Tips for Staying Sharp

    It's not abnormal to feel out of it from time to time or perhaps you're feeling a bit sluggish(迟钝的)when it comes to remembering things. If you're worried about your forgetfulness, try out these five tips to stay sharp.

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    You've probably heard the term “you are what you eat.” If you decide to eat sugary foods that are heavy with fats then expect to feel lazy and have no energy. But if you decide to eat fruits, vegetables and make other healthy eating decisions you'll find that you're full of energy.

Never stop learning

Challenge yourself constantly—whether it is puzzles, reading, cooking or other tasks that will keep your mind working. If your mind is always learning new things and active, you'll realize that it's much easier for you to learn new things and to function.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}

Stay fit

    Being in good health and staying in shape is a big part of staying sharp.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}If you choose to be lazy then your body is not going to give you the energy that requires remembering things and completing tasks. However, if you put forth the effort into being health then your body will expel(释放)the energy you need to achieve your goals.

Ensure enough sleep

    Be sure to get the necessary amount of sleep that your body needs to function on a daily basis.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}It also helps your body build up an energy reserve so you can improve your ability to focus and avoid distractions.

Socialize more

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Social interaction will help you develop multitasking, problem solving and other skills that are necessary in life to keep your mind sharp.

A. Feed your brain

B. Avoid eating too much

C. Your body will only give you what you put into it

D. Lack of sleep contributes to tiredness and slow reaction

E. Conversations require individuals to stay aware and active

F. According to studies, sleep helps strengthen and recover your memories

G. Remember you brain is a muscle and if you want to get the most out of it, you must use it

    Understanding body language can lead to closer relationships. Noticing the signals that people send out with their body language and being able to effectively read them is a very useful skill.

    Watch for crying. Usually crying is considered a sign of sadness, but crying can also be an expression of happiness. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Thus, when judging crying, you'll need to look for other signals to determine the real meaning of the crying.

    Look for signs of anger. Signs of anger include v-shaped eyebrows (眉毛), and wide eyes.{#blank#}2{#/blank#} Arms tightly crossed over the other is a common sign that the person is angry and is closing himself off to you.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Studies have found that when people are engaged in an interesting conversation, their eyes remain focused on their partner's face about 80% of the time.

    Look for expressions of embarrassment. Embarrassment can be signaled by turning the eyes or head away, and forcing smiles. If someone looks down at the floor a lot, they are probably shy, or embarrassed.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} People are often thinking and feeling unpleasant emotions when they are in the process of staring at the ground.

    Notice any sense of pride. People express pride by showing a small smile, moving their head backward, and putting their hands behind their backs.

    As a general rule, people are best at reading facial expressions, and then body movements, and, finally, personal space and touch.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} People are generally better at reading body movements that are pleasant rather than unpleasant. One study finds that individuals are better at accurately interpreting (领会) happiness, and excitement, compared to anger, sadness, and fear.

A. Read interest from eyes.

B. Look for signals of anxiety.

C. However, different body movements have different meanings.

D. Down-turned mouth is also a sign of being angry.

E. People also tend to look down when they are upset.

F. Crying can also come about through laughter and humor.

G. However, not all body movements are equally easy to understand.

    When Ava McCarver was in kindergarten, her class visited a nursing home (疗养院). Ava learned that many of the residents (住户) there receive few visitors. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} “I asked my mom if I could visit them,” she says. Soon, Ava and her mom became volunteers at Birchwood Health Care Center.

    That was six years ago. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} She enjoys hanging out with Mary, Shirley and other residents during her twice-monthly visits. “I paint their nails, and I talk to a lot of them,” she says. Sometimes she helps lead craft (手工艺) projects. Other times they play card games. “It's good for the residents to see little kids,” Ava says. “That makes them really happy.”

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} She has raised money for the nursing home by making refrigerator decorations and selling them at a craft fair. She has also collected used puzzles from garage sales and donated them to Birchwood.

    Ava wrote a book called The Squirrel Family. In the book, two squirrels raise a family and eventually move into a place called Birchwood where they live happily. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Ten stores in her city agreed to display the books, along with a can to collect money. Ava's project raised about $750. Birchwood used that money to buy furniture for the residents.

    Ava says she enjoyed the look of “pure joy” on a resident's face after a hug from her. That's why she started visiting Birchwood — to bring happiness to others. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} “It's really fun,” she says. “They have good stories, and I enjoy my time there.”

