Get a Thorough Understanding of Oneself

    In all one's life time it is oneself that one spends the most time being with or dealing with. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    When you are going upwards in life you tend to overestimate(高估) yourself. It seems that everything you seek for is within your reach. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} It's likely that you think it wise for yourself to stay away from the outer world. Actually, to get a thorough understanding of oneself, you may as well keep the following tips in mind.

    Gain a correct view of oneself. You may look forward hopefully to the future but be sure not to expect too much, for dreams can never be fully realized. You may be courageous to meet challenges but it should be clear to you where to direct your efforts. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    Self-appreciate. Whether you compare yourself to a towering tree or a blade of grass, a high mountain or a small stone, you represent a state of nature.  {#blank#}4{#/blank#} If you earnestly admire yourself you'll have a real sense of self-appreciation.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} In time of anger, do yourself a favor by releasing it in a quiet place so that you won't be hurt by its flames; in time of sadness, do yourself a favor by sharing it with your friends so as to change a bad mood into a cheerful one; in time of tiredness, do yourself a favor by getting a good sleep.

    Get a full control of one's life. Then one will find one's life full of color and flavor.

A. But it is precisely oneself that one has the least understanding of.

B. So long as you have a perfect knowledge of yourself, there won't be difficulties you can't overcome.

C. When you are going downhill you tend to underestimate yourself for your own incompetence.

D. It has its own value.

E. Especially if it is well within your reach, you are just too blind to see it.

F. Do oneself a favor when it's needed.

G. Do yourself a favor when you resist the attack of illness.

Do you dream?

    Have you ever visited some strange places in your dreams? In fact people have wondered about these strange places for long.{#blank#}1{#/blank#} However, they have been valued as necessary to a person's health and happiness.

    Historically, people thought dreams contained messages from God. It was only in the twentieth century that people started to study dreams scientifically, believing that they tell about a person's character.{#blank#}2{#/blank#} He believed that dreams allow a person to express fantasies or fears, which would be socially unacceptable in real life.

    The second theory to become popular was Carl Jung's compensation theory. Jung, a former student of Freud, said that the purpose of a dream is not to hide something, but rather to communicate it to the dreamer.{#blank#}3{#/blank#} Thus, people who think too highly of themselves may dream about falling; those who think too little of themselves dream of being heroes.

    Using more recent research, William Domhoff from the University of California found that dreaming is a mental skill that needs time to develop in humans.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} Until they reach the age of five, they can not express very well what their dreams are about. Once people become adults, there is little or no change in their dreams. The dreams of men and women differ. For instance, the characters that appear in the dreams of men are often other men, and often involve physical aggression.

    The meaning of dreams continues to be difficult to understand. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} If you dream that a loved one is going to die, do not panic. The dream may have meaning, but it does not mean that your loved one is going to die.

A. Dreams make up for what is lacking in waking life.

B. But anyway, people should not take their dreams as reality.

C. It gives scientists chances to better understand human mind.

D. They have been considered as meaningless nighttime journeys.

E. First, there was Sigmund Freud's theory.

F. They think their mind is trying to tell them something.

G. Children do not dream as much as adults.

    Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving Day and the Friday before Cyber Monday in the United States. It is a busy shopping day and is a holiday in some states. Many people have a day off work on Black Friday. Some people use this to make trips to see family members or friends who live in other areas or to go on vacation.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Shopping for Christmas presents is also popular on Black Friday. Many stores have special offers and lower their prices on some goods, such as toys.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}Many people take a day of their annual leave on the day after Thanksgiving Day. Many organizations also close for the Thanksgiving weekend.

    Public transport systems may run on their normal schedule or may have changes.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}There can also be congestion (拥挤）on roads to popular shopping destinations.

    Black Friday is one of the busiest shopping days in the USA.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}One theory is that the wheels ofvehicles in heavy traffic on the day after Thanksgiving Day left many black markings on the road surface, leading to the term Black Friday.

    The other theory is that the term Black Friday comes from an old way of recording business accounts.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}Many businesses, particularly small businesses, started making profits before Christmas. Many hoped to start showing a profit, marked in black ink, on the day after Thanksgiving Day.

