A kiln (窑) is a type of oven or furnace used to cure (加工处理), harden, or burn certain materials. Depending on which materials are heated in it, a kiln may be square, tunnel shaped, or beehive shaped, and usually made of brick or stone.{#blank#}1{#/blank#} It may be set as low as sixty-five degrees to cure grain or as high as 3,200 degrees to transform limestone to quicklime (熟石灰).

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} They have a variety of purposes. The cement (水泥) industry uses revolving kilns to heat and separate raw materials. Bricks, pottery, and china made from clay must be fired, or hardened, in kilns. Certain kinds of coal and wood must be kiln-dried （在窑里烘干的）before they can be used. Hobbyists use small kilns to fire a variety of ceramic (陶瓷) objects.

    There are two main types of kilns. A periodic kiln, used to fire certain kinds of delicate china, is raised to a high temperature and then completely cooled before its contents are removed. A continuous, or tunnel kiln contains several chambers, or zones, which heat, bake, and cool a product. Stacks of clay bricks move through a tunnel kiln on tracks{#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    Gas, oil, and coal are all used to heat modern kilns{#blank#}4{#/blank#} But for special jobs, where cleanliness and careful heat（绝热）are important, kilns must be heated by electricity oven though it is more expensive. Small kilns used in the home or in craft shops are also heated electrically because electricity is clean and convenient.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} When ancient people discovered that heat hardened some materials, they were able to make durable household objects such as jugs and bowls. Today our museums display many kinds of ancient statues and art objects that have lasted because they had been kiln-dried. They come from lands as far apart as China and Greece.

A. Its temperature may vary.

B. Then they come out, hardened, and cooled.

C. Kilns are used in industry and in craft-making.

D. Kilns have been in use for thousands of years.

E. An electric kiln is a heating chamber used to transform materials.

F. Most manufacturers use whichever material is cheapest in their area.

G. Clay, when heated properly, becomes hard enough to form bowls and plates.

    The increasing environmental problems and need for eco-friendly products and services are creating a new job section of green-collar jobs.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}It is expected that by 2025 about 25% of the jobs in developed countries will be of green-collar jobs. Doesn't the data look promising for the future?

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}And jobs will pop up at every income level, from environmental manager to gardener. For example, many countries including the United States have understood that fossil fuels have negative effect on the environment which can later become a serious danger to mankind.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}The increasing demand of newer resources has created the need for experts and researchers who can find better ways to deal with the ongoing needs. In addition, in order to meet the increasing demand of environment-friendly equipment, both green product designer and trained workers are needed. Management of environmental organizations also demands a large number of environmental managers.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Internet is undoubtedly the best way to find information on almost any matter. Nowadays, different kinds of jobs are being posted online. Search through a couple of job websites to look for a bright future in energy conversion and recycling of waste management. Check regularly and find the right work for yourself.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. People who read newspapers can also find different kinds of green-collar jobs.

B. People who take green careers will be well paid.

C. Where can you find green-collar jobs?

D. Green-collar jobs have become a bright career chance for all.

E. Many countries have realized the importance and need for energy-saving products and services.

F. Therefore, possibilities are being explored to find alternatives to meet demands in a better way.

G. Forget the blue–collar and white–collar categories.

4 Study Habits You Should Be Practising

    With exams, essays, projects, and many deadlines for different things, effective（有效的）study habits are necessary. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} If you are in need of a bit of an improvement, keep reading for the top four study habits that you should be practicing.

    ⒈Make and use flashcards.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} By using flashcards with a question on one side and the answer on the other, you will force your brain to recall he necessary information. Even if you struggle a bit with a card, you will still be actively revising the necessary material.

    ⒉Revise（复习）, revise, revise!

    Many students put off studying until just before the exam, with the more hardworking students giving themselves a week or two before a test. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} It's best to revise the information a little bit every day, so that you are not upset when a test comes around.

    ⒊{#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    One of the most effective—and the most fun—methods of studying is to watch related lectures and videos in order to get more material. Watch documentaries or videos on YouTube and educational websites. You may be surprised at how much you can learn from videos, and just how much information is available online.

    ⒋Re-write your notes.

    Studies have shown that writing information out by hand increases your ability to remember the material. This makes the recall go h and-in-hand with muscle memory. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    These are the four most effective study habits, and something all successful students do. Make sure you are on top of your game by following these study methods!

