Tips for Confident Decision Making

    Are you a good decision maker? Do you sit on the fence?{#blank#}1{#/blank#}If you'd like to be more content and confident with your decision making, then these four tips are just the things you need.

    Do your “homework”

    Make choices based on what is the most important to you.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}You may even want to speak to someone else who has been through this before. Then when you are ready, just decide.

    You are in charge.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}By blaming others you give your power away. Just believe you have made the right choice and take responsibility for the result. This will be a real encouragement to your self-confidence.

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    It's great to stick with your decisions. There are times however when you need to change your mind. Don't worry about making a wrong choice. The good thing about being wrong is that you will know where to correct yourself and when to take action.

    You're going to make it.

    Sometimes it is going to be hard to be persistent(坚持不懈). You know you are doing the right thing and it's just taking so much time, effort, money and energy. After making bold choice, remember you have a reason why.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}Say to yourself out loud “No matter how hard it is, I'm going to make it.”

    Decision making takes courage and there are many things you can do to decide more confidently. So don't delay, you can start right now by deciding to make this new habit.

A. The more confident, the better decision.

B. This will mean you have to do a research and look at all theavailable options.

C. Whatever result you get, you can't blame others.

D. Confident decision making is of great significance.

E. Or are you constantly changing your mind?

F. It's OK to change your mind.

G. Remember you are taking yourself to the next level.

    Chinese are very generous when it comes to educating their children. Not caring about the money, parents often send their children to the best schools or even abroad to England, the United States and Australia. They also want their children to take extra-course activities where they will either learn a musical instrument or ballet, or other classes which will give them a head start in life.        {#blank#}1{#/blank#}So parents will spend an unreasonable amount of money on education. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}However, what most parents fail to see is that the best early education they can give their children is usually very cheap.

    Parents can see that their children's skills differ. Some children are very skilled in some areas while poor in others. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}The problem is that parents are only educating their children on how to take multiple-choice tests and how to study well, but parents are not teaching them the most important skills that they need to be confident, happy and clever.

    Parents can achieve this by teaching practical skills like cooking, sewing and doing other housework. Teaching a child to cook will improve many of the skills that he will need later in life. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}It is an enjoyable but difficult experience. A good cook always tries to improve his cooking, so he will learn to work hard and gradually finish his job successfully step by step. The result, a well-cooked dinner, will give him much satisfaction and lots of self-confidence.

    Some old machines, such as a broken radio or TV set that you give your child to play with will make him curious and arouse his interest. He will spend hours looking at them, trying to repair them; your child might become an engineer when he grows up.  {#blank#}5{#/blank#}And that is more important.

A. Even poor couples will buy a computer for their son or daughter.

B. The more cost in education, the better the result will be.

C. Cooking requires patience and time.

D. What most parents fail to realize though, is that today's children are badly off for self-respect and self-confidence.

E. The Chinese believe that the more expensive an education is, the better it is.

F. These activities are not only teaching a child to read a book, but rather to think, to use his mind.

G. Thus, the more the children use the computer, the better the result will be.

项。

How to Make a Chinese Hot Pot

    Eating a Chinese hot pot is a very common experience. People gather around the pot, dipping their food, waiting for it to cook, mixing their own seasonings ( 调味品) and enjoying each other's company.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}.

    Firstly, prepare a large pot of soup. There is no right or wrong way to prepare a soup, so feel free to make your own. A simple soup can be made by boiling water with the addition of meat bones or fish heads and a mixture of herbs, seasonings and vegetables.

    Then, cut a variety of meats and fish into thin slices.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}. Choose any food that you enjoy. Some common choices for Chinese hot pot include thin pieces of beef, pork, lamb and so on. You can make your hot pot using the more traditional method of using the meats and seafood that are local to you. Meanwhile, select, wash and prepare some vegetables.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}. Mushrooms of all kinds are also common to Chinese hot pot preparations.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}. At home, a single hot pot would work well up to 4-8 people depending on the size of the pot. Make sure everyone is sitting in a circle and has easy access to everything on the table. Prepare a separate small dish for each guest to mix their seasonings.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}!

