Many of us are so busy with work, school and home life, which often cause there is no time left to do something that you enjoy. What follows are some ways to carve out that essential time you need to slow down, enjoy life and relax yourself.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Try to save certain weeknights just for you. If others ask you to do things those nights, just tell them you have plans. Use the time for gardening, reading, exercise, thinking or the ultimate luxury of doing nothing!

    Monthly Treat. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} It could be on your lunch break, a weekend or it could be leaving work early. Maybe you get a spa treatment, go to see a movie, a haircut, play golf or whatever treat you're always thinking about but rarely get to. Schedule it in and it will happen!

    Buy Tickets in Advance. Sports, theatre, concerts or any other event you would enjoy. Schedule the plans with a friend later. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Huh? Yes, many of us stay at work late on a regular basis. If this is you, make it a point to leave work exactly on time at least once a week, if not more. And then enjoy that time! Leave work at work.

    Join a Group. Here are some ideas of groups that can allow you some time away from work and home: singing group, gardening group, astronomy society, book club, biking clubs, ski club, etc. What are you interested in? Strike while the iron is hot. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} If you can't find a club, consider starting one yourself!

A. Leave Work on Time.

B. Evenings with Yourself.

C. Having the tickets already in hand will force you to make it happen!

D. Listen to your favorite music!

E. Look up a club in your area today and join!

F. Take an Adult Education Class.

G. Schedule a treat for yourself once a month.

A few things to do during weekends to improve your life

    Weekend at last! Something you're so looking forward to after a tiring week at work. Here are several tips on how to make the most of your weekends.

    Spend time with loved ones. Reconnect with family members or friends you neglected(疏忽) lately. Don't do it out of guilt or because you have to. Do it because you want to. Reach out to them to see how they are doing. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Return their calls if you were busy when they last tried to reach you. Talk to them. Listen to them. Be there for them.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Stay away from TV, iPad, iPhone and any other electronic devices. Unplug! Your brain needs to clear up from all the stress you've put on yourself during the week. Why not read a book instead? A paper one. Seriously, when was the last time you did that?

    Laugh, laugh and laugh again. You can never have enough of it. Laugh is the best medicine ever. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} For example, it helps you manage stress, strengthen your immune system and you are 40 percent less likely to suffer a heart attack.

    Express appreciation. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Be grateful for your family, friends, health, the food you put on the table, the clothes you wear and the air that you breathe.

    There you are. Doing a few things during weekends will have a positive long-term effect on your life. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}.

A. Apply the “no technology” rule.

B. Pause and pay attention to your thoughts.

C. Friendship is the best source of happiness.

D. Don't call them only when you need them.

E. Put them into practice and you'll beat the Monday Blues.

F. It benefits your mental and physical health in so many ways.

G. This is something you should be doing every day, not only on weekends.

    When you got sick, did your parents and doctors make you drink a "terrible soup"?{#blank#}1{#/blank#}, but it can really make you feel better in several days. The "soup" is actually a kind of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).

    In recent years, TCM has become more popular around the world.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}. China has 10 TCM centers abroad, such as in France and the United States. Doctors give TCM treatment to local people there. They also teach TCM knowledge to local people. Now, there are over 100,000 TCM clinics, with about 300,000 TCM workers around the world.

    TCM came from China thousands of years ago. It is based on the Chinese philosophy (哲学) of yin and yang.

    Humans should follow the natural rules to stay healthy. Old Greece and Egypt created western medicine.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}. Western doctors check people's height, weight, blood pressure and body temperature.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}. "Bringing together western medicine and TCM can use collective knowledge, rather than create competition between them. It can develop the great effects of both of them," said Bernhard Schwartlander, a World Health Organization representative in China.

    On Dec 6, a government document reported that 86 countries and regions are now developing TCM together with China. In 2015, Chinese scientist Tu Youyou won the Nobel Prize.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}. Today, with more and people paying attention to TCM, it will definitely have a bright future.

A. Let's see some facts and figures

B. It might be a bad drinking experience

C. It is difficult to compare which one is better

D. Then the idea took shape in Europe in the 19th century

E. There are many women of great achievements in history

F. Many people believe western medicine is more effective than TCM

G. It's because she made an important drug using traditional Chinese medicine

More candidates, less bonus points

    The Ministry of Education said in March that it would remove some preferential provisions (优惠的规定) that award bonus points to some students' total score. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    According to the statement, no bonus points will be awarded for exceptional sports ability, w inning academic Olympiads or science and technology competitions.

