Hi Grace,

    How's it going? Sorry I haven't emailed for a while, but I had so much to do!

    I had told you about my decision to take up a sport. I knew I wasn't fit and I wanted to get some exercise. But that wasn't the only reason that I decided to do a sport. Students who play sports do better at school. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Exercise also helps learning and memory.

     {#blank#}2{#/blank#} First, I tried soccer. I had played a bit of soccer before and I thought it wouldn't be too bad. I knew I couldn't run for very long without feeling tired. On the first day, I was able to run for the first ten minutes, but then I was so tired that I couldn't even kick the ball!

    Then, I tried volleyball. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} I was able to run for the first twenty minutes and I wasn't the slowest runner in the team! After a few weeks, I could run faster and longer. I was doing better and feeling better. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Maybe I'm not a team sport person after all!

    Finally, I tried Kung fu. It's a great sport that exercise the body and the mind. You learn to follow instructions carefully and do what you are asked to do. This is the right sport for me! {#blank#}5{#/blank#} I feel so confident that I even showed some moves to the class last week! Can you believe it?

I hope you're OK! Write and let me know what you've been doing!

    Bye for now!

                                                                                                                                                                               Kristie

A. I got very excited about soccer.

B. But I couldn't decide on a sport.

C. Running helps me to keep fit.

D. Things were a bit better this time.

E. Then I found volleyball terribly boring.

F. They are more confident and less stressed.

G. I practice twice a week and I haven't missed a class.

    It's always important to use the right tools for any job. Success in school is no different. If you need to vary your time management tool box, consider these less traditional tools. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} .

    Daily Task List

    A daily task list is nothing more than a notepad that you use to list your daily goals. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} . Cross them off as you finish them. At the end of each day, simply carry over any job that you didn't finish to the next day's list. It works wonders!

    Big Well Calendar

    Simply place the big wall calendar in a prominent place near your regular study space. Then come up with a color code for your classes(like green for math and yellow for history). When you have a big due date or a test date, place the appropriate colored sticker on that date. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} , so it works as a constant reminder. This trick is simple, cheap, and so effective!

    Sticky Note Flags

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} , whether you're putting together a big research project or you're simply reading a book. Whenever you need to remember to take a certain object or assignment to school, place a sticky flag on the door knob, bathroom mirror, or the cereal box the night before. It works like an alarm!

    Bedside Notepad

    You can keep a notepad beside your bed to write down any items or tasks you have to remember for the next day. As you settle in for the night, take a few moments to think about the things you need to do tomorrow. Then write them down and tear off the sheet in the morning. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} !

A. Remember to pack it in your schoolbag.

B. Keep your homework and your life in order

C. Two heads are better than one when it comes to projecting due dates

D. You could also use the calendar feature to alert you when projects are due

E. These little paper banners are lifesavers when it comes to getting organized

F. Carry a small pad around and write down every task you need to complete

G. The sticker will be something you can see every time you enter the room.

    Going online to do research when you're writing papers and doing projects is natural thing to do. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Knowing how to evaluate and choose online resources can help you avoid headaches and wasting time.

    How can you make researching online as easy and effective as possible? Before you begin your research, make a list of the kinds of sites that are best for your topic. Is the website reliable and up to date? {#blank#}2{#/blank#}  Government sites ending in . gov and educational sites ending in .edu usually are safe bets. Established news-related sites are OK, too, but be sure that you're using the original source. If a newspaper article mentions another source, like an organization or website, go directly to that source to find the information.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}They can be good resources, but it's always best to check with your teacher to make sure he or she considers the site appropriate. Wikipedia. Org is popular and ranks highly in search results, but it can be edited by anyone, whether a person has accurate knowledge of the topic or not. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} 

    On commercial websites ending in .com, check to see if the site has advertising. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}And bogs, personal websites and social media sites are more likely to give personal opinions rather than facts.

A. Check to see if the author is identified and sources are given.

B. That's why it helps to know the best sites for your needs.

C. But all of the choices at your fingertips can seem overwhelming sometimes..

D. Sites ending in .org are usually run by non-profit organizations.

E. Many schools block access to images or websites that may be valuable to your research

F. At most schools, using Wikipedia as a source is not a good way to build credibility.

G. If it does, it may be biased(有偏见的), since it's trying to sell a product

    Do you usually feel you're working hard but still can't reach your study goals? Here are some quick tips to help you study better.

Study with a partner or in groups

    Rather than living in a cave with your nose in the books all day, grab a friend from your class and study with him.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}

Step into your teacher's shoes

    Ask yourself “If I were the teacher, what would I put on the test?”You have probably experienced a lot of your teacher's tests and quizzes by now.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}Teachers have specific types of information that they want you to learn. The structure is usually the same.

Paint pictures on the paper

    You can build your knowledge structure in the form of pictures. It's harder to remember each piece of a puzzle individually than it is to recall the completed picture.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}

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

    A hungry brain is an ineffective one. Your brain needs the proper nutrients to keep it going. Because of this, what you eat and drink also play a huge role in how sharp your brain is. Healthy food provide nutrients to your brain cells to keep them energized.

Take breaks to relax your brain

    Your brain is like a muscle. It can be also tired if you overwork it,{#blank#}5{#/blank#}If you divide studying into 15 to 30 minutes blocks with quick breaks in between, your brain will feel refreshed, grateful and ready for the next challenge you throw at.

A. Feed your brain from time to time.

B. It needs exercise to make it stronger.

C. Relax your brain by eating and drinking.

D. You'd better learn from them for the next test.

E. It's necessary to have a long holiday and have nice food.

F. Find ways to connect what you are learning to real life or to other concepts.

G. Group studying helps you to engage and process the information more deeply

    The eyes are the windows of the soul (心灵) . Having a pair of bright, clear eyes is very important, so we should protect our eyes throughout our lives.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Don't read while lying down or walking. Relax after every hour of reading.

    Keep a distance from the TV set when you watch TV and give your eyes a rest every 30 minutes.

    Don't stare at (盯着看) the sun or try to read in the darkness. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} This can damage your eyes easily.

    Get your eyes checked often. Not many people have this habit, but it is necessary. If you feel that there is something wrong with your eyes, get them checked quickly. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}. You can close your eyes for a few seconds or look into the distance for one or two minutes. A small break will relax your eyes and help to stop you from getting eye problems.

    Be careful when you choose your glasses.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}. Make sure your glasses are right for you. If they don't feel right, get your glasses changed.

A. Develop good reading habits.

B. Rest your eyes whenever you can.

C. Make sure you get enough sleep every night.

D. Glasses that aren't suitable for you could bring you trouble.

E. Even if you're wearing sunglasses, never look directly at the sun.

F. Eye problem can be found and treated early with regular checks.

G. Drink green tea every day as a way to protect your eyes against eye problems.

—Hello, Xiao Li, come in.

—Hello! {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

—I'm just writing a letter to Wang Ling in London.

—Oh. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

—I haven't seen you for a long time.

—No, I've been very busy because I'm doing a course in Business English. I had my first exam yesterday.

— {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

—I think I've done all right. Listen, I've got some good news.

— {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

—My company has just told me that they're sending me to England for a year.

— {#blank#}5{#/blank#} And Wang Ling will be able to show you around London.

A. Oh, what's that?

B. How are you?

C. Give him my best wishes.

D. Who told you?

E. Are you busy?

F. How did it go?

G. That's wonderful.