Handwriting can make or break the first impression. If your handwriting is difficult for others to read, you will sometimes feel embarrassed.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}. It needs lotsof practice to improve your handwriting.

{#blank#}2{#/blank#} Try each of them out on a piece of paper bysigning your name. Find out which type of pen you can write best with. You maybe amazed at the change in your handwriting just by changing to another pen.

{#blank#}3{#/blank#} Do not just do what feels comfortable becausethat is just your old bad habit coming back into play. Try to hold the penlightly and don't press too hard.

      Use your chosen pen to write Os on some pieces of lined paper.Write until you have filled up all the lines. Be careful with each O that youwrite.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} Practice writing Os as much as possible.Remember : practice makes perfect. You may practice for weeks or months if youneed to{#blank#}5{#/blank#}

As your handwriting shows signs of improvement , go ahead andkeep on practicing by writing more words.

A. Gather different types of pens.

B. Practice holding your pen in different ways.

C. However , a bad writing habit is hard to break.

D. Choose a type of pen with which you write best.

E. It won't help if you write a lot of careless Os on the paper.

F. Two to three months' practice is enough to get goodhandwriting.

G. After you are confident in your Os, do the same thing withyour name.

    Have you ever seen any students whose trousers hang so low you can see their underwear? What do you think of that? Fashionable? Some of today's teenagers are big fans of such a look.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}.

    The headmaster of a school in central Italy has asked students to stop wearing low-rise jeans that expose underwear and part of the body. His request came after a class trip. One day, he saw one boy's baggy trousers slide to his feet {#blank#}2{#/blank#}.

    But in Italy, a nation that takes fashion very seriously, the suggestion caused a debate among parents, teachers and students. The issue is whether the headmaster's request will limit students' freedom—or whether dress in Italian schools is too casual.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} “We do not want to kick fashion out.” the headmaster explained, “but extremes of fashion like this are not right in school.” Many other schools have now requested that their students also stop wearing such trousers.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Ludovica Gaudio, 14, wore extremely low trousers exposing orange underwear in class. It was cold, so she wore a matching orange scarf. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} “I don't really feel comfortable in those sorts of jeans,” said Sarah Lattanzi, “in winter, when dressed like that, it's quite cold and I am afraid my stomach will ache.”

A. But recently this trend has been at the center of an argument in Italian middle schools.

B. A parents' group praised the move in favor of good taste, while others advised schools to stop worrying about fashion and fix up old school buildings.

C. He pointed out that this way of dressing is not suitable for school.

D. Most students have simply ignored the request.

E. Another 14-year-old said she would probably respect the request, simply for practical reasons.

F. Requests.

G. Schools should pay attention to things more important than students' clothes.

    If something that you're doing doesn't challenge you, then it doesn't change you. We all need some normal stress in our lives, after all.{#blank#}1{#/blank#} So challenge the following limits:

    ⒈Figure out what you're scared of and do it continuously.

    If you're a salesman, and you're scared of talking to people personally or over the phone now, instead of being scared and thinking you'll fail, spend at least five minutes a day to pick up the phone and make a call. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} But don't stop on the first try! Eventually, you can look at fear in the eye and say, “Go on. I'm not scared!”

    ⒉{#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    Make sure this hobby is not linked to your career; you have to relax and relieve your stress while performing this. Some examples might be cooking, sewing, painting and so on. Apart from helping you challenge yourself, taking a class for your hobby may also give you extra income.

    ⒊Set aside at least nine minutes a day for physical exercise.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} A simple 9-minute run around your neighborhood can do wonders for yourself. Exercise can not only help you maintain your regular weight, but also make you feel better about yourself.

    ⒋Travel and allow yourself to be interested in new people.

Don't just limit yourself to your fellow travelers—-try to connect with the service staff. You never know what kind of people they're going to be. Get out of your house or go online right now to book your class. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. You should do it continuously.

