Everyone needs a break, and vacations are not meant for serious study.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}The Spring Festival is coming up so this is the perfect time to discuss some great English language literature to take on a long train journey.

    Before getting into the recommendations, you need to determine your English reading comprehension level. If you're at the beginner level, there are two options: reading a children's book or reading a book that you've read in Chinese translation. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} If you're at the intermediate level, popular books like pop fiction, mysteries and thrillers are good options. For advanced readers, classic works of literature or modern prize winners (Nobel, Pulitzer) are good options.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} When I pick up a book I like, even though the first few chapters are really hard to get through, I would try to get accustomed to the language the author uses. Generally, after the first few chapters, things get a lot easier, especially if I get involved in the story.

    Another great way to keep yourself motivated is to find a friend who's interested in reading the same book. You can make goals that you both want to achieve. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    Some quick recommendations: Harry Potter, start with the first book and go on from there; the Narnia series; anything by U.S. writer Michael Crichton; and if you like horror, U.S. writer Stephen King is always unusual and fun. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Happy reading!

A. If you pick a book which is so challenging, it will be too stressful.

B. The most important thing is to pick a book that you're really interested in.

C. You may also enjoy your reading when hanging out with your family.

D. You should just find a topic or author you're interested in, and the rest will go from there.

E. You can also discuss plot lines or vocabulary issues with each other by SMS or e-mail.

F. Instead, they're a great way to take a break and enjoy a good book.

G. This will help you get over any unfamiliar words or phrases, since you're already familiar with the story.

    Many adults are not aware of the very active social lives that their children lead. You might think that your young child does not yet have a social life. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    They have minimal independence and are generally always supervised by an adult. Even so, it is a stage of their lives when huge amounts of personality development and emotional development take place. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    One of the things that always makes me chuckle is when I am in the supermarket or out and about and I see a young mother with her child. The mother is often busy multi-tasking, picking up items, calculating prices and soothing her young child all at the same time, while the child is engaging with the people around them. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Usually the mother is completely unaware that her child is engaging in social interaction. Some babies smile at every passing person, undoubtedly developing the charm that will open many doors for them in later life.

Aside from all of the incidental ways that your child engages in social interaction, it is important to purposely set up opportunities for your child to socialize and interact with other children their age. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}Households with many children can be ideal for providing natural opportunities for children to interact socially. However today's typical household contains just one or two children.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Organizing play dates with other children their age is great, as is enrolling them in some type of activity for toddlers at the local library. Look around your community for activities that are safe, social and stimulating for your child and begin to purposefully involve your child in these activities for their social development.

A. Sometimes the child makes eye contact, some times an adult waves to the child or makes faces.

B. In reality though, even if your child spends the majority of their time right by your side, they interact directly or indirectly with everyone you interact with and more.

C. The fact is, many of the social skills that they learn as a young child will last them throughout their entire lifespan.

D. This development will affect their young social lives and, surprisingly to most, a lot of the social interaction that they will engage in for the remainder of their lives.

E. Anything aimed at children much younger than your child will bore them and anything aimed at children much older will frustrate them.

F. Taking young children to the local park to play while you watch and supervise is a great way to introduce them to playing with other children.

G. This gives them healthy opportunities to begin to develop socially.

    Nearly everyone has spent at least one night lying in bed wishing for sleep. But for many, it's a nightly struggle. The key, or secret, is to experiment. What works for some might not work as well for others.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Set a regular bedtime. Go to bed at the same time every night.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}Try not to break this routine on weekends when it may be attractive to stay up late. If you want to change your bedtime, help your body adjust (调整).

   {#blank#}3{#/blank#}If you're getting enough sleep, you should wake up on time naturally without an alarm. As with your bedtime, try to keep your regular wake-up time even on weekends.

    Be smart about napping (打盹). Though taking a nap can be a great way to become energetic again, especially for older adults, it can make insomnia (失眠) worse.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} If you must nap, do it in the early afternoon, and limit it to thirty minutes.

    Fight after-dinner drowsiness(睡意). What should you do when getting sleepy before your bedtime?    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} For example, washing the dishes, or calling a friend. If you give in to the drowsiness, you may wake up later in the night and have difficulty getting back to sleep.

