Everyone needs a break, and vacations are not meant for serious study.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}The Spring Festival is coming up so this is the perfect time to discuss some great English language literature to take on a long train journey.

    Before getting into the recommendations, you need to determine your English reading comprehension level. If you're at the beginner level, there are two options: reading a children's book or reading a book that you've read in Chinese translation. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} If you're at the intermediate level, popular books like pop fiction, mysteries and thrillers are good options. For advanced readers, classic works of literature or modern prize winners (Nobel, Pulitzer) are good options.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} When I pick up a book I like, even though the first few chapters are really hard to get through, I would try to get accustomed to the language the author uses. Generally, after the first few chapters, things get a lot easier, especially if I get involved in the story.

    Another great way to keep yourself motivated is to find a friend who's interested in reading the same book. You can make goals that you both want to achieve. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    Some quick recommendations: Harry Potter, start with the first book and go on from there; the Narnia series; anything by U.S. writer Michael Crichton; and if you like horror, U.S. writer Stephen King is always unusual and fun. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Happy reading!

A. If you pick a book which is so challenging, it will be too stressful.

B. The most important thing is to pick a book that you're really interested in.

C. You may also enjoy your reading when hanging out with your family.

D. You should just find a topic or author you're interested in, and the rest will go from there.

E. You can also discuss plot lines or vocabulary issues with each other by SMS or e-mail.

F. Instead, they're a great way to take a break and enjoy a good book.

G. This will help you get over any unfamiliar words or phrases, since you're already familiar with the story.

    Cold blesses us all

    It's November, the time of year when people often get blessed more. This is not because God likes cold weather, nor because others are feeling generous with Thanksgiving just around the corner.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Colds and the flu are the most common illnesses people get in autumn and winter as the weather gets colder. They are all caused by viruses, but colds are generally milder—you'll feel annoyed but not as if you want to die.

    Teenagers catch average six to ten colds a year, according to statistics from the Ministry of Health, while adults average two to four. More than 200  viruses cause cold symptoms.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}You can be contagious（传染的）one day before symptoms develop and for up to five days after becoming sick.

    The signature symptom of a cold is a runny nose. The flu will make you burn with fever, ache all over, feel extremely tired and cough intensely. The flu can sometimes lead to more serious diseases, such as pneumonia.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}A doctor can test you to see whether you have the flu in the first few days of the illness. But some treatments for both are pretty much the same:

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}Many doctors consider water a weapon against the common cold. It helps your blood drive off viruses and flood them out.

    Keep warm. You might be cold one minute and hot the next, and wearing several layers is very important.

    Wash your hands frequently. You don't want to make it worse by spreading the flu to everyone else. Also, avoid sharing cups and eating utensils(餐具) with other people.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}But if your flu symptoms get worse, go to a hospital or clinic right away.

A. Most people who catch the flu get better without having to see their doctor.

B. Sometimes, it's hard to tell a cold from the flu based on symptoms alone.

C. Drink lots of water.

D. Taking medicine on time is a good way to prevent the illness.

E. "Bless you!" is a common response to sneezes, the symptom of catching a cold or the flu.

F. Get lots of sleep and take it easy.

G. You can pass on the flu before you even know you have it.

    Maybe once you lived with your roommates! Many of us live with a roommate at some stage. Sometimes, there can be problems. Who hasn't had an argument about whose turn it is to take out the rubbish or who should be the one to clear up after dinner? {#blank#}1{#/blank#} 

    You know that there's always someone else around, which can help you feel safer. There is always someone to talk to, so you never feel lonely. Besides these obvious benefits, there are some you may not notice. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    To examine the effect of living alone, Australian university researchers did much research and found that people living alone tended to eat less fresh food, which can have a significant negative effect on long-term health. However, those living with others generally benefited from a more varied diet compared to those living alone.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} The researchers believe the social and cultural roles played by cooking, food preparation and eating may be important considerations. For example, those living with friends have someone else to go shopping with, and thus are likely to buy high-quality fresh food regularly.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} If people living alone find they do not have the knowledge required to prepare a particular dish or cook a certain food, they may fall back on ready-made, less healthy food.

    However, if they live with at least one other person, they maybe able to ask for help.

