Easy Ways to Keep Your Brain Sharp

    Everyone is forgetful, but as we age, we start to feel like our brains are slowing down a bit — and that can be a very annoying thing. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Read on for some techniques worth trying.

    ⒈ {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    People who regularly made plans and looked forward to upcoming events had a 50 percent reduced chance of Alzheimer's disease (早老性痴呆症), according to a recent study. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Something as simple as setting a goal to have a weekly coffee date with a friend will do. There's evidence that people who have a purpose in life or who are working on long or short-term goals appear to do better. In other words, keep your brain looking forward.

    ⒉ Go for a walk.

    Mildly raised glucose (葡萄糖) levels can harm the area of the brain that helps you form memories and physical activity can help get blood glucose down to normal levels. In fact, exercise produces chemicals that are good for your brain. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    ⒊ Learn something new.

    Take a Spanish class online, join a drawing club, or learn to play cards. A study found that mental stimulation (刺激) limits the weakening effects of aging on memory and the mind. But the best thing for your brain is when you learn something new and are physically active at the same time. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Or go dancing with your friends.

A. Focus on the future.

B. This can be especially harmful to the aged.

C. It should be something like learning gardening.

D. So take a few minutes each day to do some reading.

E. But don't worry if your schedule isn't filled with life-changing events.

F. Luckily, research shows there is a lot you can do to avoid those moments.

G. In other words, when you take care of your body, you take care of your brain.

    Being outspoken is a quality that, when used with skill and wisdom, can set you apart from the crowd. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} The quality of being outspoken is a positive and active skill. Here are some tips.

    Gain self-knowledge(自找认识)through journaling. Knowing who you are, what you believe, and how you feel is the beginning of knowing yourself, and journaling is a great way to gain that knowledge. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Not only can you know yourself better, journaling is an excellent tool to improve self-confidence. Self-confidence is the foundation of being outspoken.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} In order to be outspoken, you have to believe that your voice has worth. You have to believe that your input will make any conversation better. And it probably will! It's different opinions that make conversations or debates interesting.

    Overcome shyness. The fact that you're confident doesn't mean you like hearing your own voice. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Overcoming a natural tendency towards shyness can seem horrible, but doing the opposite of your natural instinct can open up a whole new set of choices: brave choices.

    Back up your opinion with facts. Some people feel uncomfortable having or expressing an opinion because they don't know much about a topic. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} 

A. Be confident

B. Open your mind and speak it out.

C. The next step is overcoming your shyness.

D. Practice journaling for 15 minutes each night before bed.

E. Being outspoken is to speak your mind—to be honest and frank.

F. Allowing the other parties to make their points fully can help you seem more reasonable.

G. You can combat this feeling and have more confidence about your opinion if you learn facts that can support your opinion.

    The new school year is coming and you have to go back to school. This marks the end of much freedom during the winter time. Adjusting your sleep habits to once again fit your school schedules may seem like a burden.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Even if you have not yet get a detailed schedule of classes, you should at least find out the start time of your first class. You should get the rest of the information as soon as possible in order to decide how to adjust your schedule and sleep habits. By finding out when you starts, you will know when to wake up or when you will have some spare time.

    Begin the sleep adjustment for your school schedule as early as possible.{#blank#}3{#/blank#} But if you feel you will need some extra time to adjust, start earlier. Set your alarm clock to decide when you should wake up and when you should go to bed. When the alarm sounds for sleep, end whatever activities you are involved in and go to bed.

    Tire yourself out. If you have got used to going to sleep very late, it will be helpful to tire yourself out.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} This may be a good time to add some exercise to your routine that will enable you to be worn out at bedtime.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} These may differ from person to person, but they usually prevent you from completing your goal of going to sleep on schedule. These include bright lights or the flickering light of a computer. Ensure that your bed and the temperature of your room are comfortable and that you have comfortable pillows and blankets.

A. Relax before you go to bed.

B. Review and revise your schedule.

C. Starting a few days early will be enough.

D. However, it will actually help you become more adaptable.

E. It is difficult to be comfortable and to sleep on a full stomach.

F. Remove distractions to ensure that you are able to sleep comfortably.

G. Your body will be less likely to be restless at bedtime if you are actually exhausted.

    All over the world people are hooked on sports, which help them to strengthen their body and build their character.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}They improve the participants' physical skills, and provide entertainment for the audience as well.

