How to become a better reader

    Language and literacy (读写能力) are among humans' greatest inventions. Evolving（演变）over the course of human history, languages are a reflection of our cultural and societal attitudes. Today, surrounded（包围）by social media, television, movies, and, of course, books, the ability to read and write is important to expressing one's feelings. Most humans acquire language in early childhood and speak fluently when they are about three years old, but our continued relationship with language gives shape and meaning to our lives.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Take it slow. Many readers feel that they read too slowly, especially compared with others.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}The best readers are flexible（灵活的）— slowing down when needed — and always have a dictionary at hand.

    Read aloud. When humans first began reading written words, it was unusual to read in silence.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}Try listening to the author reading their own work — you'll be surprised to find how clearly it comes through on the page.

    Write. Writing and reading go hand-in-hand: how and what you read affects how and what you write, and the best readers often make the best writers. But while much can be learned from close, repeated readings, there are many pleasures to language that can only be experienced through the practice of writing.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    Tell your friends. All of the literature is essentially communication from an individual's inner voice to an audience.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}It's a good way to see the world from someone else's eyes and, in the process, carefully examine your own reaction to what you're reading.

A. But the truth is that the faster you read, the less likely you are to understand fully what you're reading.

B. Can you remember the first piece of writing that transported you to another world?

C. There is something magical about sharing books with friends or a book club.

D. Try writing every day for a month, and you will never read the same again.

E. Reading out loud is one of the best ways to improve your reading ability.

F. Here are 4 ways to become a better reader.

G. In no time, you'll be appreciating novels like fine wine.

    Life is kind of like a party. You invite a lot of people, some leave early, some stay all night, some laugh with you, some laugh at you, and some show up really late. But in the end, after the fun, there are a few who stay to help you clean up the mess. And most of the time, they aren't even the ones who made the mess{#blank#}1{#/blank#} They are the ones who matter most. Here are four things real friends do differently:

    They face problems together. A real friend is someone who sees the pain in your eyes while everyone else still believes the smile on your face.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}Just look for someone who will face them with you.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}Your word means everything. If you say you're going to do something, DO IT! If you say you're going to be somewhere, BE THERE! If you say you feel something, MEAN IT! If you can't, won't, and don't, then DON'T LIE. Real friends keep promises and tell the truth upfront.

    They accept each other. Trying to change a person never works. A real friend is someone who truly knows you and loves you just the same.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} Be yourself and people will love the real you. If you feel like changing something about your friend, ask yourself what change you can make in yourself instead.

    They support each other's growth changes. Our needs change with time. When someone says, “You've changed,” it's not always a bad thing.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}Don't apologize for it. Instead, be open and sincere, explain how you feel, and keep doing what you know in your heart is right,

A. They keep their promises.

B. No one is happy all the time.

C. They make time for each other.

D. Don't change so that people will like you.

E. Sometimes it just means you've grown.

F. These people are your real friends in life.

G. Don't look for someone who will solve all your problems.

    As you grow rapidly through your teenage years, you will experience a lot of changes. The changes may seem difficult. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Don't panic! You will deal successfully with them! You are a young adult now!

    With more responsibility, you will find more freedom to make your own choices. This is a time to be well informed about making choices. In this way you can make healthy balanced decisions. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} You may already know your career path or you may have no idea at all what you want to do. Both situations are fine! Work hard and the right opportunity will present itself to you.

    Young adulthood means greater freedom and more choices. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} But try not to shut your family out of your life. You should learn to think of others even though you are old enough to look after yourself.

    It is also perfectly natural at this time for you to spend more time with your friends than your family.  {#blank#}4{#/blank#} A true friend will stand by you no matter what happens.

    This period is a part of the life cycle. These are some people who will be with you throughout life's journey. There will be some people with whom you part and go separate ways. Leaving school can be hard. The reality is that you may not even see all of your classmates again.

    You are a young adult. It is your life. No one can live it for you. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} So making the right choices will be important to you. Life is for living. Enjoy your life wisely!

