This is the season for giving. Looking toget in touch with your generous side? Learn these four habits of truly thoughtful gift givers.

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        Considerate giftgiving is as much about planning as it is about how well you know the person.Take time to think about his or her personality and interests to figure out howhe or she will get the most value.

They don't focus on cost.

The practice of thoughtful giving offers awealth of benefits, but that doesn't mean givers should focus on expensivegifts.{#blank#}2{#/blank#} It seems that having more cash could actually reduce compassion(同情). And isn't compassion what this time ofyear is all about? So don't take it too hard if you don't have a lot to spend.{#blank#}3{#/blank#} 

They make gifts personal.

Gifting is an opportunity to let a personknow how much you appreciate and love him, and show how well you know him.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}  Book a massage (按摩), take them to a wine tasting event, orget a couple of tickets to a concert or show. If you're buying for a parent,taking their kids for an evening could be the best gift of all.

They think about the presentation.

{#blank#}5{#/blank#} See what you have around your house to customize packaging. You can usepretty towels to cover something like a bottle of wine. You can also tie on adecoration that fits the theme of your gift.

A. They plan ahead.

B. Instead, get creative.

C. They enjoy giving more than receiving.

D. In fact, thoughtful gift givers don'tconcentrate on the cost of presents.

E. Thoughtful gift givers pay attention todetail, including how their gifts are packaged.

F. Make a list of your ideas ahead of timeto make sure you find the perfect fit for everyone.

G. If you're buying for someone who seemsto have everything, consider gifting an experience.

                                                      Homesickness at college

    The thought of college life is quite exciting for students as they taste independence for the first time at college. Their hard work and effort paid off after all. Though college life brings lots of dreams and expectations for students, most of them soon start feeling homesick.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}But change is a part of life and dealing with change helps us to grow. In the same way, homesickness at college is a brief experience which goes away once students start adjusting in their new environment.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}Some students may turn to alcohol and drugs. So it is important that students who experience homesickness at college know about how to deal with it. Students should understand that rather than constantly thinking of their hometown, it is better to see it as a challenge and try to defeat it . Though it is not a difficult task, the time that will take each person to deal with home-

sickness at college will be different according to their attitude and personality.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}Youcan do that, too.

    Remember overcoming homesickness is accepting what you are experiencing. Many students think that being homesick is childish and undeveloped feeling and try to cover it up by acting cool or showing that they are very busy.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}Besides, even their classmates will be going through the same emotions and feelings. Instead of trying to make them understand that they are totally fine after shifting to the new school, going through their emotions and thoughts about life at home for a day or two will be a better choice.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. Homesickness helps students build up a better understanding of life.

B. Homesickness leads to dangerous results if not solved properly.

C. But they don't realize that homesickness is common to people of all ages.

D. You may miss your parents as you leave home for the first time.

E. This is an important part in the process of beating homesickness.

F. The main reason for the development of such a feeling is change.

G. Believe this is a possible achievement that everyone can achieve.

How to Overcome Depression

    Suffering from depression means more than just dealing with a bad week or even a bad month. Depression is a weakening condition that can make it impossible for you to enjoy your daily existence. To overcome your depression, you have to first determine if what you're feeling are the symptoms of depression.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}While medications can help relieve symptoms, it is still important for depressed persons to understand the disorder and develop healthier strategies for coping with it.

    Keep yourself busy. Fill your schedule with events and activities you love. Keeping a busy schedule will force you to stay active, focused, and thinking about the next thing on your plate. You can draw up a schedule for each day at the start of the week, or simply plan out each day the night before.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    Improve your diet{#blank#}3{#/blank#}Even if you're losing your appetite, you need to be determined to eat three meals a day. You don't need to try to lose weight or be incredibly healthy-conscious when you're dealing with your depression, but eating healthier food regularly will improve your mental and physical state.

    Think positively. Being a more positive thinker will help you look at your life and world in a way that fills you with hope instead of despair. To think more positively, you should learn how to recognize your negative thoughts and to fight them with stronger positive thoughts whenever you can. For a jump start, find at least five things to be grateful for{#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Neglecting personal hygiene (卫生) is a common side effect of depression. While you will not beat your depression by transforming your looks, if you take time to maintain your appearance and hygiene every day, you will feel better about yourself. Shower daily, brush your teeth and wash your hair.

A. Control your emotions.

B. Improve your appearance.

C Most importantly be happy about every single day.

D. Whichever method you choose, make a goal of sticking to it.

E. However, not everyone knows depression has a positive side.

F. Eating a healthy, balanced diet can also help you beat depression.

G. If you are feeling sad, lonely, or worthless, you may be suffering from depression.

Some Advice for Freshmen

    As you enter a university, you turn to a new page where life is quite different from before. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} As far as I can see, there are several aspects you should pay special attention to.

