Trust has been considered as the basis of any relationship, including friendship. No relationship can last long with a lack of trust. Not many of your friends will have real faith in you as you would like to believe. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Sometimes, it takes years, even a complete lifetime, to trust someone. However, how do we know if our friends have faith in us?

{#blank#}2{#/blank#} With whom will you share things that you don't want everyone to know? It would be with a close friend, whom you trust as much as you trust yourself. While a few of your friends may be fiercely protective of their privacy and may not tell their secrets to anyone, those who do, surely find you trustworthy and reliable.

    Whom do you look up to for advice when you need it the most? It has to be either your parents or your friends. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} This is a shining example of trust. You only seek advice from people you hold in high regard and find dependable. The friends who trust you will never forget to include you in the important decisions of their life.

    Arguments and heated discussions are a part of every relationship, and this is also true for friendship.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} While some people find it difficult to forgive and forget, your friends will never have problems moving on. It is because they trust you and believe that you will never cause any pain to them on purpose.

    There are times in life when you find yourself a lonely soldier. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Your friends will never let you down and will strongly stand for you when you need encouragement. You can determine that they trust you and believe in your beliefs, if they side with you when you need them the most.

A. People can be extraordinarily jealous sometimes.

B. You know they will never pass on a wrong suggestion.

C. In fact, winning trust is, by far, the most challenging aspect of relationships.

D. Two people cannot have identical reactions to a situation and different opinions do exist.

E. No matter how close you are to your friends, you cannot take that comfort level for granted.

F. If your friends share their secrets, there's a good possibility that they have much faith in you.

G. However, people who are fortunate to have been blessed with true friends are never alone in any battle.

    According to statistics published by the University of Scranton, about 45 percent of Americans usually make New Year's resolutions—and the most popular resolution is losing weight. Of those who make resolutions, a mere 8 percent achieve them.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Are we just setting ourselves up for failure? Learn how to make realistic resolutions and how to overcome the roadblocks along the way.

    Setting a resolution to lose pounds isn't a goal that's achievable now. It may be a good long-term goal. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Registered dietitian Elisa Zied says “… to be real when you make a resolution. It's okay to shoot for the stars like making a resolution, but why not set a smaller goal and train smart?”

    The same concept applies to weight loss. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} These goals should help develop healthy habits that will finally help achieve your long-term resolution.

    Notice that these goals are simple and achievable. “Instead of going from zero to 60, from never going to the gym to going four to five times a week, why not start with three days a week, get consistent and build from there,” Zied says. Set yourself up for success and map out your course by making appointments with yourself to be active. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    You also need to be aware of your current exercise and eating habits to make achievable goals. Keeping a diary of your food and exercise habits can help. Record everything you eat and drink for three to five days and review it. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}For example, if you notice a tendency to snack on unhealthy fare, set a goal to eat a fruit or vegetable with each snack. Building on these smaller goals over time can help you achieve your long-term goal.

A. So why do so many of us fail to achieve our goals?

B. Once you notice your not-so-good habits, start fixing them.

C. Set between one and three weekly goals that you want to achieve.

D. Resolutions usually involve a commitment to sticking to your goals.

E. However, in order to reach it, you need to take baby steps to get it down.

F. If you treat your goals like set appointment, you're more likely to achieve them.

G. Losing weight, as well as getting a better job, is among the most popular resolutions for adults.

    Four Ways to Be a Great Roommate

    Having a roommate can be one of the best experiences in college or, easily, one of the worst.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Follow these tips to avoid the common mistakes that turn good roommate relationships sour.

    Talk things out.

    Communication is key. If something happens, sit down with your roommate and have a face-to-face conversation. I've seen roommate relationships fall apart because something happens and, instead of talking to each other, the two start complaining about their roommates behind their backs. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    Don't expect to be best friends.

    Some roommates become the best of friends, and some don't. Don't put pressure on yourself or your roommate, especially when you first meet. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} And if your roommate doesn't end up being your best friend, don't worry.

    Ask before you take.

    This applies to food, clothes and anything else. If you want to keep a relationship going, show your roommate that you have respect for what is his or hers by asking first. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}     ◇Clean up after yourself.

    This should do without saying. Don't be lazy. Or, at least, don't bury your roommate in your clothes and garbage. Most people I've come across in college are messy. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} But being considerate with where you put your stuff will help you avoid conflict.

