Four benefits of writing by hand

    Today is National Handwriting Day! Although we don't write like we used to, here are four ways handwriting is still helpful.

    It's better for learning.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#} That's because putting ink to paper stimulates (刺激) the brain. One study from 2010 found that the brain areas related to learning “lit up” much more when kids were asked to write words like “spaceship” by hand versus just studying the word closely.

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    Many famous authors prefer writing by hand to the use of a typewriter or computer. Writer Susan Sontag once said that she penned her first drafts (草稿) before typing them up for editing later. She said, “{#blank#}3{#/blank#}” A 2009 study seems to support Sontag's preference for writing by hand: Elementary school students who wrote essays with a pen not only wrote more than their keyboard-tapping friends, but they also wrote faster and in more complete sentences.

    It will prevent you from being distracted (分心).

    The computer in front of you is really a distraction. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} In 2012, scientists even suggested that taking five-minute breaks to browse Tumblr or BuzzFeed could make you a more productive worker. However, when it's time to work on that essay, have only a pen and paper in front of you.

    It keeps your brain sharp as you get older.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} According to The Wall Street Journal, some physicians say that the act of writing is good exercise for those who want to keep their minds sharp as they age.

A. It makes you a better writer.

B. Writing is good for your brain.

C. Of course, the Internet isn't all bad.

D. I like the slowness of writing by hand.

E. Try writing by hand at least 20 minutes each day.

F. Many writers have a preference for writing by hand.

G. One of the most effective ways to study is to rewrite your notes by hand.

    Make the most of life experiences

    If you ask anyone what the purpose of life is, you'll likely receive wildly different responses. The answer to this question is deeply personal because different things are important to us throughout the course of our lives.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Finding ways to make the most of our experiences is a challenge we face every day, here are some ways to make your experiences meaningful.

    Follow your dreams

    The number one way to live a life free of regret is to follow your dreams. Passion will die without actions supporting them.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}.Every day make an effort, no matter how small, to achieve your goals. Each day is a step forward and none of it is wasted.

    Make mistakes

    Making mistakes is the surest(无疑的)path to grow as a person.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}and those lessons have stayed with me. failure is beneficial to us. And time allows me to see the value of even the most painful situation.

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    Difficult and painful experiences shape our character but can also weigh us down. These prevent us from moving forward. So much of our progress in life relies on willpower and a healthy emotional state. If you're under stress, your body and mind both require time to recover.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}.

    For me, life is about experiences. We all have to dream, work hard, and fail before we can achieve success. Maybe we'll discover along the way that the journey is more important than the destination.

A. Take care of yourself.

B. Improve your personality.

C. Many of my strongest memories come from the times I've failed

D. It's best to rest and slowly build back up your strength

E. Yet one thing stays with us no matter where we go: our experiences

F. Though we try our best to make fewer mistakes, it is impossible to avoid them.

G. Though we can't choose the outcome of our actions, we can choose to keep pursuing.

    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.

    The UN has recognized the contributions of volunteers on Dec.5, International Volunteer Day. Here, the four things are offered to consider before taking the leap into overseas volunteering.

    Choose your organization carefully

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#}. volunteering may be a fundraising mechanism(筹资机制) for a development project. For others, volunteering is fundamental to their programs, and those serving take on professional roles in longer-term development.

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    Volunteers want to help and make a difference, but most know this isn't a purely selfless act. You will learn new skills, broaden your horizons and come to better understand yourself and the world. You want to help reduce global poverty or protect the natural world, and that's all OK. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}? Have you always wanted to travel, but not as a tourist? Work with kids? When you understand your motivations, you'll be in a better position to choose the option that is right for you.

    Work alongside the local community

    Often times, travelers volunteer in isolation(隔离) from the local community in which they are working in. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}. This enables you to ensure you are committing to a project that promotes long term and sustainable change.

    A volunteer trip is just the beginning

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}. Further ignite(点燃) the global change maker in you by taking your experience one step further when you return home. Spread the message of your transformative experience to others, helping to spark the change within them.

A. But what else

B. Know why you are going

C. Believe you know it all

D. Communities always welcome volunteers

E. Volunteer travel is a life-changing experience

F. Some organizations require you to pay your own way, and often include a fee

G. Make sure to travel with organizations that have strong partnerships with local communities

    When high temperatures are around the country, some things also go up. Here are four things expected to rise along with our desire to stay indoors and beat the heat.

    ⒈ales of goods that keep you cool

    Malls are high on the list of places where people often go for free air conditioning outside home in summer.{#blank#}1{#/blank#} Goods related to keeping cool, like air conditioners, fans or sun care items, are very popular.

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    Pests like stink bugs(椿象)grow fast during summer heat waves, and many agriculture experts are expecting a repeat of last year's outbreak that harmed fruit and crops, particularly on the East Coast.

    ⒊Energy bills

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} With all those air conditioners and fans working, it makes sense that energy bills will be higher than average.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} "Not only are people going to have extremely high energy bills for July, it will also put increased stress on power plants, and we're going to see more air pollution because of it," says Angela Fritz.

    ⒋Violence

    Heat waves may cause violence, right? "Not necessarily," says Richard

    Larrick, a researcher. He took a unique look at the relationship between violence and heat through baseball. Larrick and his research team examined 57,294 Major League Baseball games taking place between 1962 and 2017 and found that while heat may increase violence, there always has to be a motive."{#blank#}5{#/blank#} Instead, heat affects a specific form of violence," he said.

A. Pest population

B. Air pollution

C. Rising heat is the expected response in any summer.

D. As more energy is used, air quality problems may occur.

E. More and more people are worried about their expenses.

F. Heat does not directly lead to more violence in general.

G. So it's not a surprise that some sales jump during heat waves.

    Recently, I have read a great number of books. I have found that no reading every day has helped me in my study Reduce Stress  {#blank#}1{#/blank#} And I am sure no matter what I read, the act of it will also improve yours.

    Reduce Stress {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Fiction is great for this. Reading an interesting fiction book is perfect right before bed time, though sometimes it's hard to put the book down if it's really good. Still, you'll be relaxed.

    Improve Analytical Thinking A scientific study shows that analytical thinking is encouraged and improved by reading. Readers improve their general knowledge, and more importantly are able to recognize patterns quicker.  {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Increase Vocabulary It's no secret that reading increases your vocabulary and improves your spelling.  {#blank#}4{#/blank#} In fact, even the language in children's books is likely to be more sophisticated(老练，复杂) than your daily conversation.

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    I feel like a better writer, as I am burying myself in works from people who are better than me. That's why English classes in High School make you read “the classics". That's why art students learn to copy those masterpiece(态作), so they know the feeling of creating something amazing. The more you read the better of a writer you'II become.

    If you think that you don't have enough time to start reading, you're wrong. Think about the time you spend on TV series and in chatting online. Why not replace reading with those activities.? Well, let's start to read and get improved.

A. Improve Writing Skills

B. Change Writing Habits

C. When I have a stressful day, reading can easily help me relax.

D. Here are a few of my favorite ways that reading has helped me

E. But did you know that reading increases your vocabulary more than talking or direct teaching?

F. If you can recognize pattems quicker, your analytical skills get improved.

G. You will be surprised at the vocabulary you use in your daily conversation.