A．Choose your friends wisely.

B．They will help shape the future.

C．They may seem to happen quickly.

D．You will probably want to be independent.

E．You may appreciate what you have in your own life.

F．The choices that you make from now on will be your choices.

G．Your family has been with you since you came into this world.

How to be safe when you are travelling on your own

    Be sure to arrive during daytime {#blank#}1{#/blank#} People looking to prey (欺骗)on tourists can do it with ease at night. Make sure your arrival time will get you where you are going during daylight hours.

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    Make sure to keep your money in a money belt, keep your credit cards in another place, and your passport in another.

    Look for people to group up with Have you met friendly people at the bar? See if they want to join you when you go out for dinner. See if there's a tour group you can join up with.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}

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    It can be a struggle to carry a lot of bags around on your own. If criminals see you struggling, they may use the opportunity to grab one of your suitcases. Before you leave, be sure you can carry your luggage quickly and smoothly. If you can't, it's time to cut down your bags.

    Trust your instincts(直觉)

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} If you have a bad feeling about something, it's probably for a reason and it's best to go with your instincts. Even if your concerns are nothing, it can't hurt to listen to them.

A. Store important things separately.

B. Travel with as little luggage as possible.

C. Never get close to possible dangers wherever you are.

D. Surrounding yourself with others will help keep you protected.

E. Ensure that your family and friends know exactly where you are anytime.

F. This is when bus stations, airports, and hotels will be at their most active.

G. If something makes you suspicious or nervous, it's better to be careful and avoid it.

    Although most parents don't like doing it after a long and exhausting workday, reading bedtime stories does make a positive influence on your child's emotional and mental health. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    It helps to develop children's imagination.

    Reading bedtime stories can develop your children's ability to form pictures or ideas in their mind. A healthy imagination makes their minds work well and teaches them to think quickly yet effectively. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    It improves children's language.

    Reading also improves your children's language. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} They'll most likely use those words in the stories you read right after they hear them. Listening to many stories helps kids to express their opinions better.

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    Reading books makes people more learned. When children hear the stories you tell, they learn grammar and vocabulary, for example. It helps them be successful in school as they already know a lot from your stories. What's more, every story has its moral aspect and tells them what's good and what's bad.

    These reasons leave no chances of doubting whether to read bedtime stories to your children or not. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} They will thank you in future, I promise.

A. It makes children knowledgeable.

B. It fosters children's affection for reading.

C. Take a look at the best benefits of it and you'll never be lazy to do that.

D. So however tired you are, find time to read bedtime stories to your children.

E. Bedtime stories create just unforgettable moments.

F. They remember most words you say and enlarge their vocabulary.

G. They'll be successful in many aspects thanks to a wonderful imagination.

    Some are born with the ability to talk to people in any kind of situation and express their ideas. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}Having no confidence can be one of the reasons why these people are afraid to talk with others. So it's necessary for them to know some ways to talk to people.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} In some situations where you are finding it awkward (难为情的) to talk to people, just carry a smile, and you'll find that people will actually start talking to you!

    Using good body language during a conversation is also important. Before you start talking, make sure that you are in a good posture (姿势), and look into the eyes of the other person.{#blank#}3{#/blank#} It also shows you're interested to talk to the person.

    For talking comfortably to people on the phone, you have to learn to listen actively. Here, body language is of no importance at all. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}And at the same time repeat to the person what he or she said from time to time. This shows your interest in the conversation.

    It's difficult to talk with unhappy people. Such people are less likely to talk first because of their bad state of mind. Try asking close­ended questions. For example, you can ask like this：Have you been alright lately? Or was your day a good one? {#blank#}5{#/blank#}This will help calm the other person down.

A. And this can increase your confidence.

B. However, remember to use a gentle voice.

C. Start a lively conversation with the latest events.

D. A smile is a good way to start any conversation.

E. Talking to people is not a difficult task as it may seem to be.

F. You just need to listen carefully to the person at the other end.

G. For some people, it's difficult even to start a light conversation.