A. Black Friday is a public holiday in some states.

B. Black Friday is a shopping day for a lot of reasons.

C. Losses were recorded in red ink and profits in black ink.

D. Others use it to start shopping for the Christmas season.

E. Some stores extend their opening hours on Black Friday.

F. As time goes on, a new explanation of black Friday has become popular.

G. There are two popular theories as to why the day after Thanksgiving Day is called Black Friday.

    Most people know that chocolate is made from cocoa and that the origins of chocolate can be traced back to Central and South America. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} But how did chocolate go from being the food of the gods to being the food of love?

{#blank#}2{#/blank#} They established the first cocoa plantation and used the cocoa beans as the main ingredient in a dark，bitter drink that we would call “chocolate”. The Mayas believed that chocolate had mystical properties.{#blank#}3{#/blank#} In fact，cocoa beans were used as a form of currency that was worth its weight in gold.

    Spanish conquistador Hernando Cortez was the first European explorer to realize cocoa's commercial possibilities.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} In 1529，Cortez returned Spain and introduced chocolate—as a drink mixed with sugar，vanilla，and cinnamon—to European society.

    It caught on，especially with the nobility. As its popularity spread，people found new ways to make and use chocolate.{#blank#}5{#/blank#} Whether it is in delectable desserts or crunchy candy，people all over the world are still in love with chocolate.

A. But cocoa also had commercial value.

B. But not all the people all over the world love cocoa.

C. For centuries，the native there regarded cocoa as a gift from the gods.

D. When he arrived in the New World in 1519，he soon established his own cocoa plantation.

E. Around A.D.600，the Mayas were the main aboriginal group in Central America.

F. These days，chocolate is enjoyed as both a tasty treat and a romantic indulgence.

G. Doctors said cocoa plays an active part in medicine.

Time is on your side

    How frequently do you say "I don't have time"? Quite often, I guess. Every time we say those words, they make us feel weak and out of control. You are in control of your hours and your life. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    I don't as easy as simply turning off the TV. But here are two steps that will help you take back control and get time on your side.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    Be honest: do you Spend an hour or two visiting Weixin and QQ every day? Are you spending time with people that you don't really like just to please them? Are there meetings you attend that you can politely refuse?

    It's time to get real about the hours that add up to a lot of dissatisfying nothing. Think how you can cancel daily activities that are not useful. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    Change your language.

    Words matter. They have power. Saying "I don't have time" is an excuse for not wanting to do something. Here are some good, empowering alternatives (选择):

    "I choose not to start that project until next year."

    "{#blank#}4{#/blank#}"

    "I'd love to go out this weekend but have important work I need to do first."

    Get better at saying no. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}Use little pockets of time (friend running late, car stuck in traffic, meeting ending 10 minutes early) to do some productive thinking. All these things can add up over time more than you believe!

A. Identify your blocks.

B. But you are likely wasting a lot of it!

C. I really don't have enough time to do it.

D. Replace them with things that satisfy you.

E. Take no notice of all those unimportant messages on your phone.

F. I'd love to read that book — I'll get to it after my homework is complete!

G. When you don^ have a plan for your life, someone else will plan it for you.

Moving to a new country—or even spending a year abroad—is an exciting experience. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Making friends in a new country is one of them. Here are some suggestions.

Network through personal connections. Most people don't jump at the chance to show a stranger around town, but that changes as soon as you make a personal connection—even a tiny one. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Until you do, you'll never know if your former classmate's brother's best friend lives around the corner.

Join a hobby club or a sports team. Committing to a weekly hobby meet up is a great way to force yourself to socialize. There are always hiking clubs looking for teammates. You don't have to master the local language to find partners. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} What you need to do is make an effort to start conversations or sign up for exercise classes.

{#blank#}4{#/blank#} Feeling lonely isn't just about not having weekend plans; it can make us feel like we don't matter to the people around us. Join an organization that helps homeless people or helps out animal shelters. You'll feel good about yourself and find an immediate sense of connection.

Talk to strangers. When you're the stranger in town, it's easy to feel awkward and out of place. The more you push past that, the more you'll find that almost everyone enjoys meeting new people. Talking about where you come from and what the weather is like is the first step to get to know someone.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A.Volunteer for a good cause. 

B.However，it has its challenges，too. 

C.So practice your small talk and use it often. 

D.These are great places to meet outgoing strangers. 

E.Ask friends back home if they know anyone in your area. 

F.Every trip out of the house is a chance to meet the right person. 

G.Exercising in a gym is another way to meet people with similar interests.