A. Now comes the turn to enjoy your hot pot

B. It will guarantee that the items will cook quickly and fully

C. For more variety, consider dumplings, rice cakes and tangyuan

D. It usually lasts a couple of hours because you are cooking and eating in small parts

E. Finally, arrange the seating reasonably

F. Here are some easy steps to make a Chinese hot pot at home

G. Popular choices include: cabbage, pea leaves, winter melon and tomato

Five Ways to Go Green and Save Green

    Climate change is in the news. It seems like everyone's "going green." We're glad you want to take action too. Luckily many of the steps we can take to stop climate change can make our lives better. Let's start now.

    Save energy to save money.

    Set your thermostat（恒温器）degrees lower in the winter and a few degrees higher in the summer to save on heating and cooling costs.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#} As much as 85 percent of the energy used to machine-wash clothes goes to heat the water.

    Unplug (拔掉……的电源插头) electrical equipment when you're not using it.

    Save water to save money.

    Take shorter showers to reduce water use. This will lower your water and heating bills too.

    Plant drought-tolerant (耐旱的) native plants in your garden. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}Find out about these plants in your area.

    Fix a low-flow showerhead. They don't cost much and the water and energy savings can quickly pay back your money.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    Walk or bike to work. This saves on gas and parking costs while improving your health and reducing your risk of being fat.

    Eat smart.

    If you eat meat, add one meatless meal a week. Meat costs a lot at the store and it's even more expensive when you consider the related environmental and health costs.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}Purchasing from local farmers keeps money in the local economy.

    Avoid bottled water.

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    Use a water filter (过滤器) to make drinking water instead of buying bottled water. Not only is bottled water expensive but it causes large amounts of container waste.

A. When speaking of something to eat, try local products whenever you can.

B. Our grandchildren and their children will thank us for living green.

C. Bring a reusable water bottle with you when traveling or at work.

D. Wash clothes in cold water whenever possible.

E. Less gas = more money and better health!

F. Move a little nearer to your work.

G. Many plants need little watering.

    With busy schedules and limited hours of daylight, some runners find their only me to run is in the darkness of early morning or evening.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}. But if you have to run at night or in the early morning, make sure to follow these guidelines. Choose a Well-lit Route.

    It might not be your favourite route to run, but the most well-lit route is your first choice. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} and you'll always be able to see the road and avoid potential hazards.

    •Always Run Against Traffic

    It's easier to avoid cars if you can see them coming. Avoid busy roads and those with no shoulders or sidewalks.

    Run With a Friend

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}. If possible, try to never run alone. If you're running alone, let someone know the route you're running and approximately how long you will be out.

    •Watch Out for Bikes and Runners

    Even if you're running on a path or in a park with no cars, always be aware of other runners and cyclists. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}. This advice applies to running in both daylight and darkness.

    •Put Away Your Music

    Make sure you leave your radio, MP3 player, or iPad at home. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}. You can't hear oncoming cars, cyclists yelling to move, dogs, or any other potential threat.

A. Oncoming cars see you better

B. There's strength and safety in numbers

C. Running in daylight is always a safer choice

D. A headlamp is also an essential item for runners

E. Before you stop or turn around, make sure your path is clear

F. Cutting off your sense of hearing leaves you at a disadvantage

G. Put your driver's license in your pocket or wear an ID tag on your shoe

    Parents and the Young

    It is natural that young people are often uncomfortable when they are with their parents.{#blank#}1{#/blank#} They often think that their parents are out of touch with modern ways, that they are too serious and too strict with their children, and that they seldom give their children a free hand. It is time that parents often find it difficult to win their children's trust and they always forget how they themselves felt when young. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}It is one of their ways to show that they have grown up and they can face any difficult situation. Adults worry more easily. Most of them plan things ahead. Young people make their parents angry with their choices in clothes, in entertainment and in music. But they do not mean to cause any trouble: It just shows that they feel cut off from the adult's world, and they have not yet been accepted into their world. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}And if their parents do not like their music or entertainment or clothes or their way of speech, this will make the young people very happy. Sometimes you are so proud of yourself that you do not want your parents to say "yes" to what you do. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}It is natural enough, after being a child for so many years, when you were completely under your parents' control. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} If your parents see that you have a high sense of responsibility, they will give you the right to do what you want to do.

A. Parents should understand young people.

B. Young people like to live with their parents.

C. Young people like to act without much thinking.

D. They say that their parents don't understand them.

E. All you want is to be left alone and do what you like.

F. If you plan to control your life, you'd better win your parents.

G. That's why young people want to make a new culture of their own.