When you ask people how to make friends as an adult, they usually give you suggestions like, “just get out there,” “join a dance class,” or , “try speed dating.”{#blank#}1{#/blank#}.

    After all, making friends does require us to get out into the world and take a few emotional risks. Most of the time, however, we are not lacking for ideas on where to meet people. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    For this reason, most people find that reconnecting with themselves is a first step towards reconnecting with others.

    If you feel tired, out of shape, or sad, most of the time, making friends is going to be extremely difficult. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    Start small. Use the1-minute technique to gradually increase your commitment to exercise. Get out into nature. Set a timer to remind yourself to get up every hour to stretch. Try gentle yoga.

    While you build up your body, don't forget to nourish your mind. Write down one thing every day that you are grateful for. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    Learn to become your own best friend.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}Instead of relying on our social circumstances to bring people into our lives, we need to change ourselves first and then invite people into our lives.

A. On the surface, these are fine suggestions.

B. Spend a few minutes every day in reflection.

C. It will be even more difficult when you are an adult.

D. We only need to know how to start a conversation with strangers.

E. We are missing the motivation and self-confidence to get started.

F. Making friends as an adult is possible, but it requires a new approach.

G. Fortunately there are plenty of simple things that you can do to increase your physical and emotional resources.

    Color is fundamental in home design—something you'll always have in every room. A grasp of how to manage color in your spaces is one of the first steps to creating rooms you'll love to live in. Do you want a room that's full of life? Professional? Or are you just looking for a place to relax after a long day? {#blank#}1{#/blank#}, color is the key to making a room feel the way you want it to feel.

    Over the years, there have been a number of different techniques to help designers approach this important point. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}, they can get a little complex. But good news is that there're really only three kinds of decisions you need to make about color in your home: the small ones, the medium ones, and the large ones.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}. They're the little spots of color like throw pillows, mirrors and baskets that most of us use to add visual interest to our rooms. Less tiring than painting your walls and less expensive than buying a colorful sofa, small color choices bring with them the significant benefit of being easily changeable.

    Medium color choices are generally furniture pieces such as sofas, dinner tables or bookshelves. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}. They require a bigger commitment than smaller ones, and they have a more powerful effect on the feeling of a space.

    The large color decisions in your rooms concern the walls, ceilings, and floors. Whether you're looking at wallpaper or paint, the time, effort and relative expense put into it are significant. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}.

A. If you're experimenting with a color.

B. While all of them are useful.

C. Whatever you're looking for.

D. It's not really a good idea to use too many small color pieces.

E. Small color choices are the ones we're most familiar with.

F. So it pays to be sure, because you want to get it right the first time.

G. Color choices in this range are a step up from the small ones in two major ways.

    Getting your children to study can be a little like getting them to eat their vegetables.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Make a study time and have it at the same time every day. This will help your kids to learn to schedule their day and will give them a sense of control over how they spend their time.

    Allow them to study in blocks of time，such as for half an hour with a five-minute break in the middle{#blank#}2{#/blank#} Ideal (理想的) study times are after dinner or right after school before dinner.

    Never allow your children to study in front of the television，as that will encourage passive activity.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    You'll also need to help your kids find the right place to study. After you've set up a good study time for little learners，set up a good place where they can get those creative juices flowing.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}Make sure there is a table or a desk and a comfortable chair.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}This includes helping them out with their homework sometimes and being there for them with the answers to any questions. The input you give your children during study periods will help form a bond and help make studying enjoyable.

A. Pick a place where your children can study properly.

B. Hold them to the schedule they create for themselves.

C. Finally, spend time with your kids when they're studying.

D. Keep the atmosphere light and offer lots of encouragement, too.

E. Instead, use TV as a treat or a reward when the homework is completed.

F. Try to stop this bad habit by offering some sort of reward.

G. One of the best ways to form good study habits for your kids is to design a schedule that they keep to.

Little Habits Make a Big Difference

    Everything around us is changing at amazing speed, it seems ̶ but some things will always remain the same. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Some of our daily habits have the power to always give us happiness and lead us toward success. Here are some little habits that can make a big difference:

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    Many studies have linked early rising with success. An early morning wake-up carries benefits including better planning and anticipation (预料) of problems, and more time to do the things that make you happy.

    Happiness comes to those who are curious.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} As long as you live, there will always be something to learn, and as long as you follow your heart and your passions, you won't miss out on learning.

    Believe in yourself and all that you are.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Confidence is the key to success—the thing that lets you look at the past without regret, stay grounded in the present, and prepare for the future without fear.

    A day well spent gets you a good night sleep.

    Enough sleep makes you feel healthier and happier, and it's more than lifting up your mood or removing exhaustion. Adequate sleep is a key part of your health and inner happiness. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    It doesn't take a huge effort to make a significant change in your life—using one or two tiny habits may be all you need. Get started today and you'll soon be experiencing the rewards.

    Taking good notes is a time-saving skill that will help you to become a better student in several ways. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Second, your notes are excellent materials to refer to when you are studying for a test. Third, note-taking offers variety to your study time and helps you to hold your interest.

    You will want to take notes during classroom discussions and while reading a textbook or doing research for a report.{#blank#}2{#/blank#} Whenever or however you take notes, keep in mind that note-taking is a selective(选择的) process. That means you must first decide what is important enough to include in your notes.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    Read the text quickly to find the main facts and ideas in it.

    Carefully read the text and watch for words that can show main points and supporting facts.

    Write your notes in your own words.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    Note any questions or ideas you may have about what was said or written.

    As you take notes, you may want to use your own shorthand(速记). When you do, be sure that you understand your symbols and that you use them all the time.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. Use words, not complete sentences.

B. There are three practical note-taking methods.

C. You must write your notes on separate paper.

D. Otherwise, you may not be able to read your notes later.

E. You will also want to develop your own method for taking notes.

F. The following methods may work best for you.

G. First, the simple act of writing something down makes it easier for you to understand and remember it.

Ted: Hi, Bob! Eating fried chicken? {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

Bob: Eggs and milk? I don't want to have them every day. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

Ted: But don't have too much unhealthy food. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

Bob: OK, I won't. By the way, I find some students throw away eggs and milk.

Ted: That's too bad. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

Bob: Yes. But what do you think we can do?

Ted: {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

Bob: Let's have a try, then we may have different kinds of food every day.