A. She decided to take action.

B. But she has gained happiness for herself, too.

C. Since then, Ava has made many friends at Birchwood.

D. Ava used her book to raise money for the nursing home.

E. Birchwood needs more volunteers for its craft project.

F. Ava has found some creative ways to help her friends at Birchwood.

G. Ava's book has achieved a great success and earned a large amount of money for her.

    Whether you're a child, teenager, young adult or are middle-aged, respect for your parents is an important value. Your parents are the people who raised you, devoting time, energy and money to your development. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} No matter your age is, there are 5 ways to show respect.

    Respect their belongings.

    One important way to show respect is to show regard for the things important to your parents. For younger children, this may mean not touching jewelry or other valuable things. For grown children, respect may mean returning a borrowed tool in good condition and on time. Lack of respect for a parent's belongings is a violation of personal boundaries. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}— And never borrow things without asking first.

    Punctuality.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Therefore, always be on time. For teenagers, showing up on time means coming home by curfew （宵禁）.Adult children should show up on time for family dinners or events, or to pick a parent up for a medical appointment. Call if you're going to be late because parents worry about children, no matter their age is.

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    Remembering birthdays, anniversaries and other special days is a sign that you honor your parents. Make plans to take them to lunch or dinner or bake a cake or cookies. Most parents don't expect expensive gifts, but a handmade gift is always appreciated .A phone call from a grown child who lives too far for a visit is a welcome sign of respect.

    Be kind.

    Kind words and affection are simple ways to show respect. Tell your parents you love them. Listen and allow your parents to speak without interruption. Show a sincere interest in what your parents have to say. Be patient with your parents and don't rush them. Never talk back or be rude or disrespectful. Acknowledge your parents' achievements. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. Celebrate with them.

B. Be a good listener.

C. Don't take advantage of your parents' kindness and generosity.

D. Treat your parents the way you would like to be treated.

E. Being respectful helps build positive relationships with others.

F. And they love you unconditionally throughout your life.

G. Lateness indicates a lack of respect.

Some Ways to Improve Your Study

As a high school student, it is important for you to do well in study. The better ways you have, the better you will learn. But do you know how to improve your study? {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Pay attention in class. First, don't make any noise in class. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Last but not least, get yourself involved in classroom activities.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} If you are not sure how to take notes, start by writing down the important points that your teacher mentions or writes on the blackboard. It's a good idea to keep your notes in order by subject. It can help you master what you have learnt.

    Go over your lessons. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} By going over your lessons, you can understand and remember better. So you should review your lessons now and then after class.

    Learn from your classmates. Everyone has his own advantages. You should learn not only from your teachers but also from your classmates. You can learn in pairs or in groups to solve problems. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    I'm sure you will improve your study sooner or later if you follow the ways above.

A. Take good notes.

B. Believe in yourself.

C. Here are some ways to help you.

D. It is necessary for you to go over your lessons.

E. You should take part in out-of-school activities.

F. Second, pay attention to what the teacher says.

G.in this way, you can learn from each other and know more.

    As we all know, the spine (脊柱) stands at the center of your health, providing your body with structure and support. It also contains your spine cord, a massive collection of nerves sending electric signals from the rest of your body to your brain. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}.

    Maintaining good posture is one of the most important things you can do to keep your spine healthy. Proper posture means standing or sitting while keeping your spine straight, except for its natural curves. Posture comes into play even when you are asleep. Sleeping on your side puts less stress on your spine than most other positions. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}. Especially if you work at a desk most of the day, it's important to get up and stretch regularly.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}. Stretch can help the muscles around your spine relax and allow bones to shift into better arrangement. Strength exercises like push-ups (俯卧撑) can also help by strengthening the muscles around your spine. However, don't overdo the exercise, as repeated movements can strain the muscles around your spine.

    Finally, your diet affects the health of your spine because many vitamins are necessary for bones and nerves. In particular, vitamins B and D are essential to keep bones healthy, so you may want to consider taking a supplement. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}, so it is also helpful to do some of the back exercise outside.

    Many of the actions necessary to keep your spine healthy are the same as those used to keep your health in other ways. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}.

A. It can be hard on your back to stay still for too long

B. So, to have a healthy spine, you should take the following factors into account

C. Try the following exercises to keep your spine more flexible

D. So protect your back, the rest of the body will benefit

E. Exercise is also an important factor in your spine's health

F. Doing yoga to protect your spine is also a necessary step

G. However, the latter can also be absorbed from sunlight