How to improve your vocabulary

    Vocabulary is a key part of learning a new language. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}  Maybe you can't learn a hundred new words a day, but you can learn one or two a day, totaling thousands of new words over the years. Here are some tips for building up your vocabulary.

    Make a plan to learn new words. If you want to improve your vocabulary more quickly, you have to make at least a small promise. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

Make you vocabulary practical（实用的）. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} For example, learn more of your trade language—- the words that are commonly used in your business or hobby or vocation(职业). Find better, fresher, clearer words to express what your friends are talking about.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} As you read, if you come across a new word that you don't understand. Don't miss it. Take the time to look it up in a dictionary. Write it down and use it later.

    When you learn a word, use it immediately and frequently. Put your new word into conversation with as many different people as you can. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Use it in sentences. Write it on a card and practice it while waiting for red lights.

A. Repeat it to yourself.

B. They're highly reusable

C. Start learning where you are.

D. Decide to learn one new word every day or two.

E. When you're writing something, use a dictionary frequently

F. Start by learning the words that can express what's most important to you.

G. The more you read, the more words you'll see, and the more you'll understand.

    Every one complains. Even if you argue that you are the happiest person in the world you still complain sometimes. Sometimes you complain: without even realizing it, but rarely is it ever helpful.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}Here are some tips to stop complaining and give up the negative thoughts:

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    When you find yourself thinking or saying a negative comment about something or someone stop and force yourself to say something positive instead. Seek the help of a cheerful friend to change you when you complain and help you to see the positive in the situation

    Make a list of things we are grateful for.

    We often complain about the things we don't have without noticing those things we already have been grateful for what we have in our life because we are lucky simply for being ourselves.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    Learn to adapt to the changes.

    There are many things we can't change.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}Always find the positive side of each situation regardless of however difficult the situation is with parents' and friends' support we can survive any life changes

    Al low yourself to vent（发泄）your feelings every once in a while.

    Constantly ignored negative thoughts could add up If you are really going through a rough time don't be afraid to share your feelings with a close friend or family member or see a therapist

    Find what makes you happy.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}Maybe it is time to make the hard decision to move on to another job or career. Uncover what your biggest complaints are about and see if you can change the situation to make you happy. Choose happiness, focus on the positive and be kind always!

A. Change the way you think

B. Make positive people friends

C. Sometimes this list can be easy full of hobbies you enjoy

D. Are you constantly complaining about your present job?

E. The best and only thing we can do is to accept them

F. So how can you manage to force yourselves to end complaining?

G. Set down things we are thankful for and we'll see that we don't have any reason to complain.

    You fall down on the road and a kid you barely know rushes over to help. You come home after a long day to find your dad has prepared your favorite meal. Just before lunch in social studies class, you learn about places where people don't have clean water or enough food.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}They're likely to make you feel grateful.

    Gratitude (感恩) is one of many positive emotions. It's about focusing on what's good in our lives and being thankful for the things we have.{#blank#}2{#/blank#} It's taking a moment to reflect on how fortunate we are when something good happens — whether it's a small thing or a big thing.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}Making a habit of gratitude can also be good for us. Like other positive emotions, feeling grateful on a regular basis can have a big effect on our lives. Brain research shows that positive emotions are good for our bodies, minds, and brains.

    Positive emotions open us up to see more possibilities and take in more information. They improve our ability to develop skills, learn, and make good decisions.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} When we feel grateful for someone's kindness toward us, we may be more likely to do a kindness in return. Thanking people can make it more likely they'll do a kindness again.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} When we feel and express heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to people in our lives, it creates loving bonds, builds trust, and helps you feel closer.

A. Gratitude doesn't just feel good.

B. What do these have in common?

C. Gratitude can lead to positive actions.

D. Gratitude helps us build better relationships.

E. Such kind of people are more likely to succeed.

F. We can use lots of words to describe feelings of gratitude.

G. Gratitude is stopping to notice and appreciate the things that we often take for granted.

    As a senior year student, you may have so many pressures coming from so many directions that you can't figure out what to do first.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#}.

    When you have many things to do and a lot of demands on your time, you can lose sight of what's important. One of the best ways to see the big picture — what you want out of life — is to lay out your goals.

