Things You Didn't Know About Stephen Hawking

    Even if you don't keep a close eye on new developments in physics, you've probably heard of the famous physicist Stephen Hawking.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    These days, we know Hawking as a brilliant mind whose theories are difficult for a nonscientific mind to grasp. This is why it may come as a shock to learn that Hawking was a slacker when it came to his school studies.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}With a little more effort, he brought those grades up to about average, but not much better. However, from an early age he was interested in how things worked. He has talked about how he was known to take apart clocks and radios. However, he admits he wasn't very good at putting them back together so they could work again.

    Stephen Hawking took a liking to mathematics from an early age, and he would have liked to have majored in it.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}He hoped Stephen would instead study medicine.

    But, for all his interest in science, Stephen didn't care for biology. He has said that he found it to be “too inexact, too descriptive (叙述的)”{#blank#}4{#/blank#}

One problem, however, was that Oxford didn't have mathematics as a major. The result was that Stephen would attend Oxford and major in physics. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}That's why he chose to study universe.

A. His father wanted to send him to Oxford.

B. His father, Frank, however, had different ideas.

C. Actually, he focused on the bigger questions.

D. He would have rather devoted his mind to more precise concepts.

E. In fact, when he was 9, his grades ranked among the worst in his class.

F. However, there're many interesting facts you might not know about him.

G. Both his teachers and peers seemed to understand that they had a future genius.

（A student meets his English teacher at the bus station when the summer holiday begins）

S: Hello, Miss Li. How are you?

T: Oh, fine, thank you.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}And how are you and your parents?

S: We're all very well, too. Thanks.

T: {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

S: My parents and I are going to Shanghai to see my grandparents. And you?

T: I'm going to Beijing. All the teachers are going there.

S:{#blank#}3{#/blank#}

T: For a week.

S: We're coming back in a week, too.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}

T: Thank you. Have a good trip! There goes the bus.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}Goodbye.

S: Bye.

    Because of the Internet, people from different parts of the world can connect with one another, and get information about nearly everything in the world. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} They spend so much time online, hardly realizing that much of it is actually wasted on something meaningless. For example, they waste much time playing games. Luckily there are many meaningful things you can do on the Internet.

     {#blank#}2{#/blank#} These courses don't require you to go out to attend classes. They can also be done from the comfort of your home. So they're very convenient.

    If you're a DIY person, you should check for online resources that help you with this thing. For questions like how to paint a room, or how to repair a broken car engine, all the answers can be found online. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} From home decoration and repair to fashion and relationships, there are many sources that give you good advice.

    Practice your hobby on the Internet. Find the latest information on things that you are interested in.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} In a word, the Internet has many good sources that allow you to practice your hobbies, and even earn out of them.

    Listen to your favorite songs, watch your favorite movies, or listen to speeches by inspirational speakers. Songs can help you feel relaxed. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} And listening to inspirational speeches can make you feel good about yourself.

A. Take part in fun activities that you enjoy.

B. Movies can give you that much-needed break.

C. Take academic courses and improve your skills.

D. However, very few people make really good use of the Internet.

E. So, what type of productive things do you like to do on the Internet?

F. Therefore, there are so many websites from which we can gain knowledge.

G. Also you can use the Internet to find answers for questions related to daily life.

    The key to dealing with test-day anxiety is through preparation! {#blank#}1{#/blank#} It is important to prepare your mind and body for the experience of working under pressure.

    Get some sleep. I know you've heard this before, but it's often repeated because it's so important. Get plenty of sleep the night before the test! If you don't have enough rest, you'll find it much harder to concentrate. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    Leave early. Be sure to leave earlier than normal on the day of a test to avoid the added fear of arriving late. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} The embarrassment will cause you to be distracted and lose valuable time.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Once you arrive at school or at the testing center, find a quiet space where you can be all alone. You can use your car if you drive, or you can find an empty locker room or office (ask a teacher). Once you locate in a quiet place, do a relaxation session. Close your eyes and try to relax completely. Take deep breath and keep calm.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} It's possible that some students start to stress out as other students discuss the material. When you hear others chatting, it might sound like you skipped over something important or you misunderstood a concept. It's probably not even true——but it can seem like it!