A. Wake up at the same time every day.

B. Spend more time outside in the daytime.

C. When it's time to sleep, make sure the room is dark.

D. Get off the couch and do something to avoid falling asleep.

E. If insomnia is a problem for you, consider giving up napping.

F. It's important to find the sleep methods that work best for you.

G. Choose a time when you normally feel tired so that you can fall asleep easily.

    No personal success, achievement, or goal, can be realized without self-discipline.{#blank#}1{#/blank#} It is the ability to control one's impulses, emotions, desires and behavior. To possess it is to make the decisions, take the actions, and carry out your plan regardless of the obstacles, discomfort, or difficulties, that may come your way.

    How to develop self-discipline? We'll explore it together.

    Start with baby steps. No process takes place overnight.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}So, begin by making the decision to go forward and learning what it takes to get there.

     Learn what motivates you and what your bad triggers are.{#blank#}3{#/blank#} Sometimes it is very difficult to fight off urges, so know the areas where your resistance is low and how to avoid those situations. Remove the temptations and surround yourself with encouraging items such as motivating slogans and pictures of what you want to achieve.

    Make certain behaviors a routine. Once you have decided what's important to you and which goals to strive for, establish a daily routine that will help you achieve them.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}They can put you in a negative frame of mind and hinder（阻碍）your self-discipline. A poor attitude can also be a bad habit.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Michael Jordan has always maintained that his greatness as a basketball player came as much from his willingness to work hard at this craft, as it did his craft, as it did his talent. It was his desire through discipline and focus that made him one of the best basketball players ever. If it worked for him, it could certainly work for the rest of us.

A. What is self-discipline?

B. Engage in sports activities.

C. Get inspiration from those you admire.

D. You can begin by learning about yourself?

E. If you try to do too much at once, you could injure yourself and have a seatback.

F. Meanwhile, get rid of some of your bad, self-defeating habits, whatever they may be.

G. It does mean learning how to focus your mind and energies on your goals until they are accomplished.

    If you want to keep fit, please refer to the following;

    Move More

    Make it a rule to find ways to move your body. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Climb stairs instead of taking the elevator. Walk your dog; play with your kids. It doesn't have to be an hour in the gym or a 45-minute dance class. But that's great when you're up to it. At the same time, move more.

    Quit Smoking

    Ever since 1960 when it was announced that smoking was harmful to health, Americans have been reducing their use of tobacco products. Just recently, we've seen more and more teens smoking. Could it be the Hollywood influence?

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Take care! Warn your children against smoking.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    While recent studies show a glass of wine or one drink a day can help protect against heart disease, more than can cause other health problems such as liver and kidney (肝肾) disease and cancer.

    Reduce Stress

    Easier said than done, stress comes in many ways.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} Spend 30 minutes a day doing something you like such as walking on the beach or in a park, read a good book, visit a friend, listen to relaxing music, and watch a funny movie.

    Protect Yourself From Pollution

    If you can't live in a smog-free environment, at least avoid smoke-filled rooms, {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Exercise indoors in air conditioning when air quality is good.

A. Avoid Excessive Drinking

B. There are many things you can do to move your arms and legs.

C. Think carefully about what you will do.

D. Exercise outside when the smog rating is low.

E. It seems that the stars in every movie smoke cigarettes.

F. Keep a Positive Mental Outlook.

G. Some techniques given by experts are to think positive thoughts.

    Have you ever used any language learning apps? If you want to learn a language and speak it right away, modernize your learning style and adopt an app. It doesn't cost much, but it's worth a lot. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}.

    Learn anywhere and anytime

Personally, I love to review my vocabulary quietly in my bed before sleep using a language learning app. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}. Of course, it's also possible to learn a language with a book, but it's so much more entertaining when you are using a language learning app!

    Never waste time again

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}. More often than not, we will get really annoyed or even stressed when time is wasted. However, when using a language learning app, time seems to go by quickly. We can take the opportunity to review and play a little while we have to wait around.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    Have you ever taken up a course at night? I have, but I found it hard to complete it because there were many restrictions. I was required to attend classes twice a week on a fixed schedule. But when we study on our own with a language learning app, we can study at our own pace.

    Save your money

    Most language schools haven't evolved to meet the needs of modem society. And that's before we've even begun to talk about the price, which is often quite unaffordable. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}. But the benefits are huge, offering you the freedom and independence to learn at very little expense.

A. Quicken your progress

B. Work without restrictions

C. Mobile apps can handle complex applications

D. Learning with the help of an app doesn't cost much at all

E. When I travel, I also use it to listen to some podcasts (播客)

F. We all have the experience of waiting for an appointment or a bus

G. Here are some benefits of language learning apps used on smart phones