    Pressure Points and How to Deal With Them

    Confused or overwhelmed — {#blank#}2{#/blank#}. Discuss your concerns with a friend, parent or teacher. They may help you find solutions to your problems and worries.

    Being too hard on yourself — ease up, take a break and do something you enjoy. Daydream, read a book, go out with friends — anything that helps you relax.

    Problems, problems, problems — recognize your limits. It's too stressful to try to deal with all your problems at once. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}.

    Goal-Setting Tips

    It's important to remember that goals belong to you — not to your parents, your teachers, or your friends. After you've set your goals, identify the skills you have to achieve those goals. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}, do some research. Try the library, your guidance adviser and teachers, and other people who could help you.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}. If your goal is something you no longer want, change it. Identify the barriers to getting your goals. Consider ways to overcome them. Don't get depressed by a big, long-term goal — see what steps you can take to achieve it and set those steps down as short-term, "do-able" goals.

A. Too much to do

B. Balancing goals in life

C. Goals exist to serve you

D. Talk to someone you trust

E. If you're not sure what skills you'll need

F. As long as you know what skill is important and what isn't

G. Choose what's most urgent and set aside the rest until later

    Most people will tell you that without a cup of coffee in the morning, they cannot function. Coffee is a good drink when consumed in right amount. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Legend says that Kaldi, an Ethiopian, discovered his goats enjoy eating coffee plants. Curious, he tasted the leaves and began to dance around. A passing monk (僧侣) witnessed the scene and took some back to his fellow monks. Later that night, the monks experienced extreme inspiration. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Soon Arabia was roasting coffee beans. By 1000 A.D. Muslims were drinking coffee to stay awake. A merchant from Venice introduced coffee to Europe in 1615. By 1696, the Dutch started growing the coffee bush in Java. By 1723, coffee plants were introduced to the Americas. Today, coffee is the most popular drink in the world.

    Caffeine (咖啡因) is the major chemical in coffee. Caffeine poisoning can occur if more than 400 milligrams of caffeine is drunk in a short period, which is about four to five cups of coffee. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} So it should be avoided before bed.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Studies have shown that it helps cognitive (感知) skills in elderly women. Women who drank three cups of coffee daily scored higher on memory tests than women who drank one cup of coffee.

    Large amounts of coffee can cause nervousness, worries and heartburn. However, if mixed with milk, it is fine. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} The more you drink, the more you depend on it. For some people, just one cup of coffee a day is OK.

A. Coffee has many benefits.

B. Coffee can be addictive like any drug.

C. Caffeine will also cause sleep difficulty.

D. The caffeine in coffee can actually help fight disease.

E. However, it is considered harmful if taken in large amount.

F. Drinking coffee while you have this kind of disease will make it worse.

G. Whether the legend is true or not, the discovery of coffee dates back to 800 A.D.

    Running is becoming popular these days. Many people run to keep fit. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} However, if you're doing it wrong, you won't get such good results. Fortunately, here are some tips to help you.

    Set right goals

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Be smart and set the right goals. Sign up fora fun run or a 5K first, before even thinking about a marathon. Your goal should simply be to finish. If you push yourself too much, it is possible that you will get hurt and won't want to insist on running.

    Wear suitable shoes

    Once you've decided to try out running, it's time to get yourself new shoes, as the wrong pair can cause foot pain. Wearing the wrong shoes can destroy your workout plan. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    Eat properly before or after a run

    Some of you don't eat before or after a workout. Your body needs energy to exercise. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}So it's important to give your body energy. Experts suggest that you eat foods before and after a workout to help with your body's fat burning process.

    Run out of the city

    If you live in a busy city, running along city streets is the easiest way to get in the miles, but if it's possible, find a less polluted space for your long runs. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Exposure to air pollution can cause damage to brain health and the lungs, so running at a cleaner environment might be worth the extra time.

A. Fresh air cleans our lungs.

B. It is a good, inexpensive way to get into shape,

C. It's exciting to start running, but don't set your goals too high.

D. Another side effect of skipping meals is to make you feel tired.

E. And not eating properly will affect your mental and physical being,

F. Therefore, before running, you should go to the shoe store to buy a new pair of running shoes.

G. Research shows that running in polluted air doesn't give you the same benefits (好处) as running in clean air.