Best Way to Save Money

    Although the best way to save money can vary from person to person, depending on age, family size and other characteristics, there are still some easy things that all shoppers can do to keep more money in their bank accounts.

    Avoid impulse (冲动的) purchases.

    When you shop, a best way to save money is to have a plan in mind to help you avoid impulse purchases.  {#blank#}1{#/blank#} And you only carry the exact amount of cash that you will need for your planned purchase. Some shoppers agree to discuss any purchases over a certain dollar amount with their spouses (配偶) first.

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    Sometimes the best way to save money in the long term is to spend a little more money right now.  {#blank#}3{#/blank#} A high-quality pair of shoes will last longer than a bargain pair and prevent foot pain. Leaner (瘦的) cuts of meat and organic produce provide health benefits for your family.

    Buy secondhand.

    Check classified ads, thrift stores and garage sales for used clothing, toys, furniture, and much more available at a part of their original cost.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} And there members offer unwanted items for free to anyone willing to pick them up.

    Borrow instead of buy.

    If you're only going to use something once, try to borrow it instead of spending your money on it. Borrow a tool from your neighbor.{#blank#}5{#/blank#} Check out the resources at your local library. You'll also be reducing disorder in your home.

A. Make things by yourself .

B. Exchange books with a friend.

C. Know when to pay for quality.

D. Refuse to buy things you can't use.

E. For instance, you might leave your credit cards at home.

F. A good piece of furniture can stay in the family for decades.

G. For the most secondhand savings, check out groups like Freecycle.

How to Save Water

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#}, but only 1% is easily accessible to you. Water conservation can be simple, and it starts at home. Whether you're taking showers, doing laundry, saving the water in a pool, or choosing your food, there are several strategies that will help you save water.

    Take shorter showers.

    Taking a shower uses roughly one third of the amount of water used in taking a bath. So'skip the bath and take a short shower instead. Take a CD player into the bathroom with you to challenge yourself. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}. Cutting down your shower time by just two minutes can save 10 gallons of water.

    Make sure you're washing a full load of laundry.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}. Put a full load of laundry in so that you'll be sure not to waste water. When washing your clothes, use the economy mode — this will save you both water and electricity!

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    If you have a pool, using a pool cover at night during the warmer months helps to prevent evaporation. In some places, emptying and refilling a pool is under severe restrictions, or even banned, so preserving this precious resource is crucial.

Eat less meat and dairy

    Growing animal feed uses tons of water, not to mention the amount of water used in the rest of the meat and dairy production process. The more meat and dairy you eat, the more animals are needed to keep up with the demand, so try to limit your intake of such foods.

    Defrost frozen food in the refrigerator.

    While it may be faster to soak your frozen food in water, this isn't necessary and wastes water. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}.

A. Water is a necessary resource for life

B. Water covers 70% of the earth

C. Cover your swimming pool

D Empty your swimming pool

E. Try to finish by the time it is over

F. Try to plan ahead and put the food in the fridge overnight

G. Don't just throw some socks and two shirts in the machine

    Whether you've been in college or you're looking forward to going to university in the future, you and your family likely spend some time worrying about the cost of your college education.{#blank#}1{#/blank#} However, that will pay off for years to come. Earning scholarships is a great way to help you. The Financial Aid Office at Illinois State helps students identify scholarship opportunities every day. Here is some advice to help you.

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    Have you asked your high school or community college financial aid office about scholarships at your school? Many schools have a list of several scholarships right there.{#blank#}3{#/blank#} Check with community organizations, banks and credit unions, and large employers who may offer scholarship opportunities in your area.

    Find your “hook”

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Your unique characteristics can help your scholarship applications stand out. Pay special attention to awards that mention your best qualities, whether that's academic achievements, leadership, community service, or something less common. Think about why a donor wants to assist you in paying for your education. Most scholarship providers want to encourage a particular behavior. Companies may want to attract future employees.

    Develop a routine

    Every scholarship is different in terms of when you can apply, what you need to turn in, when the winner is announced, and how the money is given to you.{#blank#}5{#/blank#} There isn't a single application or search engine that allows you to find and apply for everything. Visit the website for the Office of Student Financial Aid for lists of scholarship opportunities. Go through the lists to find the ones that match you best and keep track of when you can apply for them.

A. While you're searching, consider what makes you special as a student.

B. Typically, scholarship applications open in the late fall or early spring for the next school year's awards, but that also varies depending on the donors.

