Trampolining

    What's more fun than standing still? Jumping up and down on a springy piece of fabric (织物)! This activity is known as trampolining and it's sweeping the nation.

    The idea of trampolining is ancient. Eskimos have been throwing each other in the air for thousands of years. Firemen began using a life net to catch people jumping from buildings in 1887. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    A gymnast named George Nissan and his coach Larry Griswold made the first modern trampoline in 1936. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} They named their equipment after the Spanish word trampolín, which means diving board. The men wanted to share their idea with the whole world. In 1942 they began making trampolines to sell to the public.

    Trampolines may be fun, but they can also be dangerous. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Clubs and gyms use large safety nets or other equipment to make it safer. Most trampoline injuries happen at home. Since trampolines are more affordable than ever, injuries are even more common.

    These injuries happen for many reasons. People may bounce too high and land out of the trampoline or onto the springs. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Perhaps the worst injuries happen when untrained people try to do flips (快速翻转). Landing on your neck or head can cause injuries or even kill you.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} There are many things that you can do to practice safe trampolining. Trampolines have been around for a while now. They have brought a lot of joy to many people. They can be a good source of exercise and activity. They can help people improve their balance and moves. But they can also be deadly. It is important to follow some professional guidance. Be sure that you are practicing safety while having a good time. Happy bouncing!

    Many times we tend to use our hands to explain our needs and thoughts.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}So you must be cautious when using hand gestures in communication.

    Hand gestures are a way of communicating with others and conveying your feelings. These gestures are most helpful when one is speaking to someone with no language in common. The meanings of hand gestures in different cultures may translate into different things.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}Former President George W. Bush had to face a major faux pas（失礼） during a visit to Australia. He tried to signal a peace sign by waving the two-finger or V-sign at the crowd.

    You may think of this as a simple gesture, but he committed a major error.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}The meaning of this hand gesture in Australia was asking the crowd to screw themselves, a rude expression used to show you're very angry!{#blank#}4{#/blank#}Therefore, it is very important to understand the meanings of gestures before you travel to different countries.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}Those considered as good gestures in one country may be termed as offensive gestures in some countries. So, if you are a frequent flier to different countries, improve your communication skills by learning the meaning of hand gestures.

A. Here is a very common example.

B. Instead of his palm facing outwards, it faced inwards.

C. The great man received warm welcome by the Australians.

D. We communicate not only by words, but by hand gestures as well.

E. A serious error committed by the then most powerful man in the world.

F. But the same hand gesture may mean something quite offensive to a person from a different cultural background.

G. Before you communicate with people in different cultures, you need to understand the meaning of gestures.

    Ever look at some of the older people in your life and wonder what the secret to their happiness is.{#blank#}1{#/blank#} It isn't that they've uncovered some mystical secret, they've merely made a bunch of simple life realizations later in life. Yet you do not need to be older in order to set some new rules and boundaries. These simple rules will help you to slow down and enjoy more of your everyday life.

    Live your own life.

    Things really aren't always what they seem and comparing your life goals to those of your friends will only make you anxious. Everyone experiences ups and downs.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}Those Facebook friends who seem to have it all are only showing their highest moments.

    Focus on one task at a time.

    Most of us are not good at multi-tasking, which makes things harder.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}You may be surprised at how much easier and faster your tasks become when you stop trying to do more than your brain can comfortably handle.

    Disconnect a little.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}However, have you ever noticed that people who didn't grow up with it? They may not be connected by the millennial's definition of the word. However they are still maintaining relationships and enjoying life without at-your-fingertips information. Give it a break from time to time when you don't need it for work or studies, even if just for a couple of hours a day.

    There is no standard for when in your life you should decide you are happy and satisfied. Instead of reaching for the distant future, try enhancing your now.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}That is one secret to their happiness. Learning to slow down sooner rather than later will help you to enjoy today and tomorrow.

A. The unhurried life is worth pursuing.

B. Technology is a huge part of modern life.

C. Why are they so calm, relaxed, and unhurried?

D. Old souls have learned about living in the moment.

E. Give your brain a break and focus on j ust one thing at a time.

F. There is no need to chase after a new goal simply to live in someone else, s life.

G. It is a bad habit to keep your life full of busy schedules from sunrise to sundown.

    It's normal to wake briefly during the night.{#blank#}1{#/blank#} But if you're waking up during the night and having trouble falling back asleep, the following tips may help.