    Reforms of the enrollment (录取) process {#blank#}2{#/blank#}Key universities and others will be combined into the same round of enrollment to provide more choices for different students. Tianjin, Guangdong and Liaoning will adopt the reforms this year.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    There will be 2,311 new majors to choose this year, many of which are oriented toward science and technology's new front—big data and artificial intelligence.

    Around 250 colleges will set up courses on “data science and big data technology” and around 60 colleges will add “robotic engineering” as a new major. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    Ban on publicity of top scorers

    In recent years, over-emphasis or even hype (炒作) of the top scorers and highest enrollment rate received negative reviews. This year, the ministry published a notice which stressed its firm stance (立场) of banning the practice before the exam. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. New majors for artificial intelligence

B. New majors for the age of intelligence

C. According to it, violators would be punished severely.

D. Talent selection process will be simplified in many places this year.

E. Cyberspace security is also a new option in this year's major selection.

F. Previously, students with top performance were awarded bonus points.

G. This effort, hopefully, will positively promote a more fair and scientific selection process.

Gardening 380 Kilometers above Earth

    Astronauts have to go through physical, psychological, and technical training. They also go through training in how to care for plants. These “astronaut gardeners” share their work and living space with plants.

    Taking seeds and plants along on a trip isn't a new idea. As space trips become longer, it will be necessary to grow food in space. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Because of this, it's not practical to send everything needed for a long journey, only to be used once and thrown away.

    Plants can serve many uses on a space journey. They can provide more fresh things. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Also, plants can help to make air quality better because they produce oxygen. They can improve the quality of the air inside the spacecraft—the only air the astronauts can breathe.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Due to the lack of gravity in space, the oxygen that the plants produce stays around the plants. This can actually kill them, so fans are needed to circulate the air. Without gravity, roots don't “know” to grow down, leaves don't “know” to grow up, and water doesn't easily travel up the roots to the leaves. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Besides, soil is too heavy to send to space, and special liquid gels (胶) are used to help plant growth.

    Scientists are also working on the plants themselves. They are trying to make plants grow more rapidly and grow with less water and light in space, and they are looking for ways to make plants more resistant to disease. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Imagine that deserts may one day provide lots of fresh food for local people, saving transportation costs. Similarly, plants that are resistant to disease could provide an important food supply. With the world's population now at seven billion (十亿) people, our astronaut gardeners may help discover ways to feed those billions.

A. Every plant grown in space must have several uses.

B. However, there are challenges with growing plants in space.

C. Such methods may result in improvements back here on Earth.

D. The cost of taking anything into space is about $22,000 per kilogram.

E. Specialized containers are being developed to help the plants grow correctly.

F. Astronauts will welcome the addition of fruits and vegetables to their diet of dry foods.

G. Currently all oxygen is taken aboard in tanks and then caught again so it can be reused.

    In an online class, developing healthy patterns of communication with professors is very important. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} While I have only listed two of each, there are obviously many other situations that can arise. Students should be able to extend the logic（逻辑）of each to their particular circumstance.

    Do's

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Questions about subject content are generally welcomed. Before asking questions about the course design, read the syllabus（教学大纲）and learning management system information to be sure the answer isn't hiding in plain sight.

    Participate in discussion forums（论坛）, blogs and other open-ended forums for dialogue. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Be sure to stay on topic and not offer irrelevant information. Make a point, and make it safe for others to do the same.

    Don'ts

    Don't share personal information or stories. Professors are not trained nurses, financial aid experts or your best friends. If you are in need of a deadline extension, simply explain the situation to the professor. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    Don't openly express annoyance at a professor or class. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} When a student attacks a professor on the social media, the language used actually says more about the student. If there is truly a concern about a professor's professionalism or ability, be sure to use online course evaluations to calmly offer your comments.

A. That's what they are for.

B. Turn to an online instructor for help.

C. If more information is needed, they will ask.

D. Remember that online professors get a lot of emails.

E. Below are some common do's and don't for online learners.

F. Everyone has taken a not-so-great class at one time or another.

G. Ask questions, but make sure they are good, thoughtful questions.