You're growing up. That means you're probably experiencing changes, all at once. Your body is changing. It might even seem as if your entire self is changing. It can be confusing and even scary. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} And it's good!

    Growing up means that you can do more, learn more, and start to make your mark on the world. In order for that to happen, your body produces chemicals called hormones that help both body and mind grow. Hormone levels change constantly, rising and falling.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} But it's partly to blame for intense emotions, surprising reactions, and mood changes.

    Because of the way your brain develops, it is somewhat ruled by emotions now and through your teen years. As a result, growing up can seem like an emotional roller coaster (过山车)!{#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    Take care of yourself. If you eat right, sleep enough, and get good exercise, your brain will be much more able to deal with the stress.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} When you feel your moods changing or you're upset, or confused, some quiet time will allow you to gather your thoughts and get calmer.

    Practise relaxing your body and deep breathing when you go to bed.{#blank#}5{#/blank#} Plus, when stuff happens during the day, you'll be able to calm yourself quickly with a deep breath or two before you react. Your body is changing.

A. Take a timeout.

B. Work out regularly to keep physically fit.

C. But the truth is, it happens to every teen.

D. This changing is needed for your body's development.

E. It will help you fall asleep and start the morning right.

F. Here are a few things you can do to make the ride smoother.

G. Usually, these feelings settle down when you realize what is going on.

    By sitting at home you can now buy anything from knives to cars. The worry you may have about traveling and parking can be avoided while you shop online. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Online shops have no holidays, closing times or any other problems. You can shop 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days a year. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}So you can easily find out what other customers think about the product before buying it. When you go for real-world shopping, you can actually touch and feel it. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Also if you are shopping online, you have to be careful with your credit cards.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Once you find the required product, put it in a “shopping cart” and continue shopping. After you have got enough in your “shopping cart”, check out the product. You can add or take out the products in your shopping cart. The next step is to login (登录） using a username and a password. Enter the address where you want the product to be sent. Some sites even ask for your email, phone numbers, etc. Then wait for the confirmation (确认) of your order. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Online shopping is a different experience and you can make shopping online easy when you get used to it.

A. You can also cancel the order if needed.

B. Online shopping started not so long ago.

C. If you plan to do any shopping online, do it at home.

D. However, in online shopping you can only see the pictures.

E. With online shopping, you need not worry about the weather.

F. Some online shops also keep customers' opinions about each product.

G. The first step in online shopping is to search for what you want to buy.

                                                                     How to Grow Vegetables at Home

    Many people choose to grow their own vegetables for healthy food. You'll enjoy the fruits of your labor if you give your plants the care they require.

    Step 1

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Consider how much produce you can use. Also consider your space. Your gardening area will need at least six hours of sunlight per day.

    Step 2

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} If the leaves are yellow or have holes that is a sign the plant is diseased. Look for plants with strong green stems and a shiny appearance.

    Step 3

    Prepare your soil. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Add manure(肥料).

    Step 4

    Dig a hole as deep as the plant's root ball and a little wider. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}Checkthe instructions on each plant to see how much space to leave between plants. Water thoroughly(彻底地) when the planting is over.

    Step 5

    Maintain your vegetable garden by watering and weeding regularly. Your garden needs about an inch of water a week. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Weed by hand or with a tool.

A. Plan your garden.

B. Consider the place.

C. Choose plants that look healthy.

D. Remove grass and weeds from the soil.

E. Place the plant in the hole and fill it in with dirt.

F. The biggest mistake is trying to do too much too soon.

G. Water once or twice a week to help your plants develop strong roots.

    Nowadays people tend to digitalise everything from watches to fridges. It seems you can choose any item labeled as “smart”.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}However, there are plenty that can be used to reduce emissions and save money.

    If you're a part of the digitalisation movement, you might be interested in the concept of smart homes. It means that every element of your house can be controlled from a panel on the wall or your phone.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}Use your mobile to power them on or off, and you may feel truly modern or truly lazy. Asides from the benefits of living a more comfortable life, this presents an opportunity to cut down on your electrical bills.

    Electricity generation today represents 31% of total global fossil fuel use and around 40% of all energy-related CO₂ emissions.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}It is considered as the first step to prevent global climate change. Connect a smart thermometer to the heating and cooling system and set a specific temperature at which the heating begins to work. Doing so, the room will be at a desired temperature when necessary and switches on a power-saving mode when not occupied. Similarly, by installing a CO₂ sensor, you can have an automated ventilation (通风) system.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    In a 150,000m₂ office complex near Munich, called Campeon, energy costs of up to 117,067 Euro were saved after the use of environmental control devices this year. In this way, they are contributing to a large decrease in CO₂ emissions. Clearly, smart homes are about much more than just living a comfortable life.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. It is actually about living a green life.

B. Smart devices have been installed worldwide nowadays.

C. It starts working only when CO₂ concentrations reach a certain limit.

D. There seem to be an ocean of such so-called “smart” inventions.

E. Bearing this in mind, measures should be taken to make buildings more energy-efficient.

F. Alternative energy must be discovered before the fossil fuel runs out in the future.

G. This includes basics such as heating and lighting and many other appliances.

    Now let's discuss something about people's habits.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Some of them are good ones, but some of them may be bad ones. Can you remember any of the bad habits you used to have when you were very young? {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Of course, you do not do that anymore, but you can surely remember your mother's efforts to train you. The good habits you now have in such matters as personal cleanliness were part of this early training.

    We may not suck our thumbs any more, but as we get older we get other bad habits. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Anyone who has tried to give up smoking knows this very well! {#blank#}4{#/blank#} In babyhood, it's thumbsucking, In childhood, it's nail-biting. In our teens, it's smoking, {#blank#}5{#/blank#} And if anyone tells you that he has no bad habits, you can be sure that he must have the worst habit of all. Isn't that true?

A. We can't give them up easily, either.

B Each period brings its own problems.

C. Generally speaking, a boy likes biting nails.

D. Everyone has his or her own habits.

E. We benefit from our friends, kind help.

F. In middle-age, it's over-eating, and so on.

G. Perhaps, as a baby, you used to suck your thumb (拇指).

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!