Cell Phones: Hang Up or Keep Talking?

Millions of people are using cell phones today. In many places it is actually considered unusual not to use one. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} They find that the phones are more than a means of communication—-having a mobile phone shows that they are cool and connected.

    The explosions around the world in mobile phone use make some health professionals worried. Some doctors are concerned that in the future many people may suffer health problems from the use of mobile phones. In England, there has been a serious debate about this issue. Mobile phone companies are worried about the negative publicity of such ideas. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    On the other hand, why do some medical studies show changes in the brain cells of some people who use mobile phones? Signs of change in the tissues of the brain and head can be detected with modern scanning(扫描)equipment. In one case, a traveling salesman had to retire at a young age because of serious memory loss. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} He would often forget the name of his own son. This man used to talk on his mobile phone for about six hours a day, every day of his working week, for a couple of years. His family doctor blamed his mobile phone use, but his employer's doctor didn't agree.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} The answer is radiation. High-tech machines can detect very small amounts of radiation from mobile phones. Mobile phone companies agree that there is some radiation, but they say the amount is too small to worry about.

    As the discussion about their safety continues, it appears that it's best to use mobile phones less often. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Use your mobile phone only when you really need it. Mobile phones can be very useful and convenient, especially in emergencies. In the future, mobile phones may have a warning label that says they are bad for your health. So for now, it's wise not to use your mobile phone too often.

A. Use your regular phone if you want to talk for a long time.

B. They will possibly affect their benefits.

C. In many countries, cell phones are very popular with young people.

D. He couldn't remember even simple tasks.

E. What do the doctors worry about?

F. They say that there is no proof that mobile phones are bad for your health.

G. What is it that makes mobile phones potentially harmful?

Question: I have been learning English for about 7 years. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} And I still can't make myself understood in English. However, I love learning English. How can I learn English well? Please help me.

Answer: Many people have asked me this question. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Here I will give you several tips for learning English.

●{#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    First of all, you must want to learn. If you are not interested in learning English, no class will help you and no book will help you. So you have to be honest with yourself. Ask yourself, “Do I really want to learn English?” If you can't answer “yes” to this question, it is better for you to set English aside until you're ready and willing to learn.

● Set goals (目标).

    To learn English well, you must set some goals. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} It will also help you to see your progress. Ask yourself, “What are my goals? What areas would I like to improve?” Think about what your goals are, and review once in a while to see that you are making progress toward your goals.

● Practice, practice, and practice.

    After you have set your goals, you have a better idea of what you need to practice. Just like the athlete whose goal is the Olympics must train daily, you as a language learner must practice language every day to make progress toward your goal. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. Want to learn.

B. I think it is not easy to learn it well.

C. Make friends with some Americans online.

D. Reading is a very good way to learn new words.

E. The answers are as different as the people asking the question.

F. The more you practice, the more progress you will make.

G. Having goals will help you remember what areas you want to work on.

How can I fight laziness?

    Lazy people will never amount to anything in life. However, laziness can be defeated once a few changes have been made in your mind.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Many people lack sleep constantly, since they stay up too late and get up too early to prepare for work. These people have little motivation once they arrive home. Laziness works hand in hand with a lack of motivation and a tendency to put off things. By adjusting your sleep schedule to provide a few more hours of meaningful rest, you can fight laziness throughout the day.

    Another way to fight laziness is to change your mind from passive to active. Some people treat their lives as if they were pushed from task to task. Others take a more proactive approach, viewing each task as a challenge they must overcome alone. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    Some people fight laziness by removing the temptations(诱惑) that surround them. A television in the living room may provide entertainment, but watching too much TV often contributes to laziness. Create a reward system for yourself, just as parents do for a child to promote responsibility {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Spouses(配偶) and children may all have different energy levels, but laziness can be spread if not dealt with immediately. To fight household laziness, lead by example. Be the first to collect and wash dishes after a meal. Others in the home may eventually follow your example and perform their own task. It is difficult to practice laziness when you are surrounded by motivated people.

