Developing self-confidence is one of the most important things you can do to create a more powerful, successful life. It influences all aspects of our lives, from relationships to career. But the journey is long. That's why it's so important to have a long term goal, but to break it up into small manageable parts. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} 

    Here are 5 quick tips to make this a confident week:

   ① Sit up!

   Set your alarm to go off 3 times throughout the day to check in with your posture （姿势）. Body language is one of the quickest ways to gain instant confidence.

    ② {#blank#}2{#/blank#} 

    Have lunch with someone in your office that you don't normally hang out with．Breaking your routine （常规） allows you to jump out of your comfort zone which is a great means for self confidence breakthroughs．

    ③Work it out.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Whether it be a fast walk for part of your lunch, or a quick work out during the tea break in the afternoon, it will surely do you good. Exercise fills the body with positive energy that you will be projecting throughout the day. Good health is not just an important part of living well —it also happens to be an instant confidence builder.

    ④Involve yourself in a social activity that you normally wouldn't

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Putting yourself out in the world forces you to face situations and meet people. In this way you can slowly build your confidence so you can find your place in it. This is one of the most rewarding things you can do.

    ⑤Knowledge is power.

    You have to keep feeding your mind. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} So whether it's a new language, a new skill, or a new hobby - sign up for something this week that will broaden your knowledge, skill level and happiness．Learning something you can be proud of and providing you happiness is an immediate confidence builder and the recipe for success.

       A. Get to know someone new.

       B. Whether you like it or not, the world is a social being.

       C. Make a point to get some exercise during the day.

       D. Have lunch in the office.

       E. Once you've learned something, no one can ever take it away.

       F. Small but achievable victories will have you well on your way.

       G. Sitting at your office does not contribute to confidence building.

How to Make Friends

    Friendship is a very important human relationship and everyone needs good friends. Good friendship has many benefits. If offers companionship, improves self-worth and promotes 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 leaves 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.

1）Associate with 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.

2）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.

3）{#blank#}3{#/blank#}

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

4）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.

5）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. Be cheerful.

B. So you will need to give your friend time to react to you.

C. Making new friends comes easy for some people.

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

E. Do not wait to be spoken to.

F. Try not to find fault with your friends.

G. Do things together.

    Do you know how to pick a good book you'll really like? Here are some tips.

    Start With Your Interest.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}You can pick something that you love to read, not for school. They can be ancient martial (武术) arts, computers, or fashion design. You name it, there are books about it.

    What's Your Type? Do you prefer fiction or nonfiction (or both)? Fiction books, like novels, can transport you to another world or help you imagine something beyond your own experience. Nonfiction books give you the who, what, when, and why of something{#blank#}2{#/blank#} Many of them read like novels from start to finish.

    Read the description. The reviews and quotes on the back and inside covers of many books give you an idea of what the book is about. They can also help you pick future books, too. If you find a book you really like, take a minute to read the quotes and see which authors praised the book.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    Find a Family Favorite. Which book did your mother love best when she was at your age?{#blank#}4{#/blank#}Find out and give them a read — then you can share your thoughts about the book.

    Finally, you'll probably enjoy what you're reading a lot more if you find a quiet place and make time for the book.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}You can put on some good music, get yourself some tea and let yourself be carried away by the book. You'll see that time does fly when you're reading something you love!

A. How about your brothers and sisters?

B. They tell stories using facts — but that doesn't mean they're boring.

C. Reading is a good way to improve your English.

D. Most reading is best enjoyed when you can concentrate (全神贯注) on it.

E. Often, they'll have similar styles and you might find books you like by those authors, too.

F. So you should read as much as possible when you are free.

G. Reading on your own isn't like reading for school.

                                                                     How to Grow Vegetables at Home

    Many people choose to grow their own vegetables for healthy food. You'll enjoy the fruits of your labor if you give your plants the care they require.

    Step 1

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Consider how much produce you can use. Also consider your space. Your gardening area will need at least six hours of sunlight per day.

