance to make themselves successful(成功的). But how to be more confident? Here are some suggestions(建议):

    Speak loud

    When you are not confident, you can't do well what you want to do. You speak in a voice so low that other people can hardly hear you. Try to speak loud enough so that people can hear you clearly. The high voice can help you become more confident.

    Play sports 

    Physical exercise makes you tired but completely relaxed. Astrong body helps you be full of confidence.

    Encourage(鼓励) yourself

    Write down a list(目录) of things you did during the day to see how many things you have done well. Did you finish your homework? Did you tell a joke that made everybody laugh? Give yourself praise for the good things you've done.

    Get rid of fear

    Fear(恐惧) comes along with failure(失败). But it's easy to overcome (克服) if you know that failure is part of your life. Don't hide your head just because you said something stupid last time. Try to start again and believe you can do better.

    Pick up a hobby

    If you like singing, sing as much as you can.  In some ways, a hobby can make you outstanding(杰出的). And it will make you happy and confident.