Ways to sleep smarter

    Studies show that poor sleep influences people to make good decisions, concentrate on tasks or even manage a friendly mood(情绪) at work. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Today we've got our top favorite sleep tips and facts.

Set a regular bedtime

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}Choose a time when you normally feel tired. Try not to break this routine(惯例) on weekends when you will probably stay up late. If you want to change your bedtime, make the change gradually, such as 15 minutes earlier or later each day.

Eat the right food

    Some foods are more helpful to a better night's sleep than others.{#blank#}3{#/blank#} Others like bananas, potatoes, and whole-wheat bread are also helpful.

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    Exercising provides lots of good health benefits(好处). A good night's sleep is one of them. But make sure you exercise in the morning or afternoon. The National Sleep Foundation reports that exercise in the morning or afternoon can help deepen sleep. However, those who worked out in the evening hours saw little or no improvement in their sleep.

Reduce(减少) screen time before bed

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} A recent study shows that people who use electronic media(媒体) just before bedtime report lower-quality sleep even when they get as much sleep as those who don't.

A. Avoid the alarm clock.

B. Exercise to improve sleep.

C. Try to solve problems in your sleep.

D. Go to bed at the same time every night.

E. There are many ways to increase the quality of your sleep.

F. Everybody knows that warm milk helps people sleep better.

G. Stop watching TV just before bedtime and you'll sleep better.

    If you are hungry, what do you do? Have your favorite-meal and stay quiet after that?

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#}. But it never lets you know, because, you keep it busy thinking about your friends or favorite stars. So it silently serves your needs and never let itself grow. When mind loses its freedom to grow, creativity sets a full stop. This might be the reason why we all sometimes think "What happens next?", "Why can't I think?"

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Why reading but not watching TV? It is because reading has been the most educative tool used by us right from childhood．Since it develops other aspects of our life, we have to take help from reading．

    Once you read a book, you run your eyes through the lines and your mind tries to explain something to you{#blank#}3{#/blank#}．Now this seed is unknowingly used by you to develop new ideas．If it is used many times, the same seed can give you great help to relate a lot of things, which you would have never thought of in your wildest dreams!

    This is nothing but creativity．{#blank#}4{#/blank#}Within no time you can start talking with your friends in English or any other language and never run out of the right words．

    So guys, do give food for your thoughts by reading, reading and more reading.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}．Go and get a book!

A．Now what are you waiting for?

B．Reading can help you make more friends, too．

C．Just like your stomach, your mind is also hungry．

D．Why not do some reading while you are hungry?

E．Also this makes a significant contribution to your vocabulary．

F．The interesting part of the book is stored in your mind as a seed．

G．Hunger of the mind can be actually solved through wide reading．

The origins of football

    If I ask whether you want to come out and play Pasuckaukohowog or Aqsaqtuk, will you know what I am talking about? I don't think you will, but they are very old names for a sport which is extremely popular today{#blank#}1{#/blank#} The origins of football can be found in every corner of the world.

    Civilizations throughout history all played ball games and many of these can be considered forerunners of the modern game{#blank#}2{#/blank#} However, there is scientific evidence that suggests that ball games were played even earlier in ancient China with the name of cuju. There is evidence to show that ball games in Egypt were linked to agriculture and religious ceremonies.

    Did you know that the Native American Indians played football?{#blank#}3{#/blank#} It was quite often that players would finish the game with broken bones and other serious injuries. In fact the game was almost a war with up to 500 players on each side!

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} So they would often disguise themselves with lots of paint to avoid being recognized.

    The game was normally played on a sports field that was often one mile long with goals at either end. The game could last for hours and was often carried on from one day to the next.

    During the Mid-19th century, football was played at the public schools of England with totally different rules. To unite the widely different forms of football, they came up with the rules that were known as the Cambridge Rules.{#blank#}5{#/blank#} They allow goal kicks, throw-ins as well as forward passes and prevent running while you are holding the ball!

    So next time when you're playing football, be thankful that there is one universally accepted rule for playing!