    Many people like to watch others play games.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}Often they get very excited when “their” player or team wins. If they are crazy about the game or the player, then they'll become their die-hard fans. Some sports are so interesting that people everywhere go in for them. Football, for example, has spread around the world. Swimming is popular in countries near the sea or in those with many rivers.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}And think of people in cold countries. Masses of people love to skate or ski in Japan, Norway or Canada.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}Chinese boxing, also has a very long history. But basketball and volleyball are rather new, which started in the late of the nineteenth century. People are inventing new sports or games all the time. Water skiing, as a modern game, is one of the newest in the family of sports.

    People from different countries or races may not be able to understand each other, but after a game, they get to know each other better and they often become good friends.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}They learn to fight hard but fight fair, to win without pride and to lose with grace. They also learn to be competitive and optimistic, which will equip them for life challenges in the future.

A. They buy tickets or turn on the TV to watch the games.

B. What fun it is to jump into a pool or lake, whether in China, Egypt or Italy!

C. Some sports or games date back thousands of years, like running or jumping.

D. Sports help to train a person's character.

E. Chinese people liked doing sports even in ancient times.

F. Sports are competitive physical activities or games through casual or organized participation.

G. And the friendship may last for a life time.

    All over the world people are hooked on sports, which help them to strengthen their body and build their character. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} They improve the participants' physical skills, and provided entertainment for the audience as well.

    Many people like to watch others play games. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Often they get very excited when "their" player or team wins. If they are crazy about the game or the player, then they will become their die-hard fans. Some sports are so interesting that people everywhere go in for them. Football, for example, has spread around the world. Swimming is popular in countries near the sea or in those with many rivers. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} And think of people in cold countries. Masses of people love to skate or ski in Japan, Norway or Canada.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Chinese boxing, also has a very long history. But basketball and volleyball are rather new, which started in the late of the nineteenth century. People are inventing new sports or games all the time. Water skiing, as a modern game, is one of the newest in the family of sports.

    People from different countries or races may not be able to understand each other, but after a game, they get to know each other better and they often become good friends. Sports help to train a person's character. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

They also learn to be competitive and optimistic, which will equip them for life challenges in the future.

A. And the friendship may last for a life time.

B. They buy tickets or turn on TV to watch the games.

C. Chinese people liked doing sports even in ancient times.

D. What fun it is to jump into a pool or lake, whether in China, Egypt or Italy!

E. Some sports or games date back thousands of years, like running or jumping.

F. They learn to fight hard but fight fair, to win without pride and to lose with grace.

G. Sports are competitive physical activities or games through casual or organized participation.

    It's great fun with your favorite four-legged friend outdoors. But unfortunately for humans and pets alike, spending an abundance of time outdoors can have a troublesome downside: tick (扁虱) bites. "Tick season" actually takes up most of the year. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} The following safety tips may help you protect your pet from harmful tick bites.

    Lessen Your Pets Exposure to Ticks

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Usually they are particularly fond of tall grasses and brush. If possible, clear your yard regularly to create a safer environment for your pet to play in. If you think that your pet may be exposed to ticks, speak to your vet to discuss safe, effective products that may be able to prevent the attachment of ticks.

    Check Your Pet for Signs of Ticks

    Check your pet for ticks daily, especially if he or she has been playing outside or in a wooded or grassy area.{#blank#}3{#/blank#} Run your hands along your pets body, feeling for small bumps (肿块) and looking for dark spots. Ticks can be black, brown, and can range in size.

    Know How to Safely Remove a Tick from Your Pet

    Removing a tick from your pet can be a terrible task, but it's important to act quickly if you find evidence of a tick on it, as diseases can be spread from the creatures within a few short hours. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Among them using the tick remover is the most commonly used one.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    A single bite from a disease-carrying tick can spread disease to your unsuspecting pet. Symptoms of diseases include fever, loss of appetite and reduced energy. If your pet shows any of these signs, seek veterinary (兽医的) help as soon as possible.

A. Know the Symptoms

B. Ticks can live in all types of environments.

C. Wash away the ticks you've removed in the toilet

D. Areas to check include most parts of the body.

E. And summer months tend to see an increase in bites.

F. After removing a tick from your pet, always clean the wound.

G. There are varieties of removal methods that can be found online.