Five Simple Ways to Increase Your Intelligence

    Your IQ, which stands for Intelligence Quotient, is a scientific assessment(评估)of your intelligence. While there are limits based on native intelligence levels, recent studies have shown that it's possible to increase your intelligence. Your brain needs exercise just like a muscle. If you use it often and in the right ways, you will become a more skilled thinker and increase your ability to focus. Here are five simple techniques to exercise your brain.

    Minimize(使减少到最低程度)television watching.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}When you feel like relaxing, try reading a book instead. If you're too tired, listen to some music. When you're with your friends or family, turn your television off and have a conversation.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}Time spent exercising always leads to greater learning because it improves productivity during the time afterwards. Using your body clears your head and creates a wave of energy.

    Read Challenging Books. If you want to improve your thinking and writing ability, you should read books that make you focus.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}Besides, it will make you think in more precise, elegant English.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}Nothing makes it harder to concentrate than lack of sleep. You'll be most rejuvenated(恢复活力的)if you go to bed early and don't sleep more than 8 hours.

    Take time to reflect. Spending some time alone in reflection gives you a chance to organize your thoughts and prioritize(优先处理)your responsibilities.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}.

A. Early to Bed, Early to Rise.

B. Take some time to exercise

C. Think of new ways to do old things

D. Reading a classic novel can change your view of the world

E. Watching television doesn't use your mental ability or allow it to recharge

F. Afterwards, you'll have a better understanding of what's important and what isn't.

G. Just as sitting at your desk all day is bad for your physical self, sitting in the same mental seat all the time is bad for your bran.

    Do you know what a big dream is? Does a big dream show one's future? Or, is a big dream something that provides only entertainment? Children dream big dreams, but there are three barriers to realizing dreams{#blank#}1{#/blank#}

The self

    Immediately following the birth of a big dream, a negative self-talk takes over and gives all the reasons why it cannot happen. This voice inside of people is the ego（自我）.It's there for protecting and should be listened to. Sometimes it is right, but more often it is wrong{#blank#}2{#/blank#} That's why only a handful of people make their dream come true

Family and friends

    Family and friends are a lot the ego.{#blank#}3{#/blank#} so they will often list all the reasons why the big dreams won't come true. Sometimes, family and friends destroy dreams of those they love most, out of their own fear of those left behind.

{#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    If one gets past the first two barriers, one has to face the world. It is the last and the most terrible barrier. In the past, big dreamers were locked up and sometimes even killed when they were shown to the world. Fortunately, in most of the world today, big dreamers just get laughed at {#blank#}5{#/blank#}When children feel confident and then try their best, they will be ready to accept any failure. The truth is that every great dreamer whose dreams have never seen the light of success knows failure well. They simply fail until they succeed

A. The world

B. The future

C. Most people are influenced by it

D. They want to protect those they love

E. And their big dream is to be a rock star or a famous artist

F. They often kill them before they ever have a chance to grow

G. The way to realize a big dream is with confidence and action

    Q & A

    Question: I have recently got a senior position within my company．One of my new tasks is to made monthly progress reports on my department in front of other senior officials. During my first meeting, I presented and the n opened the floor to questions．{#blank#}1{#/blank#}  My first reaction was to answer defensively．Later, I realized that I shouldn't have felt that way．But how can I keep cool and effectively answer questions in this type of settings?

    Answer: Congratulations on your new position! Presenting in front of your peers （同事）is a hard task in itself and it becomes much more difficult when a question-and-answer period is required! Question-and-answer periods are a great way to clarify the message and strengthen key points．{#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    When a person is asking a question, show interest and a desire to understand the question by listening and asking for clarification．

    Buy time

When facing a hard question, most people can't give an answer immediately．Buy time by repeating the question in your own words．{#blank#}4{#/blank#} These techniques allow you to quickly organize your thoughts as well as to make sure you will be correctly answering the question．

    Suggest a private meeting.