A. Football was considered a male sport.

B. They are really a set of football rules.

C. The players understood the violent nature of the game.

D. Ball games were first played in Egypt as early as 1800 BC.

E. The sport is football.

F. This game was incredibly violent at that time.

G. These records prove that the sport has a long tradition throughout history.

How teens can stay fit

    Any type of regular, physical activity can improve your fitness and your health. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Exercise should be a regular part of your day, like brushing your teeth, eating and sleeping. It can be in gym class, joining a sports team, or working out on your own. Keep the following tips in mind:

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} A good attitude is important. Find an activity that you think is fun. You are more likely to stick with it if you choose something you like. A lot of people find it's more fun to exercise with someone else, so see if you can find a friend or family member to be active with you.

    Take it one step at a time. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} For example, walk or ride your bike to school. Get on or off the bus several blocks away and walk the rest of the way. Use the stairs instead of taking the elevator.

    Get your heart pumping (跳动). Whatever you choose, make sure it includes aerobic (有氧的) activity that makes you breathe harder and increases your heart rate. This is the best type of exercise because it increases your fitness level and makes your heart work better. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Examples of aerobic activities are basketball, running, or swimming.

    Don't forget to warm up with some easy exercises or stretching (拉伸) before you do any physical activity. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} It is also important to stretch out after you exercise to cool down your muscles.

A. It also burns off body fat.

B. Stay positive and have fun.

C. Make physical activity a habit.

D. Small changes can add up to better fitness.

E. The most important thing is that you keep moving!

F. This warms your muscles up and may help protect against injury.

G. Do the activity as often as possible, but don't exercise to the point of pain.

    Sometimes people come into your life and you know right away that they are meant to be there.{#blank#}1{#/blank#} They teach you a lesson, or help you figure out who you are or who you want to become.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}They may be a roommate, a neighbor, a professor, a friend, a lover, or even a complete stranger. Sometimes things happen to you that may seem horrible at first, but later you will find that without those difficulties you would have never realized your potential. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}It would be safe and comfortable, but dull and completely pointless.

    The people you meet who affect your life, help to create who you are and who you become. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}In fact, they are sometimes the most important ones.

    If someone loves you, give love back to them not only because they love you, but also because they are teaching you to love and how to open your heart and eyes to things.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}They have helped you learn about trust and the importance of being cautious to whom you open your heart to.

    Make every day count. Appreciate every moment.

A． They serve some sort of purpose.

B． Learn a lesson in life each day that you live.

C． Even the bad experiences can be learned from.

D． You never know who these people may be.

E． If someone hurts you, or breaks your heart, forgive them.

F． Without these small tests, life would be like a smooth road to nowhere.

G． If you don't believe in yourself, it will be hard for others to believe in you.

    I feel happy when I come home at the end of the day and see those big, graphic prints on my wall. They make my tiny New York apartment feel more home and more purposeful; more like me. Why? {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    You're probably not trying to spend crazy dollars on art for your home—who is? Maybe you just graduated and know you need to upgrade from that poster of Einstein with his tongue out taped to your dorm wall that was supposed to make you look "smart yet playful" Perhaps you just bought a home! That's expensive! {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Pieces that attract your personality, express your taste, or just make you laugh aren't restricted to gallery purchases.

    Don't panic if you don't know where to start

    Art. com

    When you want affordable but classy art prints, go to Art. com website. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Cast a glance their website and you'll be greeted with a window offering 50％off your first order if you fork over your email address. Do it. You could create art entire gallery wall of Chagall, Monet, Adams and Kahlo for under $30.

    Society6

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} It features art that touches all types. It sells prints in a variety of sizes so you can customize a whole gallery wall with picks from their artists. Currently, I become interested in Beth Hoeckel's collage art and the vintage-looking prints from aapshop.

    eBay

    Nothing angers me more than "stealing" a piece from one of my favorite shops, only to have it sell out before I can get my hands on it. eBay is my go-to next step. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} From wall hangings to tabletop sculptures eBay is a treasure of art finds.