When you start a new school, go to a party or try to know a person, you often need to break the ice in order to start a friendly conversation. Breaking the ice means saying or doing something to stop feeling shy or uncomfortable around someone you don't know well. Almost everyone feels uncomfortable or shy when people meet for the first time. If you feel like this, the following ① tips can help you out.

Smile ② Whenyou smile, people think you're friendly and easy to talk to. They are also very likely to smile back and help you feel more comfortable about starting a conversation.

Be positive  Everybody likes being around happy people. Always look on the bright side of life and see everything positively（积极地）.

Be a good listener.   Don't control the conversation and don't just talk about yourself. ③ 仔细听别人讲，并且问一些关于他们自己的问题。They'll think you're worth talking to.

Be easy-going  ④ Some people may be so shy that they can't break the ice. Don't avoid being around new people just because you feel uncomfortable. If you face a situation again and again, you'll get used to it.

Is it difficult for you to remember things? I`d like to tell you some ways to improve your memory, so you shouldn't feel upset.

  My first advice is that if you want to remember something well, you have to review it regularly(有规律地). You might review the material two days after you learn it, then a week later, then two weeks later, and then a month later. After a month you will find that you can easily remember the material.

My second advice is to use a colored pen to highlight （标注）the important parts on your book. This will help you in two days. First, it will help you pay attention to the most important parts when you learn the language. It is always easier to remember only the key points. Second, this will make reviewing easier. When you open your book, the colored parts will show you the most important things quickly. In this way, you don't have to review all the material again.

  Another piece of advice is to use the proper time well. First, review all the information in your mind right before you go to sleep. Your brain is working while you are sleeping. If you think about the information before you go to sleep, you might be able to remember it better. Another good time for memorizing information is in the morning because you have just rested and your brain is fresh and clear. So you might also try to review the important information in the morning.

    Mother's Day is celebrated in the USA. It is also a holiday in some other countries. It is on the second Sunday in May. It is a day to thank mothers. On that day mothers usually receive flowers or cards. On the cards, children will write "Thanks, Mom"， "To the best mother in the world", "Best wishes for Mother's Day" and so on. We should make mothers happy on that day.

    Where does the idea for the holiday come from? We should thank Miss Anna M. Jarvis. She brought up the idea of having such a day. She lived in West Virginia. Her mother died on May 9th, 1905.She had a deep love for her mother. She wrote letters to some important persons. In her letters she asked them to decide a day for all mothers. Then Mother's Day was made on the second Sunday in May by the USA in 1913.

    In China, children give presents to their mothers on Mother's Day, or the whole family go out and try to do something nice for their mothers. Mothers always think of others more than themselves. They love their children and families very much. Everybody should show his love to his mother and help her as much as possible.

    Information Card

    Have you ever taken photos by using mobile phones with selfie sticks (自拍杆)?{#blank#}1{#/blank#} 

    However, a pair of US artists from New Mexico, Arie Snee and Justin Crowe believe they have invented a better one and they call it "selfie arm". {#blank#}2{#/blank#} It makes those people in the pictures seem to be holding hands with a love one.

The pair say it offers a far better experience than using a straight stick. The selfie arm makes people feel they are not alone when they take photos. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} They think their invention solves the main problem that the selfie stick has – people look alone while they are taking pictures of themselves with great interests. The product, at present, just an art project and a model, conveniently provides you a welcoming arm. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} The pair say they are fascinated by these new ideas.

    The "selfie are" is made of fiberglass. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    The project that they work on shows the growing selfie stick phenomenon (现象) directly and increasing need for narcissism (自恋) and Internet agreement.

    On a very hot day, it is hard to know what to do to feel good. If you run around, you may feel sick in your stomach. However, if you just sit quietly and do nothing, you may feel bored. Are there things you can do to feel good and have fun when you're hot?

    Perhaps playing in water is a good choice to make you cool down. Taking a cool bath or shower, or even washing toys in a pan of cool water can also make you feel good on a hot day. Besides, you can read stories or paint in front of a fan. You don't need to move your body very much. These are just some of the cool things to do on a hot day.

    In addition, it's important for you to drink water. On hot days, you can lose about 16 glasses of water in one day. If you feel thirsty, you are already short of water. So don't wait for thirst before you start to drink. You should try to drink as much water as you lose every day. Mixing a little fruit juice into your water is a fun way to help you drink plenty of water.

    The food you eat also makes a difference in how you feel in the heat. Cold foods such as ice cream and drinks with some ice can cool down your bodies. Fruits and vegetables are also helpful to stay cool in hot weather. So plan a healthy menu for a hot day—one that doesn't need any cooking.