A. Watch related lectures and videos.

B. One method of revising is to make a mind-map.

C. Use these graded tests to create a new practice test.

D. Having these great study habits can make things easier.

E. However, it's actually an ineffective method of preparing and studying.

F. Flashcards are designed to improve active memory recall of information.

G. You will be able to picture your written notes when you are taking the exam.

    Most people think that good looks and being smart will give you advantage in life. The first is God-given. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} In this article we explore some different ways to become smarter.

    Go to college, and get an education. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} It means that you will have been exposed to many different ideas and hopefully you will have learned how to think. Being able to think outside the box and for yourself are features smart people possess.

    Read books and educational magazines. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Educational magazines such as Discovery or National Geographic are a wealth of knowledge that you can share with others, thus making you sound very smart. If you do watch television, try watching something where you can learn such as the History Channel, Discovery etc.

    Expand your vocabulary. Try to learn one new word a week. It does not seem like much, but adding 52 new words to your vocabulary will really make you appear much smarter. Subscribing to vocabulary.com is a good start. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} This way you are actually getting 365 words a year, but that is usually more than most people can absorb.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Uneducated people and people not considered as being smart tend to do this. They hear an outrageous(骇人的) claim and they repeat it to the nearest ear. You can do much harm to your quest for being smart if you are known for giving bad information.

A. That is my exact point.

B. And unluckily most of us are not good-looking.

C. You will have a new word sent to your e-mail address daily.

D. Reading books works the brain out more than viewing television.

E. The programs actually provide you with information you can use.

F. College does not necessarily mean you will be smarter, just educated.

G. Do not repeat everything people tell you until you know that it is true.

    I like my job. It may be my nature that draws me to this kind of job. I work at Izzy's Pizza Bar.

    One day an elderly couple came in just after 3p. m. The first thing they said was, Where is Nan?" Nan is my mother. She was not in that day. It was her day off.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#} , since they liked to talk with my mom. But when I explained I was her daughter, they were thrilled to meet me. We enjoyed our conversation, comparable to a girl speaking with her grandparents. They are the type of people who understand me and have a positive attitude towards my job.

    Later that night, I waited on two men. It took some effort to get them to be friendly. I explained I was waitressing over the summer to make some extra cash for school. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}, since she was also my coworker. They said they were very surprised at the idea of me and my mother waiting on people at the same restaurant. The two men were quite different. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}.

    Once all the customers had finished eating, I began my closing duties, using the time to reflect on my day, or rather, life. I rushed around getting everything done, thinking about those two men.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}. We should treat people with respect, regardless of their occupation. I could have let those two men make me feel ashamed, but I didn't. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}. I will always have pride in the person I was, am, and aim to be.

A. I had always received a positive response from everyone else I had told

B. Everyone should have equal opportunities in getting a job

C. I also said I was grateful that my mom had trained me

D. On the contrary, I felt really proud

E. This couple got a lot of enjoyment out of eating in this restaurant

F. You could say they were very disappointed to know that

G. Your job doesn't have to state who you are as a person

A new documentary, Pot of Fire, went online on Tencent Video on Feb 14, allowing netizens to "enjoy" hotpot together on the Internet. No food other than hotpot is so welcomed by Chinese people.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}.

As one of the famous meals in China, hotpot has been popular for ages, for it's "free-for-all and healthy way", according to National Public Radio. From vegetables to meat, from noodles to seafood, diners can add different ingredients to the soup to cook. Unlike frying or other cooking methods, boiling food only releases their nutrients into the soup.{#blank#}2{#/blank#} Besides, hotpot can bring warmth to our body and improve blood circulation in winter, and increase sweat to help cool the body in summer, according to China Highlights.

But eating hotpot is much more than an enjoyment for our taste buds and health. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}For most Chinese people, eating hotpot is usually a social event. A survey by Chenzhi Catering Database showed that 40. 2 percent of Chinese usually eat hotpot with friends, while 17. 6 percent use the occasion for a family reunion. When a group of people sit around a table to eat, chat and drink, it's a good time." As the food continues to boil in the soup, we keep drinking and chatting with each other.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} " said Yu Jiaqing, a 28- year -old luxury brand marketing staffer from Beijing.

{#blank#}5{#/blank#} Or, at least you can watch Pot of Fire. As a popular saying goes, "There's nothing to worry about after having a hotpot. If you are still worried, then go for it twice."

A. Hotpot is very popular in China.

B. The atmosphere makes the time warm.

C. It's also a celebration of life and friendship.

D. Hotpot does much good to people's health.

E. This way can maximize (使最大) the flavors of all the ingredients.

F. It represents how much they like to gather together to enjoy happiness.

G. So if you feel empty or lonely, cook a hotpot to fill your stomach and heart.