A. So you need to think twice before you help your roommates out.

B. This creates nothing but awkward situations and unhappiness.

C. Even if you both agree to share everything, you should still ask.

D. You don't have all the time to clean your room and keep it organized.

E. It all starts with you to have a good relationship with your roommate.

F. Sometime you get stuck with someone who has tons of negative energy.

G. Remember, you're trying to make a new friend, not to scare your roommate away.

Easy ways to keep your brain sharp

    Everyone is forgetful, but as we age, we start to feel like our brains are slowing down a bit — and that can be a very annoying thing. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Read on for some techniques worth trying.

    ⒈{#blank#}2{#/blank#} 

    People who regularly made plans and looked forward to upcoming events had a 50 percent reduced chance of Alzheimer's disease (早老性痴呆症), according to a recent study. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}Something as simple as setting a goal to have a weekly coffee date with a friend will do. There's evidence that people who have a purpose in life or who are working on long or short-term goals appear to do better. In other words, keep your brains looking forward.

    ⒉Go for a walk.

    Mildly raised glucose (葡萄糖) levels can harm the area of the brain that helps you form memories and physical activity can help get blood glucose down to normal levels. In fact, exercise produces chemicals that are good for your brain. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    ⒊Learn something new.

    Take a Spanish class online, join a drawing club, or learn to play cards. A study found that mental stimulation (刺激) limits the weakening effects of aging on memory and the mind. But the best thing for your brain is when you learn something new and are physically active at the same time.{#blank#}5{#/blank#} Or go dancing with your friends.

A. Focus on the future.

B. This can be especially harmful to the aged.

C. It should be something like learning gardening.

D. So take a few minutes each day to do some reading.

E. But don't worry if your schedule isn't filled with life-changing events.

F. Luckily, research shows there is a lot you can do to avoid those moments.

G. In other words, when you take care of your body, you take care of your brain.

    Taking good notes is a time-saving skill that will help you to become a better student in several ways. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Second, your notes are excellent materials to refer to when you are studying for a test. Third, note-taking offers variety to your study time and helps you to hold your interest.

    You will want to take notes during classroom discussions and while reading a textbook or doing research for a report. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} whenever or however you take notes, keep in mind that note-taking is a selective process. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} 

    The following methods may work best for you.

    Read the text quickly to find the main facts and ideas in it.

    Carefully read the text and watch for words that can show main points and supporting facts.

    Write your notes in your own words.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    Note any questions or ideas you may have about what was said or written.

As you take notes, you may want to use your own shorthand (速记). When you do, be sure that you understand your symbols and that you use them all the time. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. Use words, not complete sentences.

B. There are three practical note-taking methods.

C. You must write your notes on separate paper.

D. Otherwise, you may not be able to read your notes later.

E. You will also want to develop your own method for taking notes.

F. That means you must first decide what is important enough to include in your notes.

G. First, the simple act of writing something down makes it easier for you to understand and remember it.

    In high school, it's important to stay healthy. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} How can you study well if you're sick? So you should pay attention to your health in order to study well in high school. In order to enjoy good health, you should have some good habits. Here are some tips for you. Drink water regularly every day. Some students don't like drinking water. They only drink water when they're extremely thirsty. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} You should drink water regularly so that your body and brain can function well. Avoid sports drinks and soda when you're thirsty. They are not good for your health. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Some students don't eat three meals a day. No matter what happens, you shouldn't skip any meal of the day. Eating regularly helps keep your metabolism (新陈代谢) high and keeps your energy up. It's especially important to eat a good breakfast every day with protein, carbohydrates(碳水化合物), and fiber to set up your body for the day of activity. If you don't eat, how can you stay focused in class? Eat the right foods. Some students eat whatever they can get. This is wrong. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Choose whole grains like rice and whole wheat flours. Skip muffins, donuts and other processed foods. Instead, choose whole grains, protein, fruits and vegetables. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} If you do that, you may not pay attention to how much you are eating. You may eat too much. Eating too much harms your health. And you may gain too much weight because of it. Try to eat slowly so your brain sends the right signals to tell your belly that's full.

A. This is bad for your health.

B. Don't skip meals.

C. Eat a good breakfast every day.

D. Avoid eating too much at one time.

E. If you are unhealthy, you may fall ill easily.

F. Don't watch TV or movies when you eat.

G. You should eat the foods that are good for your body.