How to improve your vocabulary

    Vocabulary is a key part of learning a new language. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}  Maybe you can't learn a hundred new words a day, but you can learn one or two a day, totaling thousands of new words over the years. Here are some tips for building up your vocabulary.

    Make a plan to learn new words. If you want to improve your vocabulary more quickly, you have to make at least a small promise. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

Make you vocabulary practical（实用的）. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} For example, learn more of your trade language—- the words that are commonly used in your business or hobby or vocation(职业). Find better, fresher, clearer words to express what your friends are talking about.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} As you read, if you come across a new word that you don't understand. Don't miss it. Take the time to look it up in a dictionary. Write it down and use it later.

    When you learn a word, use it immediately and frequently. Put your new word into conversation with as many different people as you can. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Use it in sentences. Write it on a card and practice it while waiting for red lights.

A. Repeat it to yourself.

B. They're highly reusable

C. Start learning where you are.

D. Decide to learn one new word every day or two.

E. When you're writing something, use a dictionary frequently

F. Start by learning the words that can express what's most important to you.

G. The more you read, the more words you'll see, and the more you'll understand.

Five steps to better handwriting

    Some kids love handwriting, but others hate when it's time to put their pen to paper. Maybe they are worried about their handwriting. Are you one of them? {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Here are five steps that really work!

    Get a great grasp

    Try this — hold your pencil at the top and try to write your name. Pretty hard? But when you hold your pencil the correct way, writing is much easier. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Hold it in place with your thumb, and your index (食指) and middle fingers.

Let the lines be your guide

    Lined paper is your friend! Those lines can help you create letters that are the right size and proportion (均衡). {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Also be sure to fill up the lined space completely. Those capital letters should be from the bottom line to the top one.

Slow down

    If your writing is hard to read, try slowing down a little. If you rush, it's hard to control where you stop and start your letters.

    Lower the pressure (压力)

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}That makes it harder to make the smooth lines. Try easing up and don't hold the pencil too tightly.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    Lots of games require you to write or draw pictures. So even though it's not schoolwork, you're still using the skills you need to control your pen better.

A. Play games

B. Ask for more advice

C. So “a” should be half the height of a capital “A”.

D. You've been writing since you were a little kid.

E. Some kids press down really hard when they write.、

F. The good news is that just about everyone can improve their handwriting.

G. The best way to hold a pen or pencil is to let it rest next to the base of your thumb.

    For some people, choosing which sports to play throughout high school is hard because they have never really played an organized sport before and aren't sure what they'll enjoy most.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} If you're great at basketball but would rather play football because you think it's more fun, then give it a go (just make sure it's coot with morn and dad).

    Sports are meant to be fun.{#blank#}3{#/blank#} What's the worst that can happen? If you get cut, you can always try another sport. And sports like track don't typically cut participants from the team. You can still participate even if you're not in the team for the competition.

    Some sports, like basketball or baseball, require every person on the field to be working well together.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    Sports like tennis, track and field, swimming, gymnastics, and wrestling are all sports where individual performances are tallied(计分)into team scores.{#blank#}5{#/blank#} However, for the most part it's possible to win a solo event in these sports and still have your team lose or vice-versa(反之亦然).

    No one knows you better than you do. Maybe you enjoy the spotlight. Maybe you get annoyed by the way teammates act. Luckily, there are many individualized sports to choose from.

A．Many people are attracted to team sports.

B．Besides swimming, try fishing, sailing, skiing, and surfing.

C．Of course there are exceptions, like relays in track and swimming.

D．For others it's tough because their friends don't like to play the same sports.

E．No matter what your problem is, you have to make the decision that is best for you.

F．If there is a sport you really enjoy but you aren't sure if you can make the team, try out anyway.

G．Sure, certain people perform much better than others, but superstars don't necessarily make a good team!

    A dog is known as man's best friend because it can enrich its owner's life in many ways.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Many teenagers suffer from periods of no self-confidence as they try to deal with adolescence(青春期) .

