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.

    We all have to make decisions all the time, and we have an abundance of choices, ranging from tiny issues to vital ones. Unfortunately, people often find it hard to make decisions{#blank#}1{#/blank#} If you would like to improve your skill of decision making, here are four suggestions for you. Don't expect to have it all.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} You can't order every delicious dish on the menu. And there will be paths not taken, careers not chosen, to name a few. You can imagine some “what if' situations if you must, but do not let them take up too much space in your brain.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    It's often good to think through your decisions. But don't overdo it. Research can reach a point where returns begin to reduce, which makes it confusing more than clarifying. Many good decisions can be made based as much on intuition (直觉) as on careful assessment of endless data.

    Don't delay making decisions.

    Yes, there is a time to put off making a decision. Perhaps you need more information{#blank#}4{#/blank#} Or it's likely that you wait for a less stressful time. Just don't wait so long that the decision is made by your own indecisiveness.

    Don't be hard on yourself.

    You decide to go on a voyage. You choose an expensive liner. Everything should work out just right. Only you didn't expect a bug that ran around on the ship, making you and your family sick for five days{#blank#}5{#/blank#}But please remember it is unavoidable sometimes.

A. Don't spend too much time thinking.

B. It is an important source of information.

C. Don't count on emotion to make decisions.

D. Maybe you wish to consult with your advisor.

E. You may regret making such a stupid decision.

F. That means the skill of good decision-making counts a lot.

G. Decisions force us to close the door on other possibilities.

    Are you simply moving through your day without fully living? I think many of us have done this. Everyone wants to fully live every day. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} So I've decided to share with you some ways to help you enjoy every moment.

    Sit in the morning. When you wake up, in the quiet of the morning, sit on the floor. I often use this opportunity to stretch (伸展). {#blank#}2{#/blank#} I also just sit, and focus on my breathing going in and out.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} I like to take breaks from work, and go outside for a slow walk. Pay attention to your breathing, to everything around you, to the sounds and light of objects.

    Read in silence. Find a quiet time, and a quiet place, and read a good novel. Have no television or computers on nearby. And just put yourself in the world of the novel. It might seem difficult to let your mind move from the present into the time of the novel, but it's a great practice in focus. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Each day, find someone you care about and be grateful for his existence. If you want, you can tell that person how thankful you are to him.

A. Walk slowly.

B. Work with focus.

C. Look at someone in a grateful way.

D. But this is easier said than done.

E. I feel every muscle in my body.

F. It's a way of building something good into your life.

G. Also, I love a good novel more than almost anything else.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#}You probably think you will never be a top student. This is not necessarily so, however. Anyone can become a better student if he or she wants to. Here's how.

    Plan your time carefully. When planning your work, you should make a list of things that you have to do. After making this list, you should make a schedule of your time. First your time for eating, sleeping, dressing, etc. Then decide a good, regular time for studying. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} A weekly schedule may not solve all your problems, but it will force you to realize what is happening to your time.

    Find a good place to study. Look around the house for a good study area. Keep this space, which may be a desk or simply a corner of your room, free of everything but study materials. No games, radios, or television. When you sit down to study, concentrate on the subject.

    Make good use of your time in class. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Listening carefully in class means less work later. Taking notes will help you remember what the teacher says.

    Study regularly. When you get home from school, go over your notes. Review the important points that your teacher has mentioned in class. If you know what your teacher is going to discuss the next day, read that material. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} If you do these things regularly, the material will become more meaningful, and you'll remember it longer.

    Develop a good attitude towards tests. The purpose of a test is to show what you have learned about a subject. They help you remember your new knowledge. The world won't end if you don't pass a test, so don't be over worried.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} You will probably discover them after you have tried these.

A. There are other methods that might help you with your studying

B. Don't forget to set aside enough time for entertainment.

C. Take advantage of class time to listen to everything the teacher says.

D. No one can become a top student unless he or she works hard.

E. Maybe you are an average student.

F. Make full use of class time to take notes of what the teacher says in class.

G. This will help you understand the next class.

Remarkable Ways to Push Yourself Harder

    Deep inside us, we know that hard work is supposed to be the key to success.{#blank#}1{#/blank#} Here are the rules that you can also apply to make yourself work really hard.

    Practice working hard.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Therefore, if you want to be a hard worker, you must practice working hard. Practice waking up early, practice doing a lot of work, and practice working more hours. One day you will wake up and realize that you are a hard worker.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    Many hard workers always have a large purpose that forces them to work. Don't just think of buying a car or a big house because this is not a purpose strong enough to push you forward. An example of a big purpose is deciding that you are working hard so that you bring change in the lives of your friends, family, and neighborhood. A strong purpose always involves bringing a large positive change in any particular setting.

    Surround yourself with hard workers.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} But if you surround yourself with hardworking people, you will find yourself working hard towards your goal. Avoid friends who just want to have fun all the time. This type of friends will always discourage you when you attempt to work hard. Therefore, always surround yourself with go-getters.

    Read and watch inspirational materials.

    You can also push yourself harder through reading and watching inspirational material. Motivational books and videos encourage you to work harder. These materials make you work hard.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. Have a strong purpose.

B. Find a great goal to overcome your laziness.

C. Like other skills, one has to practice it to perfect it.

D. Inspirational material makes you believe in yourself.

E. Nevertheless, occasions are not rare when we always find it difficult to push ourselves harder.

F. They remove discouragement and assure you that you will never fail if you push yourself to the limit.

G. If you surround yourself with lazy people, you will also be lazy.

    Every day can be a fresh, new beginning—this is very important if you had a difficult day before. By starting with some preparations, you can face the problems of the day in a good mood(心情). {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Exercise. Exercising is one of the best methods to start your day for your mind as well as the body. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} In addition, it also reduces stress and improves your metabolism(新陈代谢). So go for a walk, go for a bike ride, or go to the gym in the morning.

    Organize yourself. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}Make a to-do list and try to follow it. It will keep you organized(有条理的) and make your day easier. However, make sure that your to-do list is manageable. There are only so many things you can do in a day.

    Smile. Starting your day by acting the way you want to feel can help you be in a good mood.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}The easiest thing to do is smile. Just smile because you are alive and you can. Watch or listen to something humorous so you can laugh. It makes you feel positive and really good about yourself and the world that surrounds you.

    Keep important items in the same place. To make mornings less busy, start a habit keeping your important items in a place easy to reach.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}This way, you are never looking for that lost item when you are running behind.

A. Write down the tasks for the day.

B. Try other actions to get yourself to feel happier.

C. Try some of the following tips to start your day right.

D. Put your keys, wallet, purse, and other important items there.

E. Instead of rushing through the rooming, go slow and take your time.

F. It increases brain's working speed, which can help you get a jump-start on the day.
G. If you feel angry or tired, do something physical to make yourself feel happy.