Manage your free time well.

    Since there's plenty of spare time every day, a good time-management becomes vital. When free, you can devote yourself to studying or going out to visit some scenic spots nearby. If you have special skills or interests, there are various clubs for you to join. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} At the same time you get the chance to make friends with other students.

    Develop self-discipline (自律).

    College life is nearly completely up to yourself instead of the teachers compared to the high school. So self-discipline makes much more significance. In university the teachers' job is to give classes. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} It is your choice to do them dependently or copy. You're supposed to hand in the assignments punctually. You're also expected to stick to your timetable, keep a balanced diet, etc.

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    This is the person who will help you with course conflicts, adding or dropping courses, scheduling of classes for future terms and deciding on majors. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} He/ She should be the person you turn to with any academic issues or conflicts. And don't be afraid of requesting another adviser if you can't contact the first one.

    Bear these tips in mind and I'm sure it can be beneficial to you in the long run.

A. Find a perfect place to study in.

B. It's where to show your talent.

C. Get to know your academic adviser.

D. This person is a key resource for you.

E. As for the assignments, it is your work.

F. Buy a calendar to know when assignments are due.

G. To well adapt yourself to the new environment is of great significance.

Benefits of Sports

    Doing sports is a physical, mental and social adventure. It's a great way for children to take a break from academics and release extra energy. It also helps them lead fuller and happier lives as regular sports have proven to improve overall well-being.

    The physical benefits of doing sports are probably the most obvious. Regardless of your fitness level when you start playing sports, you'll notice an increase in your overall fitness once you're involved.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}Basketball players focus on strength training; football players work on speed while track athletes train through longer runs. The training process helps promote physical fitness and performances in competitions.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}Playing sports contributes to mental health, helping to increase confidence and self-worth. A pat on the back, high-five from a teammate, or handshake after a match really boosts a child's confidence. Words of praise and encouragement from the coach, parents and other players raise the self-worth.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}So after a game, it's a better idea to ask "Did you enjoy the game?" rather than "Did you win?"

    Children who participate in sports might also benefit from the social aspect, feeling part of a group, building up accountability and leadership.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}Teamwork involves both being dependable as a teammate and learning to rely on your teammates to achieve a positive outcome. Teamwork breeds accountability and challenges you to be responsible for your actions. Being part of a team gives you an opportunity to be a leader.

    Discipline is another social advantage. Most organized sports require a strict training and practice schedule. As a student-athlete, you need to balance academics and athletics.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    There is no shortage of reasons to find a sport to get involved in. Are you ready to go? Pick one and get moving!

A. It's not just your body that benefits from sports.

B. Therefore, playing sports is going to make you more fit.

C. But remember, a child's self-worth should not be distinguished by victory or loss.

D. If you play group sports, you'll be part of a team that takes direction from a coach.

E. Nearly every sport requires physical activity and the skills needed to be competitive.

F. Among these, learning how to function as part of a team is the most important advantage.

G. Only with strict discipline can you be successful both in the classroom and in the sports field.

When the moon passes between the Sun and the Earth, the resulting view of the Sun is called a solar eclipse(日食). Solar eclipses are beautiful astronomical events and many people across the world travel to faraway places to get a clear view of the phenomenon. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Others choose special eyewear.

It is believed that a pregnant woman with a baby should not view a solar eclipse. They are often told that their child will be badly formed if they view a solar eclipse. However, various scientific authorities have stated over and over again that there is no harm at all in viewing a solar eclipse with the right eye gear. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

It is important, however, that you view a solar eclipse with the right eye gear. Staring right at the sun could permanently damage the eyes. It is wrong to assume that the sun can be looked at after the moon blocks out a majority of it. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

If you want to view the eclipse, you have to get special glasses. As opposed to popular belief, sunglasses and dark films do NOT protect our eyes. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}You can do this by fixing a telescope and focusing the image onto a sheet of paper. You can clearly see the eclipse on the sheet of paper. You should never look directly at the eclipse through the telescope.

Similarly, you can make a tiny hole on an opaque(不透明的) sheet of paper and let the light passing through fall on a sheet of paper. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}Alternatively, you can watch it live on TV which is the safest way of viewing a solar eclipse!

A. It is best if you purchase eye wear.

B. So they need not worry to view a solar eclipse.

C. Viewing a solar eclipse directly is a strict no-no.

D. Some of them watch the event through special, telescopes.

E. This method is an effective way to watch an eclipse as well.

F. To safely watch a solar eclipse, wear protective eclipse glasses.

G. The best way to see a solar eclipse is by viewing its projected image.