    Step 2

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} If the leaves are yellow or have holes that is a sign the plant is diseased. Look for plants with strong green stems and a shiny appearance.

    Step 3

    Prepare your soil. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Add manure(肥料).

    Step 4

    Dig a hole as deep as the plant's root ball and a little wider. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}Checkthe instructions on each plant to see how much space to leave between plants. Water thoroughly(彻底地) when the planting is over.

    Step 5

    Maintain your vegetable garden by watering and weeding regularly. Your garden needs about an inch of water a week. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Weed by hand or with a tool.

A. Plan your garden.

B. Consider the place.

C. Choose plants that look healthy.

D. Remove grass and weeds from the soil.

E. Place the plant in the hole and fill it in with dirt.

F. The biggest mistake is trying to do too much too soon.

G. Water once or twice a week to help your plants develop strong roots.

Jessica: What are you doing now?

Susan: I {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (listen) to the news.

Jessica: Is there anything urgent? If not, I {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (real) want to have a talk with you.

Susan: No, there isn't. What's wrong?

Jessica: I think your grandma is {#blank#}3{#/blank#} nice person, but I can't help {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (think) that she doesn't like me.

Susan: Oh, she likes you. She is just old-fashioned and has her own way of doing things.

Jessica: But every time I clean the kitchen, she comes in {#blank#}5{#/blank#} me and cleans it again. Then she complains that the house is not tidy. I can't deal with this.

Susan: Just let her do it and ignore (忽视) her. She thinks if you don't get on your hands and knees {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (clean) the floor, the floor won't be clean.

Jessica: What a silly thing to say! What's a mop (拖把) for? And what's wrong with my cooking?

Susan: Nothing. I love your cooking.

Jessica: Then why does she complain about it? This morning she suggested that I {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (go) to cooking school to learn {#blank#}8{#/blank#} to cook.

Susan: Jessica, just ignore her. She only wants to make sure {#blank#}9{#/blank#} we can take care of ourselves.

Jessica: Don't we?

Susan: Yes, we do. I'm sorry that she makes you suffer {#blank#}10{#/blank#} stress, but I wish you'd learn to get along with her. Remember, she's an elder.

Jessica: Don't worry. When things get tense (紧张的), I just remind myself that she's your grandma, and I keep my temper (脾气) under control and my mouth shut.

How to Survive Being Stuck in a Lift

    Being stuck in a lift, also known as an elevator, can sometimes be scary, especially if you are a fan of those kinds of movies which have a lot of elevator tragedies. You may think being stuck in an elevator in real life is not like in the movies. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Remain calm and do not panic! You may have heard of this a lot of times and it is true that panicking will do you no good. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    Press each of the floor buttons one by one. Then, try the "doors open" button. If none of the buttons works, the lift is broken, and you need to let someone know about it.

    See if your phone has any reception or Internet. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} If you have WiFi connection, contact a family member or friend. Don't forget to tell them what the address is of the building and possibly which elevator you are stuck in. If your phone is not available, the following tips can help you.

    Look through the gap between the doors of the lift. If you can see light between the doors, the lift has stopped near a floor, and you should be able to shout for help and be released. Do not try to force the doors open yourself. If you can't see light between the doors, the lift has stopped between floors, and no one will be able to let you out if you scream for help. Look for an emergency telephone. If there is no telephone, press the alarm button repeatedly. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} If you have waited for more than half an hour and nobody has come to get you out, shout and bang the inside walls of the lift. If no one is responding to you, then you'll have to accept that you will be in the lift overnight. If this happens, make yourself as comfortable as possible to save your energy. By morning, the building should be full again. You can try to get some help then.

A. Check the time.

B. It will cause you not to be able to think clearly.

C. Eventually, someone should hear you and get help.

D. Here are some tips to help you survive.

E. However, it is still a vital thing to know how to survive if it ever happens to you.

F. If you do have reception, call emergency services.

G. Use your watch.