While going through life with the pursuit of money on our mind, we're often told that money can't buy happiness. But what truth is there in the saying? Is there a relation between money and happiness?  {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Humans are very sensitive to change. When we get a rise, we really enjoy it. But some studies have shown that in North America, additional income beyond 75,000 dollars a year stops impacting day-to-day happiness. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}They often end up spending all the money, going into debt, and experience ruined social relationships.

    So surely money can't really buy happiness. Well, recent studies suggest that the problem may actually be in the way that we spend money. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}Studies show that people who spend their money on others feel happier. As for the people who spend money on themselves, their happiness is unchanged.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} One experiment showed that instead of an organization writing a large check to a charity, dividing the amount up among employees, allowing them to contribute to a charity of their choice, increased their job satisfaction. Similarly, individuals that spend money on each other, as opposed to themselves, not only increase job satisfaction, but improve the team performance.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Interestingly, the specific way money is spent on others isn't important. Spending something on others is the important aspect of increasing your happiness.

    Etiquette, or good manners, used to be the glue that held society together. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Sadly, these days it has mostly gone by the wayside. This list is several best rules of etiquette that have now disappeared.

    Opening the Door

    In days gone by, a gentleman would always open doors for ladies. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} This has now almost entirely disappeared and it is not entirely the fault of the men. I have seen women laugh at men for opening a door for them. They seem to be confusing manners with chauvinism（大男子主义）.

    Writing Thank-You Notes

    In days gone by, whenever a person received a gift, they would write a thank-you note as soon as possible. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Parents would sit children down after a birthday or Christmas and coach them in their first thank-you note. It is a shame that gift giving has now become a virtual obligation and the idea of a thank-you note would be laughed at.

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    We seem to have completely lost the concept of correct timing when it comes to parties these days. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} After all, a party normally has a guest of honor-this is usually the oldest woman present. It was considered extremely rude in the past to leave a party before the guest of honor-and once the guest of honor left, it was a signal to all that they should begin their own preparations to leave.

A. Arriving on Time.

B. Leaving at the Right Time.

C. People leave with various excuses.

D. It enabled people to get on well with each other.

E. This rule was true even if the giver was a relative.

F. It could be the lady they were driving, or a stranger.

G. We've thrown away the concept of a guest of honor at will.

    It's nice being nice to others; it's also great to give people a hand. However, if you start to hurt yourself by doing so, then this is not so healthy.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}If you fear that you might fall into this category, the following tips will help you to stand up for yourself and regain your self-confidence.

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    Although you may often stay silent if something is wrong or bothers you, it is better to speak your mind right away. You don't have to be rude, but you do have to be firm and direct. Don't do things for others if you don't really want to. Speak up, and soon others will be seeing you in a whole new light.

    Start small.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}This will allow you to practice being brave and self-confident. Tell a person who has cut in line in front of you to move to the back of the line, or tell a salesperson to do that. Before long, you will be confident enough to stand up to your friends and family members.

    Judge well.

    When dealing with others, you have to exercise good judgment. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}If a colleague isn't doing his part, you should rightfully demand that he start doing so. However, if a taxi cuts you off in traffic, just let it go.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}Rome wasn't built in a day. If you want to get back again after having been a pushover(耳软心活的人), it's best to take one step at a time.

A. Express yourself.

B. Regain your confidence.

C. Start by speaking up for yourself with strangers.

D. Everyone has the right to live without being judged.

E. If you slip back into the pushover mode every once in a while, don't blame yourself.

F. Sadly, some people are so easily pushed around that they come to be seen as pushovers.

G. It's one thing to be confident, but quite another to forcefully say no to an unreasonable request.

    Some people are naturally better than others at social activities. There are the lucky few that draw people to them without any effort. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}Put yourself at ease and remember these tips:

    Smile! A smile is understood in any culture and any age as a sign of friendship. So go ahead! It will put the other person at ease. You will seem approachable and happy. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    Make eye contact. Good eye contact engages the other person to you. When you are introduced to someone, shake their hands and repeat their names. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}Making eye contact shows you have confidence and shows you are interested in the other person.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Having a trusted friend next to you makes it less frightening to walk into a room full of people. But remember that even if you walk in as a pair, it doesn't mean you just stick together the whole time. The point in a social gathering is you make friends with other people.

    Go to social settings with a shared interest. For example joining an art class automatically puts you in a setting with other people you already have a common interest in. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A.Go with friends.

B.Ask the other person questions.

C.That will help you remember their names.

D.This is the worst impression to make in any setting.

E.It will let the other person know that you are safe to talk to.

F.But for most of us, we feel shy and awkward in social activities.

G.You now have something to talk about and work it from there.

    Although most parents don't like doing it after a long and exhausting workday, reading bedtime stories does make a positive influence on your child's emotional and mental health. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    It helps to develop children's imagination.

    Reading bedtime stories can develop your children's ability to form pictures or ideas in their mind. A healthy imagination makes their minds work well and teaches them to think quickly yet effectively. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    It improves children's language.

    Reading also improves your children's language. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} They'll most likely use those words in the stories you read right after they hear them. Listening to many stories helps kids to express their opinions better.

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    Reading books makes people more learned. When children hear the stories you tell, they learn grammar and vocabulary, for example. It helps them be successful in school as they already know a lot from your stories. What's more, every story has its moral aspect and tells them what's good and what's bad.

    These reasons leave no chances of doubting whether to read bedtime stories to your children or not. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} They will thank you in future, I promise.

A. It makes children knowledgeable.

B. It fosters children's affection for reading.

C. Take a look at the best benefits of it and you'll never be lazy to do that.

D. So however tired you are, find time to read bedtime stories to your children.

E. Bedtime stories create just unforgettable moments.

F. They remember most words you say and enlarge their vocabulary.

G. They'll be successful in many aspects thanks to a wonderful imagination.

Four Habits to Help You Succeed

    Nobody would like to experience failure. We all want to succeed. For those who have tried and failed, success seems difficult to understand. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    • Know your values.

    Finding your values is in line with creating motivation.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}Pick a handful of things and write them down. Remind yourself of your values every day and reflect on whether you are honoring those values through your work.

    • {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    Choose one goal to start something large enough that will give you a sense of achievement, while adjusting well to your values. If you want to achieve your goal, focus is the key here. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}If you perform many tasks at a time, you might never finish your projects because they will take far too long.

    • Set a time for success.

    Set a date for success. Know when you hope to realize your goal.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}By setting a time limit, you are making the process realistic.

• Don't give up because of failure.

    Failure can't be avoided when you take risks. By its very definition, the desire to succeed means you are risking failure. Many people tend to give up far too early. Don't fall into this trap! Use failure. Treat it as a good thing, and go on.

A. Make the right decision.

B. Pick a goal and focus on it.

C. The more focused you are on one goal, the higher chance you have of success.

D. Keep it realistic, while not giving yourself too much time.

E. I have made a list of four habits to help you set goals and realize them.

F. Sit and reflect on what you value most.

G. Push yourself to be courageous, and take that next step.