Get a Better Night's Sleep

    You're trying to get a good night's sleep, but why do you still find yourself staring at the ceiling? It's time to listen to what some unexpected experts have to say.

Get the Basic Equipment Right.

    There's really good study on the basic equipment for sleep. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}Firstly, most people prefer a mattress （床垫）that is not too hard and not too soft. Secondly, if your mattress is eight to ten years old, you should get a new one. Seventy-two percent of people said they slept better on their new mattress than they did on their old one.

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    Watching TV at night may seem relaxing. However, it beams light into your eyes, which is a “warning” signal for the brain.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}Besides, the cooler white and blue light from a computer screen encourages brain activity and makes your brain difficult to calm down. Download the software at stereopsis.com /flux. It gradually makes your screen less bright at sunset, turning its colors a warmer red one.

Keep you Cool.

    One of the best signals from the body to go to sleep is a decrease in body temperature. I suggest sleeping in a very cool environment, about 19℃. A hot bath will increase your skin temperature, which finally decreases your main body temperature. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

Make Sleeping Pets Lie.

    Sometimes your dogs might need the noise of machines. Many dogs are sensitive to noises outside, like other dogs barking or neighbors coming home late. A noisy machine will drown out the noises that are keeping your pet up, which keep your pet from waking you. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} If you keep them awake during the day, they're more likely to sleep at night.

 A. Read a book before bed instead.

 B. Take a bath a half-hour or so before bedtime.

 C. You also learn dogs sleep when they're bored.

 D. The dog is very loyal to his master.

 E. It proved two theories.

 F. You don't need a really beautiful mattress.

 G. Switch off the Box.

    In order to achieve big things in your life, you must be willing to think big.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}When you've busy working toward bringing your goals to life, you also feel happier in your journey. Follow these steps to make your goals a reality.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Where do you see yourself in a year, five years or ten? Do you see yourself with a family, children, a good job and a college degree in ten years? Try to think as far ahead as you can. Pay attention to every detail, and let your dreams come to life in your mind, showing you what matters most to you.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Write down everything you imagine.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} write down the most important achievements that you want to center on and the details about each. What matters most to you? Once you have a list of goals in mind, work out a plan. How will you achieve these goals? Divide your goals into achievable steps.

    Start achieving goals today. Put your plans into action today. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Move forward every day, even if you are only taking a small step at a time.

    When you can picture what your desired life is like, you can better decide the goals you need to set and achieve. All it takes are small steps toward your desired future, and you can achieve the life you want.

A. Center on what you want to achieve.

B. Close your eyes and imagine your future.

C. Take a small step toward the future each day.

D. You should dream big and try to make your goals happen.

E. It's okay to change your dream sand goals based on your needs.

F. Use as much detail as you can when writing down what you remember.

G. Think about where you want to be in the future and how you want to get there.

    As a senior year student, you may have so many pressures coming from so many directions that you can't figure out what to do first.

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    When you have many things to do and a lot of demands on your time, you can lose sight of what's important. One of the best ways to see the big picture - what you want out of life - is to lay out your goals.

    Pressure Points and How to Deal With Them

    Confused or overwhelmed - talk to someone you trust.{#blank#}2{#/blank#} They may help you find solutions to your problems and worries.

    Being too hard on yourself - ease up, take a break and do something you enjoy. Daydream, read a book, go out with friends — anything that helps you relax.

    Problems, problems, problems — recognize your limits. It's too stressful to try to deal with all your problems at once.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    Goal-Setting Tips

    It's important to remember that goals belong to you — not to your parents, your teachers, or your friends. After you've set your goals, identify the skills you have to achieve those goals.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} Try the library, your guidance adviser and teachers, and other people who could help you.

    Goals exist to serve you. If your goal is something you no longer want, change it. Identify the barriers to getting your goals.{#blank#}5{#/blank#} Don't get depressed by a big, long-term goal — see what steps you can take to achieve it and set those steps down as short-term, “do-able” goals.

A. Too much to do

B. Balancing goals in life

C. Consider ways to overcome them

D. Discuss your concerns with a friend, parent or teacher

E. Choose what's most urgent and set aside the rest until later

F. As long as you know what skill is important and what isn't

G. If you're not sure what skills you'll need, do some research

Sports Fans and Identity

    Many people are crazy about a particular sports team. They are big fans and seem to connect their own identity to their chosen team.