B. Someone may hang up on you.

C. You don't need to go to the gym.

D. Running in the gym may be a better choice.

E. Start to travel now and learn to challenge yourself.

F. Take a class for a hobby you've been wanting to develop.

G. You can never see any improvement if you stick to your comfort zone.

    If you travel, you will leave a carbon footprint in your wake. You can't help it. But eco-friendly travel practices can lighten the harm on Mother Earth. Green travel is not a passing trend but a lifestyle choice. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}.

    Choosing a green destination

    No destination is a Green Giant. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}. However, some countries and cities show a deep commitment to Earth-friendly policies and practices. When researching a vacation spot, look for places that naturally embrace the green lifestyle.

    Choosing green transportation

    What makes Mother Earth proud? Seeing you use your own power to get around. Many adventure tour operators arrange cycling, hiking and walking holidays. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}. The greenest rides typically run on electric power. Switzerland is taking the lead with its hybrid buses and trains powered by hydroelectricity; Japan is running close behind.

    Choosing a green hotel

    Once you are at your destination, if you can get the hotel right, you can make the greatest impact. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}. Look for a fact sheet online, or call the front desk. You can also search for hotels approved by respected certification programs, such as Green Key and the Global Sustainable Tourism Council.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}.

    The Earth-friendly choices are numerous: You can sail, bike, kayak, bike, swim, bird-watch and play I-spy-a-monkey in a tree. Visit a local food market, and don't forget to bring a reusable bag for purchases. You can also lend a hand during your holiday. The green movement has changed from how to preserve and protect to how to use less and do good when you're there.

A. Choosing green travel

B. Choosing green activities

C. Next in line are trains and buses

D. They all make environmental missteps

E. Most major chains operate in-house green program

F. If you plan to drive, consider a fuel-efficient vehicle

G. Follow the tips and watch your footprints turn greener

    Bank holidays! We all love them!

    A bank holiday is an English term for a public holiday. During the day banks and offices are closed and a lot of people have a day off work. In the UK, people only get eight bank holidays in one year. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    People in Colombia are much luckier. There are twenty bank holidays for the whole country in one year! And there can be even more, depending on which region(地区) you live in. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} As in the UK, most of the bank holidays in Colombia exist for religious reasons.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} One such example is Independence Day on 20 July every year. This is just like Bastille Day in France on 14 July. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} It is in memory of the day that Christopher Columbus, first reached America in the year 1492.

    Bank holidays are very important for western people. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} They may also choose to stay at home to relax and forget about work.

A. Bank holidays are different in Colombia.

B. During the holidays, they often travel with their families.

C. This is because different regions have their own holidays.

D. And at least five of those are around Christmas time and Easter.

E. Every country on the continent of America celebrates Columbus Day.

F. Another historical bank holiday in Colombia is Columbus Day on 12 October.

G. However, some bank holidays in Colombia came into being for historical reasons.

How to Save Your Laptop after a Spill

    Spilling coffee, juice or water on a laptop might seem like the end of the world, {#blank#}1{#/blank#}. Here's a five-step plan to rescue a laptop after a liquid spill.

    Switch the laptop off

    Shut down the laptop. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}. Remove the power cord, unplug any peripherals and remove the battery. The biggest danger at this time is the device shorting out.

    Remove excess liquid from the laptop

    Remove excess liquid with a soft cloth or paper towels. Do not use a wiping motion as that just spreads the liquid further.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    With the laptop facing away from you, move it from side to side and from front to back in a gentle rocking motion to help the liquid to escape from all four sides.

    Use compressed air to dry the laptop

    Make sure that you have removed all excess liquid. Then, if you have one, use a can of compressed air to help dry the laptop. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}. Keep the dryer moving all the time and hold it at least 20cm above the laptop.

    Leave laptop to completely dry out

    Leave the laptop opened in an inverted "V" shape in a warm area, to completely dry out. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}. Wait for 24 hours or longer, making sure the keyboard is completely dry, before reinstalling the battery and peripherals.

    If you must replace your laptop keyboard, please remember: most laptop keyboards can be replaced by a technician, or you can purchase a new USB or wireless keyboard to use with the laptop.