    The key to getting back to sleep is continuing to prepare your body for sleep, so remain in bed in a relaxed position. Hard as it may be, try not to stress over the fact that you're awake.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}So just focus on the feelings and sensations in your body.

    If you are finding it hard to fall back asleep, try a relaxation technique such as visualization, deep breathing, or meditation (沉思）.{#blank#}3{#/blank#} Remind yourself that although they're not a replacement for sleep, rest and relaxation still help refresh your body. Do a quiet, non-stimulating activity.

    If you've been awake for more than 15 minutes, try getting out of bed and doing a quiet, non-stimulating activity, such as reading a book. Keep the lights dim so as not to think that it's time to wake up.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} The type of light they send out is stimulating(刺激)the brain. A light snack might help relax you, but be careful not to eat so much that your body begins to expect a meal at that time of the day.

    If you wake during the night feeling anxious about something, make a brief note of it on paper.{#blank#}5{#/blank#} You may find that it will be easier to solve it when you are fresh. Similarly, if a great idea is keeping you awake, make a note of it on paper and fall back to sleep, knowing you'll be much more productive and creative aft-er a good night's rest.

A. Arrange for it to take place the next day.

B. In fact, a good sleeper won't even remember it.

C. The darker the bedroom is, the better you'll sleep.

D. They can be done without even getting out of bed.

E. Try to make dinner time earlier in the evening.

F. Stress and anxiety encourage your body to stay awake.

G. Also avoid screens of any kind —computers, TVs, cell phones, iPads.

    After a long day at work, coming home is a breath of fresh air. Home is a comfortable place to sit back and relax. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}Below are a number of things we can do to create a healthy home environment that will help to ease the workday stress and promote our physical and mental health.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}It may seem like a tiring thing to clean but there is a reason for doing so. We can remove dust by cleaning the house. Leaving layers of dust everywhere means that there is a build-up of dust. And where do these layers of dust go? Into our lungs.

    Making sure the rooms are full of sunlight is also important. We may not realize it but sunlight is an important part of our growth. We all know that sunlight promotes better working conditions. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}Think about using a Parans system where sunlight does not reach. This technology gathers the sunlight by using solar panels(板). It can send out sunlight wherever we are.

    It is also a good idea to add more plants in our house. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}They also give off oxygen, which can lower stress and improve our moods.

    Along the lines of being green, it can also be vital to think about what things we are bringing into the house. Try to avoid specific plastics that are harmful to health. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}They may contain poisonous chemicals that can be breathed in, or simply absorbed through the skin.

A. However, is it as healthy as it can be?

B. Is our home as comfortable as it used to be?

C. The same thing applies to certain carpets and paint.

D. Going green will help to remove toxins(毒素) in the air.

E. Besides, it can reduce both stress and high blood pressure.

F. Cleaning the house regularly is the first thing we should do.

G. It is acknowledged that a greener lifestyle is linked to better health.

    A good book can be satisfying. If reading is a habit you'd like to get into, there are some ways to develop it.

    Realize that reading is enjoyable if you have a good book. If you have a difficult book and you are forcing yourself through it, it will seem like a task. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Set time. You should have some time during every day when you'll read for at least 5 to 10 minutes. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}For example, make it a habit to read during breakfast and lunch and even dinner if you eat alone.

    Always carry a book. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} When I leave the house, I always make sure to have my car keys and one book at hand. The book stays with me in the car, and I take it into the office and to appointments and pretty much everywhere I go.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Find a place in your home where you can sit in a comfortable chair. Don't lie down unless you're going to sleep. There should be television or computer near the chair, and no music or no noisy family members/roommates. If you don't have a place like this, create one.

    Reduce television/the Internet. If you really want to read more, try cutting back on time on TV or the Internet. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Still, every minute you reduce of the Internet/TV, you could use for reading. This could create hours of book reading time.

A. Wherever you go, take a book with you.

B. Go to bookstores.

C. Have some good tea or coffee while you read.

D. Find a quiet place.

E. This may be difficult for some people.

F. If this happens, give up the book and find another one that you'll really love.

G. It means you will read no matter how busy you are