    A teenager without self-confidence may be unable to tell his parents about problems. With a dog around, it can be a huge comfort. A dog offers its unconditional love.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    All dogs need exercise, so taking his dog for a walk is the perfect opportunity for a teenager to get outdoors and enjoy fresh air and physical activity. Exercise allows people to take control of their bodies, which is good for their life.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}Exercise releases chemicals which improve self-confidence.

    Dogs can help teenagers make new friends.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}A dog is a great ice­breaker, making the teenager feel comfortable with people he meets. The more confident they becomes when out and about with his dog，the more his self-confidence will improve.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}If a teenager is developing dangerous habits such as drinking, more action may be required. In these cases professional help should be sought. Parents should ask a health professional (专业人士) for advice if they believe there's a sign of a far more serious problem.

A. Pets offer an unconditional love that can be very helpful.

B. You don't have to worry about hurting your pet's feelings.

C. It simply accepts its owner for who he is and doesn't judge or question.

D. particularly, someone without self-confidence may find a pet dog helpful.

E. A teen may meet someone of the same age while walking his dog in the park.

F. In some cases, having a dog will not help improve a teenager's self-confidence.

G. Many forms of exercise besides walking can be enjoyed with a dog, such as cycling.

When buying a backpack, there are several things you should consider. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}A backpack used for carrying school supplies, for example, may not need to have as many features as a backpack that is to be used for hiking or camping.

When buying a backpack，look for one that can easily be placed on your back. Many people carry their backpacks over only one shoulder.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}Backpacks are designed to be carried completely on your back, supported by both shoulders, in order to help evenly distribute (分配) the weight. In fact, carrying a backpack that is either too heavy or used improperly is one of the leading causes of back injuries in students.

{#blank#}3{#/blank#} If the backpack will be used for carrying textbooks, it must be wide enough to contain the width of the books it will carry. If the backpack is for hiking, it needs to be large enough to carry supplies such as a solar blanket and other camping things.

Another consideration when buying a backpack is the number of compartments (隔层) the backpack has. When used for hiking or camping, it's often helpful for a backpack to have several smaller compartments. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

The material is also important when buying a backpack. When buying a backpack for hiking or camping, it is best to buy one that is strong enough. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} If you are buying a backpack for college use, it might also help prevent your books and homework from getting wet while you are walking from one building on campus to another in the rain.

A. But this is actually a mistake.

B. There are backpacks different from traditional ones.

C. It is helpful to buy a backpack with much space inside.

D. It is important to buy one that will be comfortable to carry.

E. This way, important items such as knives are easy to reach.

F. Thus, your clothing or supplies will not get damaged in bad weather.

G. The most important consideration when buying a backpack is its future use.

With gas prices rising and airport security lines snaking longer than ever, why not book your next domestic vacation on a train? Compared to other alternatives, it's comfortable and relaxing. Here is some advice on how to make a trip by rail as pleasant as possible. 

Plan ahead. Most long-distance trains, especially the sleeping car accommodations, sell out very quickly.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}But no matter when you travel, it's a good idea to make your reservations at least 90 days in advance. 

Use a travel agent. Consider turning your travel plan over to a travel agent and letting him double-check all the details, make suggestions, and then handle the actual reservations. A good one can sometimes find you discounted tickets.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}Then you won't have to walk through several cars on a moving train three times a day for your meals. 

Bring a blanket.When you're riding on trains, you won't be provided with a blanket for free, even if your trip is an overnight one.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}In the summer in particular, the air conditioning can make them quite cold. 

Arrive early. Most trains operate just once a day and some run only three times a week, so missing yours can be a disaster.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}Note: The times listed on the schedules are departure times, not arrival times. 

Have fun.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}Read a book, knit, do a crossword puzzle, or simply watch the world unfold outside the window. To calculate your speed as you do, divide 3,600(the number of seconds in an hour)by the number of seconds it takes you to travel one mile(the distance between two mileposts). If it takes the train 53 seconds to travel one mile, you're going 67.92 mph.

A.Train trips aren't for impatient types.

B.You'll have views from both sides of the train.

C.The temperature on rail cars is often hard to control.

D.That's particularly true during busy summer months.

E.You might have to wait longer than 24 hours to catch the next one.

F.Chances are the cost will be a lot less than the cost of one bedroom.

G.He may also book you in a sleeping car that's right next to the diner.