If you think your vocabulary is weak, a little effort every day over six to nine months can go a long way in improving it. Here are some tips for increasing your vocabulary.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#}. You may be comfortable reading a particular part of the newspaper but make an effort to read different articles on every page. The editorial (社论的) page is highly recommended not only for vocabulary but also for structuring and presenting thoughts.

    Make it a habit to read a new book every week. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}. You can consider becoming a member of the local library. Make a list of new words and look up their meanings in the dictionary.

    Watch English movies and television shows. It's an interesting way to enrich your vocabulary. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}.

    Use vocabulary cards. Vocabulary cards are used by students who are trying to learn many words in a short time. You can make your own cards by writing the word on one side and the meaning on the other side of a piece of paper. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}.

    Use the Internet. The Internet is an unlimited resource for reading material.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}. You will come across plenty of material to read. The Internet will also introduce you to new words. Be sure to look them up in a dictionary.

Do you dream?

    Have you ever visited some strange places in your dreams? In fact people have wondered about these strange places for long.{#blank#}1{#/blank#} However, they have been valued as necessary to a person's health and happiness.

    Historically, people thought dreams contained messages from God. It was only in the twentieth century that people started to study dreams scientifically, believing that they tell about a person's character.{#blank#}2{#/blank#} He believed that dreams allow a person to express fantasies or fears, which would be socially unacceptable in real life.

    The second theory to become popular was Carl Jung's compensation theory. Jung, a former student of Freud, said that the purpose of a dream is not to hide something, but rather to communicate it to the dreamer.{#blank#}3{#/blank#} Thus, people who think too highly of themselves may dream about falling; those who think too little of themselves dream of being heroes.

    Using more recent research, William Domhoff from the University of California found that dreaming is a mental skill that needs time to develop in humans.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} Until they reach the age of five, they can not express very well what their dreams are about. Once people become adults, there is little or no change in their dreams. The dreams of men and women differ. For instance, the characters that appear in the dreams of men are often other men, and often involve physical aggression.

    The meaning of dreams continues to be difficult to understand. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} If you dream that a loved one is going to die, do not panic. The dream may have meaning, but it does not mean that your loved one is going to die.

A. Dreams make up for what is lacking in waking life.

B. But anyway, people should not take their dreams as reality.

C. It gives scientists chances to better understand human mind.

D. They have been considered as meaningless nighttime journeys.

E. First, there was Sigmund Freud's theory.

F. They think their mind is trying to tell them something.

G. Children do not dream as much as adults.

    When looking to meet new people, try to be open to new experiences.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}Here is something new you can experience and hopefully you will have some fun.

    Volunteer. Volunteering can be a great way to help others while meeting new people{#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    Take a class or join a club.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}In those places, you will meet people with common interests. Websites such as Meetup. com can help you find local groups or start your own and connect with others who share similar interests.

{#blank#}4{#/blank#}Dog owners often stop and chat while their dogs play with each other. If dog ownership isn't right for you, volunteer to walk dogs from a shelter or a local rescue group.

    Unplug(拔掉插头). It's difficult to meet new people in any social situation if you're more interested in your phone than the people around you.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}Making eye contact and exchanging small talk with strangers is great practice for making connections-and you never know where it may lead!

A. Walk a dog

B. Play with dogs

C. Take a class or join a club such as a book group, dinner club, or sports team

D. Volunteering also gives you the chance to practice and develop your social skills

E. For example, you can share your mobile games when you meet with new people

F. Not everything you try will be successful but you can always learn from the experience.

G. So remove your headphones and put your smartphone away while you're waiting for a bus.

    Your children are watching you.{#blank#}1{#/blank#} According to the Health Program，developing healthy habits is an important part for your children. And when it comes to developing healthy habits, parents influence their children more than anyone else.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} What happens during those early years can influence children for the rest of their lives. This includes some eating and exercise habits. Children are very careful, even at a young age. Children watch what others do carefully and imitate the behaviors of those closest to them. As parents, you should do the following:{#blank#}3{#/blank#} If you do that, your children are more likely to be enthusiastic about developing theirs.

    Let your children see you taking care of your own physical health by eating fruits and vegetables. Talk to them about healthy habits in appropriate terms and at a proper time.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}

{#blank#}5{#/blank#} Computers，televisions and other forms of technology are a major part of life in the 21st century. Unfortunately, as the use of technology in the home increases, so does the time spent watching TV or playing on the computer. So as parents, you should also arrange the time for your children wisely.

A. Take part in physical activities and exercise regularly.

B. Don't get rid of technology, but use it wisely.

C. Be enthusiastic about developing healthy habits of your own.

D. Your actions arc speaking to them louder than your words will.

F. Children prefer to imitate their parents rather than listen to them.

F. This can be helpful to teach your children to form good eating habits.

G. It's easy for the children to form their healthy habits when they arc young.

I Think I Can: How to Push Yourself to Success

    “Because I can” has magic power. It pushes us to leave our comfort zones. It gives us a reason to do the things that we think we can't. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}.

    Whether it is to get to the store or work, climb the stairs instead of taking the elevator. Break the “I'm tired” or “It is too hard” or “It is too far” cycle. Increasing your activity level will provide enormous benefits, both physically and mentally.

    Try Something New

    It is easy for us to make excuses for why we shouldn't try new things.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}. Maybe it seems too difficult. Or maybe, it is just inconvenient. Reminding yourself that You Can try something new will help you to move past these roadblocks and discover new things about yourself and possible new interests.

Speak Up

    Often, we dare not address（处理）things that bother us or make us unhappy.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}.Use that voice “because you can.” Communicating to loved ones, co-workers, and even your boss as to how you feel, what your needs and expectations are and what you are thinking can help you develop deeper, more meaningful and rewarding relationships. Further, you will be truer to yourself, thus making you a happier individual.

Increase Your Willpower

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}. However, developing a strong willpower, whether it is in response to our favorite chocolate cake or to over-shopping is something that we can all benefit from. Next time you are tempted to do something you think you might regret, try reminding yourself that you can say no. You have the power.

A. Saying “No” to our favorites can be challenging

B. Here are a few ways to apply this positive thinking to your own life

C. You have a voice

D. Be More Active

E. “Because I can” is an easy way to include more activities into your life

F. Maybe you think it is out of your comfort zone

G. A strong willpower can keep us motivated（有动机的）and reach our goals

    Much of the work in today's world is accomplished (完成) in teams. Most people believe the best way to build a great team is to gather a group of the most talented individuals. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Companies spend millions hiring top business people. Is their money well spent?

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} They focused on football, basketball and baseball. The results are mixed. For football and basketball, adding talented players to a team proves a good method, but only up to the point where 70% of the players are top talent; above that level, the team's performance begins to decline. Interestingly, this trend isn't evident in baseball, where additional individual talent keeps improving the team's performance.

    To explain this phenomenon, the researchers explored the degree to which a good performance by a team requires its members to coordinate (协调) their actions. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} In baseball, the performance of individual players is less dependent on teammates. They conclude that when task interdependence is high, team performance will suffer when there is too much talent, while individual talent will have positive effects on team performance when task interdependence is lower. If a basketball star is, for example, trying to gain a high personal point total, he may take a shot himself when it would be better to pass the ball to a teammate, affecting the team's performance. Young children learning to play team sports are often told, "There is no I in TEAM." {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    Another possibility is that when there is a lot of talent on a team, some players may make less effort. Just as in a game of tug-of-war (拔河比赛), whenever a person is added, everyone else pulls the rope with less force.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}. An A-team may require a balance-not just a players, but a few generous B players as well.