    Finally, taking exercise regularly can help you fight laziness. Enough exercise and a balanced diet can help you to develop a healthy lifestyle {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. Knowing how to fight laziness is important.

B. One way to fight laziness is to get enough sleep.

C. Laziness can also be a lasting problem at home.

D. Complete a few tasks and reward yourself with what you enjoy, such as a good dinner.

E. It can enable you to have more energy and help lift your spirits.

F. With strong determination, you will be able to achieve your goal.

G. Laziness sets in when you no longer feel in charge of your own life.

    Lots of people find it hard to get up in the morning, and put the blame on the alarm clock. In fact, the key to easy morning wake-up lies in resetting your body clock. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Here's how to make one.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} In order to make a change, you need to decide why It's important. Do you want to get up in time to have breakfast with your family, get in some exercise，or just be better prepared for your day! Once you are clear about your reasons, tell your family or roommates about the change you want to make.

    Rethink mornings. Now that you know why you want to wake up, consider re-arranging your morning activities. If you want time to have breakfast with your family, save some time the night before by setting out clothes, shoes, and bags. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} That's a quarter-hour more you could be sleeping if you bought a coffee maker with a timer.

    Keep your sleep/wake schedule on weekends. If you're tired out by Friday night, sleeping in on Saturday could sound wonderful. But compensating on the weekends actually feeds into your sleepiness the following week, a recent study found. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    Keep a record and evaluate it weekly. Keep track of your efforts and write down how you feel. After you've tried a new method for a week, take a look at your record.{#blank#}5{#/blank#} If not, take another look at other methods you could try.

A. Get a sleep specialist.

B. Find the right motivation.

C. A better plan for sleep can help.

D. And consider setting a second alarm.

E. If the steps you take are working, keep it up.

F. Stick to your set bedtime and wake-up time, no matter the day.

G. Reconsider the 15 minutes you spend in line at the cafe to get coffee.

    When you have got a lot of stuff, decluttering(整理)your home can be really necessary. Decluttering is just about putting new systems into place in your life.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}, you realize how great you feel about it, and you want to keep going.

Getting rid of things gives you time to look after yourself.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}, or looking for the potato peeler—because everything has a home and you know exactly where it is—you're free to spend that time on yourself and your family. It's liberating.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}. It has taken you a long time to get everything, and you won't be able to get rid of it all straight away. If you're pushed for time, there are easy ways of introducing decluttering into your life. Spend 10 minutes a day decluttering or, if that's not manageable, declutter three items a week.

    Have three piles: one for things you're going to keep, one for things that are a maybe, and one for things you're going to give away. You will also need some bin bags, for rubbish. A revisiting pile is important if you're struggling to get rid of things.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}. More often than not, you end up saying, actually, I don't need that.

Stay focused. People often get sidetracked when they're trying to declutter. They start trying on clothes they had forgotten about, or looking at old photos. Another common mistake is to just move things from place to place, instead of getting rid of them.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}.

A. Once you start decluttering

B. You need time to reflect on what to keep

C. Don't expect to declutter everything overnight

D. When you're not always looking for the scissors

E. If you realise that you own six wine openers, keep only one

F. Start the decluttering process before you move in with a new partner

G. You can just leave things there for a few weeks before a final decision

    Having good study habits is key to success in college. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} To begin making the change, you need to get organized to study.

    Create a fixed study space. Find a quiet space in your room or somewhere on campus where you can focus. Studying in the same place every day makes your brain combine a certain environment with work. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    Find a regular time for studying. If you study at the same time each day, your brain will be prepared for learning when you sit down. Review your schedule and see when you have free time. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} You can study during gaps between classes or in the evening after your classes are done for the day.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Make sure you have everything you need to study at your study space. If you're studying in a place in your home, keep things like your books, pencils, pens, and paper in that area. If you go out to study, you can take a book bag and keep all your studying materials stored there.

    Avoid distractions (干扰). When you prepare your study space, it's important to keep it away from distractions. Remove any technologies that will take your mind off your work, like your iPad. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Besides, keep other distracting materials such as outside reading, away from your study area.