    Identity consists of things like gender (性别), personality, abilities, and social groups. The groups we belong to shape our identity. Related to this is the theory developed by Henri Tajfel and John Turner. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} In knowing who we are, we may more closely identify with our social group than with our gender group. We also decide which group we belong to, based on different aspects of our identity. According to the theory, our self-esteem—how we feel about ourselves—is reflected in the group we belong to. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} For example, we naturally protect the group we belong to, while making other groups less important. We think highly of the team we support, while we may add negative comments about an opposing team.

    Researchers have studied language used by sports fans. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} By using pronouns like “we”, fans show that they feel connected with the team when it is winning. “We really killed that team. They couldn't get the ball past us.” However, when their team didn't do well, the fans would distance themselves from the team, using different pronouns. “They didn't know what they were doing. They had no planning.”

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} They have found those fans have more self-confidence and feel more competent. They are quite sure they have the ability to deal with situations successfully or do things to a satisfactory standard. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} These people will perform better at work and earn and spend more money, so experts suggest that a winning team may have a positive influence on the economy of a city.

A. They suggested that we naturally classify people into groups.

B. That causes increased competitions between different groups of sports fans.

C. It is probably because the victory reflects well on their personal sense of identity.

D. Comments from group members certainly have a strong influence on our behavior.

E. When their team did well, the fans would closely identify themselves with the team.

F. That leads to the fact that we want our group to be seen more positively than other groups.

G. Social scientists have also studied the effect of winning a championship on the fans of the winning team.

    Are you feeling anxious about your test next week? Here are some tips that will help you in dealing with stress(压力) and anxiety.

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    One of the most important ways of avoiding test anxiety is to prepare well in advance. Study regularly for a few hours every day. It helps in increasing the confidence of students.

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    If students are not able to deal with anxiety or nervousness, they could talk to their teachers, student counselors(辅导员), parents or friends. Parents should also avoid pressurizing(加压) their kids to do well. Create a peaceful and relaxing atmosphere (放松的气氛) at home. Then your children can study without any tension(紧张). Another important point that arises here is neither the students nor the parents should compare the children with their other classmates and friends.

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    Do not forget to eat and sleep properly. Many times due to anxiety students avoid sleep and starve themselves. They should sleep for at least 6-7 hours a day and eat nutritious and healthy food. Exercising regularly is equally important as talking to friends and socializing(社交).

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    Plan your studies well. Chart(制图) out a timetable and take proper breaks between studying. Along with the study time, allot (分配) time to relax and do what you love to do. Practicing simple breathing skills will also help reduce stress.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}. While it is important to gain good scores in tests, it is not the most important thing in life. Learning to deal with nervousness and stress will not only help them to do well in school tests, but also in their future life.

A. Third, physical fitness

B. First, study regularly

C. Fourth, prepare schedule

D. Second, reduce study pressure

E. Students should remember that tests are just a part of life

F. You should go to bed early

G. You'd better turn to your teachers for help

When we hold our breath and go underwater, we'll soon be unable to stand it. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} However, there's little chance of catching up with the Sama-Bajau, who can stay underwater with a single breath for quite a long time. 

Sama-Bajau is a collective term（集合术语）that refers to several closely related native peoples. The Bajau live on long houseboats or small wooden houses that are built on the sea, close to the shore in Southeast Asia. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

 As they make their living primarily from fishing, they have become exper t free divers（自由潜水者）. Bajau divers have the longest daily diving time without breathing among allhumans. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} In their free time, the kids help around the house or play on the beach. 

It appears that centuries of free diving have scientifically distinguished the Sama-Bajau. According to research, the Bajau's spleens（脾脏）are much larger than the average people's on land. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Besides, the Bajau have also developed excellent underwater vision. 

{#blank#}5{#/blank#} The main cause is massive fishing, which has made it increasingly difficult for the Bajau to make a living and rely on fishing alone. As a consequence, more and more people are leaving the seas, and apparently, it's only a matter of time before the Bajau and their amazing qualities disappear. 

A. Larger spleens can have some weaknesses. 

B. Therefore, many older divers are hard of hearing. 

C. The difference makes the Bajau quite able to dive underwater. 

D. They only go ashore to trade or seek shelter during sea storms. 

E. Bajau children master swimming and diving skills at an early age. 

F. The existence of this special group of people is threatened nowadays. 

G. With free diving training, we can increase the time underwater by a few minutes.