A. Take a quiet moment.

B. A sleepy brain is a foggy brain!

C. Watch out for the road conditions.

D. Walking into an exam late is the last thing you need!

E. You might also find time for a quick bite during a break.

F. Don't talk with other students in the minutes before a test.

G. But full preparation means more than knowing the test material.

Do's and Don'ts of Donating

    Giving up your unused or unwanted stuff is a great way to make space in your home for the items that you do enjoy on a regular basis. Not sure where to start? Here are some do's and don'ts of donating your belongings.

    Do Prepare Your Clothes

    You've thoroughly cleaned out your closet and drawers, and have a mountain of clothing waiting to be donated.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Make sure all buttons are accounted for, and that you can't see any dirty marks, or damage.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    The number one rule of donating your stuff is to make sure that it's in good, usable condition. Don't pass along old clothes or furniture, chipped dishes, books that are missing pages, or toys with lost pieces. Nobody wants to accept your damaged belongings. Find a local company that will recycle these items instead.

    Don't even think of donating these items

    With a little common sense it's easy to figure out items that are ideal for donations{#blank#}3{#/blank#} As a gentle reminder, it's never a good idea to donate car parts, dangerous waste, construction materials and weapons. Don't donate large appliances Major appliances such as stoves, fridges, freezers, washers and dryers typically reside on the 'do not donate' list due to health and safety reasons. All items accepted for donation must be thoroughly clean and in good working order. With secondhand appliances, it can be difficult to guarantee that they fit the bill. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    Don't donate recalled items

    Every so often a product recall hits the news headlines. Highchairs, toys, holiday lights for Christmas trees the list of recalled items due to safety concerns is endless.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}A dangerous product should be thrown away, and not passed on to an unsuspecting person. Think of the well-being of others before dropping off something that's viewed as a hidden danger in your own home.

A. They're all acceptable items for donation, too.

B. Instead of donating an unwanted large appliance, call your local trash collection company and arrange for their safe disposal.

C. But unfortunately some people will throw away the contents of their home without a second though.

D. Before you bag up these pieces, inspect each one to ensure that they're in good condition and ready to be owned by someone else.

E. Don't donate damaged items.

F. Clothes aren't the only household items that can be donated.

G. Never donate recalled items!

How to Be a Good Tourist

    We travel not only for work but also for fun and learning. Restaurants, galleries, temples and architecture...These places are like homes for people who live and work there. How would you want visitors to behave in your own home? {#blank#}1{#/blank#} There are many ways of doing this without sacrificing our own holiday.

    Do your homework. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Guides will help you when you get to the site, but is that the best place to go? Is it popular only because the one-day tourist can see it easily or because it is really a worthwhile place to visit？You'd better check it out.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Walk around, even if in the streets closest to your hotel. Eat in local restaurants. Talk to the locals. Learn a few in the local language and use them. You will surely get a smile from the hotel staff and street sellers.

    Help preserve the sites. Most of the sites you visit may be visited by millions of people a year, so care needs to be taken to allow others to enjoy them as well. Some of these monuments are so old and fragile that they are sensitive to the touch of hands or bags and shows. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} This way, you don't encourage the use of those plastic bags that fly all over many sites.

    And here's the big one — good manners are nearly universal. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} If that doesn't sound like you, then give the world a break and stay home.

A. Experience the place.

B. Always have a cloth bag with you.

C. Read about the places you want to visit.

D. Try to buy something from the local stores.

E. A good tourist is polite, positive and eco-sensitive.

F. We've cleaned up after ourselves and taken only good memories.

G. I think we would like them to make it a little better because of their visit.