    In addition, people living alone can eat whatever they want at any time of the day or night. However, it's helpful to have someone around who questions your decision to eat frozen pizza at 3 am. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    So, if you now live alone and find yourself fighting a losing battle against poor eating habits, why not consider sharing a home with someone else? You could encourage one another onto greater health and well-being.

A. Cooking skills maybe another factor.

B. In other words, roommates can draw your attention to unhealthy routines.

C. Living with a roommate could be good to share your expenses and contribute to your home's maintenance.

D. For example, we're actually more likely to eat healthier food when living with others.

E. What could explain these findings?

F. It's hard to find someone who doesn't grate on your nerves, has a similar cleanliness level as you and goes to bed at the same time.

G. However, living with another person also comes with many benefits.

Fear of Missing Out

It's a common experience: You're scrolling through a social media page, and you see pictures of friends traveling or going to parties. Suddenly you start to wonder why you're not doing those things. Are you missing out on something fun and exciting because you're locked into everyday life? This experience has come to be known as the fear of missing out, sometimes abbreviated(缩写) FOMO.{#blank#}1{#/blank#} But with the rise of social media, FOMO is becoming much more common.

Wanting to be in on the fun when exciting things are happening is completely normal. But for some people, it can lead to an addiction to checking their phones to find out what other people are doing. Even while doing things that are fun or necessary, people can feel like there's something better going on elsewhere. This urge to connect can lead them to disconnect from the people they are actually with.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}It can even be dangerous; some people try to check messages while driving.

Remember that what people choose to post on social media does not necessarily reflect their life overall. People tend to pick and choose the things they share, so we only ever know a small part of anyone else's life.

{#blank#}3{#/blank#} You cannot be everywhere and do everything that might be interesting or productive, and that's OK.

It might even be necessary to turn off your phone or log out of social media for a while.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}You can even set particular times in your day to check email and social media. By stepping away for a time, you can help keep other people's lives in perspective.

Finally, focus on the things in front of you. Enjoy them, do them well and let everything else go. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

Don't let the fear of missing out cause you to miss out on the good things you have in life. Relax, enjoy what you do and let other people enjoy their lives without envying them.

A. To some extent, people have always worried about missing out on things.

B. Without the social media you will get unconnected with the whole world.

C. It also prevents them from being satisfied with the good things in their lives.

D. When you fully engage with life, you'll worry less about what you're not doing.

E. Get rid of the constant reminders of everything that's happening in the world.

F. It's difficult to connect with the reasons why you choose not to participate.

G. It's also important to be humble and acknowledge your limitations.

A great poem makes you want to get out of your chair and pace around the room. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}. But if you haven't developed your. poetry taste in a while, that feeling might be a little hard to tap into. Here are four tips that can help you get there.

Read aloud and out loud

When reading a poem, it is important to remember that it is not just words on a page, but is meant to be heard or read aloud. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}. It will enhance the appreciation of the piece.

{#blank#}3{#/blank#}.

Approaching poetry with a perspective of finding connections between the poem and one's own life can be a valuable tool for appreciating the poem more. Connecting to the emotions, memories and even the same life experiences can help to relate more to the poem and in turn, truly appreciate it. Through this connection to the poem, we can better understand the feelings, actions and words of the poem.

Create a dialogue

More often than not, a lot of hidden or "unsaid" messages are delivered in poetry. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}. A fruitful discussion about a poem can help readers to understand the poem more, through their different interpretations and opinions.

Write your own poem

{#blank#}5{#/blank#}. As you write your own poem, think about the structure you want to create, the literary devices you want to employ and the emotion you want to arouse. As you write your own poem, you will see your appreciation of the original poem rise, as you gain a sense of the effort that goes into crafting a poem. In this way, it can become much easier to appreciate the poem being read.

A. Find connections

B. Pair poetry with other art forms

C. Writing can be a great way to start your appreciation of a poem

D. It makes you want to throw your hands up and show it to somebody

E. Reading the poem aloud helps you understand the emotion of the poet fully

F. Having a discussion around a poem allows readers to bring out these messages

G. Possessing a critical eye allows readers to appreciate the art of poetry in a meaningful way