C. There is no doubt that college education is a necessary step to get yourselves prepared for the future.

D. Local awards can often be easier to get as the application pools are smaller and less competitive.

E. Begin in your own backyard

F. It's no secret that college is one of the biggest investments.

G. Believe in yourselves

    I've seen every shape, color and creative package of job application possible. But I've never seen one that actually scared me. But then recently, something happening shocked me.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}, safety guards at Eastern Illinois University asked all the students to leave a building.

    “There was no return address. It was poorly written and poorly addressed to the university. There were misspellings,” school spokeswoman Vicki Woodard said on Saturday. “There was some tape over it. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}.” The unusual size, no return address, misspellings in the address and the tape holding torn parts together were enough to bring in the local bomb experts. They examined the package with X-rays and blocked off nearby streets—only to discover the envelope contained only an application for admission to the school.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}. Would you think that young student would be a great addition to your university? Would you want that person working for you—representing your company? {#blank#}4{#/blank#}, with a baseball cap on, and then asking, “You don't have any jobs, do you?”, I am always amazed. I also see college graduates wandering at career fairs in slippers and coffee-stained T-shirts, handing out resumes (简历) in hope of getting a well-paid job. These people are usually not hired.

It's funny how a clean shirt and pair of pants, an enthusiastic smile and direct eye contact can change the economy immediately. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}.

A. If you dress well and behave politely

B. Just the whole appearance was rather strange

C. I wonder what you would think of that application

D. Good manners and politeness are usually ignored nowadays.

E. When I see people walking into business companies in torn shorts

F. After a doubtful looking package addressed to the college was discovered

G. It's also funny how a well-prepared application will get you into your favorite university

The cane toad (海蟾蜍) was imported to Australia in 1935 to protect sugarcane crops. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Experts estimate that there are currently over 200 million samples spread across Northern Australia, and the numbers are only growing. The increasing population is proving to be deadly for many native Australian animal species that hunt the toads as food. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    While some animals have learned to completely avoid the frogs, the Australian monitor lizards continue to be killed by them. The lizards that catch small animals love eating cane toads. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} It takes the cane toad less than 30 seconds to release enough poison to kill a lizard.

{#blank#}4{#/blank#} They decided to train the lizards to avoid the cane toads. To carry out the idea they went to a region of northwestern Australia that had not yet been invaded by cane toads and fed the wild lizards with young cane toads. Though the smaller animals release the same poison as the adults, they do so in smaller amounts. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} The researchers say it took just one or two tests to teach the lizards to stay away from cane toads. They continued to avoid the animals even when the larger cane toads arrived.

A. Not surprisingly, their population has dropped sharply.

B. Unfortunately, in most cases, it turns out to be their last meal.

C. With very few natural enemies, their population began to grow rapidly.

D. Now a team of researchers came up with a good plan to save the lizards.

E. Gradually, the lizards learned to eat only the mildly poisonous cane toads.

F. Therefore, while the poison does make the lizards sick, it does not kill them.

G. That's because cane toads release some deadly poison when they sense danger.

How to test best

It's back to school, which means it's back to tests. Which might also mean it's back to being majorly stressed out.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}Here are some simple ways to prepare thoroughly for tests.

Schedule study time.

Trying to do all studying the night before a test makes it impossible to master all the material.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}Instead, prepare for a test by scheduling study time each day for several days before.

Use your time wisely.

{#blank#}3{#/blank#}Also, make sure you have all the supplies you need to study so you don't lose focus.

While studying, be sure to make regular short breaks. Get a snack, take a bathroom break or play a quick computer game when it feels as if your brain is about to explode.

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Studying with a parent or friends can help you understand the material better and to learn from one another. Have every person or pair take a part of the material, and come up with questions to quiz the group.

Keep the group small. Have everyone take turns as the group leader, who will assign the material, and make sure that conversation stays on what is being studied.

Don't forget last-minute prep.

Have your sharpened pencils and other things in your bag ready the night before the test. It's important to get a good night's sleep and then eating a healthy breakfast the next morning.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}

Also, studying all the way up until test time can only create more anxiety. Stop studying an hour beforehand.

A. Form a study group.

B. Stay cool before the test.

C. It doesn't have to be this way.

D. This will help you store important information.

E. This way, both your mind and body are fully prepared.

F. Before studying, clear your desk so you can concentrate.

G. It will also make you tired and stressed on the day of the test.