A one-to-one meeting is a calmer setting than speaking in front of your peers．{#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A．Show your true interest．

B．Restate the question with respect．

C．Some ideas can be quite concrete．

D．There were many difficult questions．

E．It can also be more effective in exchanging ideas．

F．You may also ask for clarification on the question．

G．Here are some ideas that can help prepare for your next meeting．

Live Every Day Like It's A Holiday

    We feel great on holiday because we let go of everyday stresses and strains. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} So whether or not you're going away this summer, there's plenty you can do to make sure you benefit from that holiday feeling.

    Sleep like a holidaymaker

    Sleep like a baby when you're on your holidays but stay awake when you're in your usual routine? {#blank#}2{#/blank#}  To reset your sleep pattern, avoid bringing problems to bed. That includes your phone, TV or laptop. Make sure the room is dark and cool. Aim for at least seven hours' ZZZs—just as you would on holiday.

    Get moving

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Given that exercise is cheap, healthy and reduces stress, it makes absolute sense to build it into your day. A walk will release happy hormones, and eases anxiety and mild depression. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} 

    Part of the joy of going away is lingering over delicious food with families. Take up the holiday habit of sitting down as a family for at least one meal a day. Families who eat together experience less anxiety, less depression and less obesity, research has found.

    Be a tourist in your own city

    Part of toe thrill of a holiday is the novelty of discovering a new place and doing new things. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} At weekends, check out a new music venue, visit a different museum or have a drink in that interesting-looking pub you're always walking past. It will get you out of routine and make you feel alive. A bit like a holiday, really.

A. Make your meals a celebration.

B. Carve out some dedicated quiet time.

C. If so, you might need to examine your sleep habits.

D. Just make sure you schedule it into your day or week.

E. But it's also easy to be a holidaymaker in the place you live.

F. Research has even shown that vacations help health and wellbeing.

G. When you're travelling, you walk around new cities without a second thought.

    We all have times in our lives when we just have too many things to deal with.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}Well, that's crazy, because if you get ill then you're going to be able to do nothing. Here are some ideas to take care of yourself.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Living with clutter(杂乱)and never being able to find what you need when you need it causes stress. Take time to develop a system and then use it. Instead of keeping all the things you need to do in your head, write them down on a piece of paper.

    Devote 30 minutes per day to personal development materials. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} And negative ones will disappear. If we want to be successful in work and life, we need to develop the habit of feeding our minds in a positive way. So take in good inspiring information.

    Say no to anything that is not important to you. Give yourself permission to concentrate on what's important. Getting the unessential, tiresome responsibilities off your schedule will give you more time and space. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    Take 5-minute mini-breaks every hour. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} So no matter how efficiently you work, you should always let your mind wander or end up spending time doing other things when you try to keep going hour after hour. Instead, break up each hour by getting up from your chair and walking outside to take a 5-minute break.

A. Get organized.

B. Write a daily gratitude list.

C. You can't stay focused all the time.

D. Fill your minds with positive thoughts.

E. Besides, it will reduce the pressure that you feel.

F. As a result, we often forget to look after ourselves.

G. Eating healthily is one of the most sensible things you can do for yourself.

    Everyone is aware that taking good care of our bodies can prevent many medical problems from occurring later. However, we often have less awareness of preventative actions we should take to help with mental health problems. While our mental health may be fine right now, many of us will struggle at some point. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} It's impossible to get through life without challenges, but our mental health prevention habits can help us get through difficult times. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    Keep active. The more active you physically, mentally and socially are, the higher the level of your mental wellness is likely to be. So go for walks and learn something new. There are many other ways to be active. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    Be connected. Regular involvement in social activities with supportive friends and family improves your ability to handle disappointments, and everything else life throws at you. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} But you can be involved in any manner; even volunteering for an organization can help you be more social.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} The nature of these activities varies widely from person to person. The key is to identify what gives your life meaning. Volunteering, coaching, teaching, etc. all can contribute to increasing your sense of confidence and satisfaction with life. Many activities can address more than one. The key is to make a plan and stick with it. If you are already struggling, begin to practice these ways to help your recovery.

A. Here are three practical steps.

B. However, good mental health is important.

C. Stresses, disappointments and disasters happen.

D. Overcome life's challenges before they happen.

E. Be committed to activities that give life meaning.

F. The key is to find what keeps you motivated and interested.

G. This can be difficult when you move to a new town or as you get older.