Tips on how to save money

    It's important for you teenagers to know how to save money. You know that the money you save can be for rainy days and be used to pay through your college education. If you think it's a difficult task and don't know how to do it, please do as the following.

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    My dad always tells me that if one doesn't respect money, it will never respect you. Hence, it's important that you keep a record of your daily expenses. Make it a habit to write down all that you have spent. And when you find out the total expenses at the end of the month, you will realize what you have spent more money in doing.  {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    Open a savings account.

    Opening a savings account is a better way to save money. You can set a goal; say (for example), the money is for a new notebook or for college, and then save, until you have enough money to buy a notebook or until you go to college. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    Do not carry much cash.

    Do you have the habit of not leaving a store without buying anything? The only way to stop that is carrying less money around with you. Go to the store with the minimum amount of money, which will not even help you buy a drink. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    Save the changes.

    Save the changes that you get back. If you have gone to a shop to buy something and get back some changes, then do not spend them.  {#blank#}5{#/blank#}And you'll be surprised at the huge amount of money after days.

    Follow these tips above, and thus you can save a lot of money. And surely, they'll help you to be more responsible in your life.

    Your children are watching you. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} According to the Health Program, developing healthy habits is an important part for your children. And when it comes to developing healthy habits, parents influence their children more than anyone else.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} What happens during those early years can influence children for the rest of their lives. This includes some eating and exercise habits. Children are very careful, even at a young age. Children watch what others do carefully and imitate the behaviors of those closest to them. As parents, you should do the following: {#blank#}3{#/blank#} If you do that, your children are more likely to be enthusiastic about developing theirs.

    Let your children see you taking care of your own physical health by eating fruits and vegetables. Talk to them about healthy habits in appropriate terms and at a proper time. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} 

{#blank#}5{#/blank#} Computers, televisions and other forms of technology are a major part of life in the 21st century. Unfortunately, as the use of technology in the home increases, so does the time spent watching TV or playing on the computer. So as parents, you should also arrange the time for your children wisely.

A. Don't get rid of technology, but use it wisely.

B. Take part in physical activities and exercise regularly.

C. Be enthusiastic about developing healthy habits of your own.

D. Your actions are speaking to them louder than your words will.

F. Children prefer to imitate their parents rather than listen to them.

F. This can be helpful to teach your children to form good eating habits.

G. It s easy for the children to form their healthy habits when they are young.

    Small talk is the short conversations we have at parties, while we wait in line at the store, at family events or work. Sometimes we make small talk with people we already know but not well. Often we have to make small talk with complete strangers.{#blank#}1{#/blank#} Here are some tips to improve your small-talking ability.

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    If you have seen a really good movie or have read a really good book, you can talk about that.

    When you are sharing the same experience with someone, it's easy to start a conversation. You simply notice and comment on what's going on around you. For example, if you are at a party and a song comes on that you like or that reminds you of something, you can talk about that.

    ⒉Ask open-ended questions

    These types of questions require more thought and more than a simple one-word answer.{#blank#}3{#/blank#} the conversation will go on longer.

    ⒊Become a student

    Nobody knows everything. So，as someone is answering one of your open-ended questions, they bring up something about which you know nothing. So, tell them! This lets the other person become the teacher.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} It's a win-win situation.

    Like anything, getting good at making small talk takes practice.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}you might become happier. If you are making small talk using English, you will most definitely improve your speaking and listening skills.

A. Have some conversation starters ready

B. If you make small talk in your native language

C. However, some people are not good at small talk

D. If you ask questions that need more details to answer

E. You can talk about something that you recently learned

F. Many people find these small conversations about random topics easy

G. They feel good about sharing their knowledge and you get to learn something

Your friends have one, maybe even two or three. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Does it seem that everyone has one but you? No, it is not the latest video game, but something much more fun—a family pet.

    Dogs and hamsters(仓鼠) are both fun to hold and pet, but they relate to people in different ways. For example, dogs enjoy human contact. They love to play with their owners. They also like to show affection(喜爱) and love licking(舔) their owners' faces. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} They need fresh food and water every day, and they need exercise. They also need someone to take care of them when their owners go out of town.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Having contact with people is not important to them. They like to sleep when people want to play. Unlike dogs, hamsters do not like being petted. Many will hide when their owners want to pick them up. Hamsters are also very independent. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Hamsters may be low on affection, but they need less daily care than dogs do. An owner usually fills up the food and water dishes only once a week. Hamsters need exercise too, but they get their exercise by running on wheels in their “houses”. If their owners go out of town, hamsters can be left alone.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} The choice is yours.

A. Dogs like to be petted.

B. Your neighbors have one.

C. Hamsters are very different from dogs.

D. They like to spend their time exploring.

E. They need food and water just as dogs do.

F. However, dogs need a lot of daily care, too.

G. Dogs and hamsters both make good family pets.

More candidates, less bonus points

    The Ministry of Education said in March that it would remove some preferential provisions (优惠的规定) that award bonus points to some students' total score. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    According to the statement, no bonus points will be awarded for exceptional sports ability, w inning academic Olympiads or science and technology competitions.

    Reforms of the enrollment (录取) process {#blank#}2{#/blank#}Key universities and others will be combined into the same round of enrollment to provide more choices for different students. Tianjin, Guangdong and Liaoning will adopt the reforms this year.

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    There will be 2,311 new majors to choose this year, many of which are oriented toward science and technology's new front—big data and artificial intelligence.

    Around 250 colleges will set up courses on “data science and big data technology” and around 60 colleges will add “robotic engineering” as a new major. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    Ban on publicity of top scorers

    In recent years, over-emphasis or even hype (炒作) of the top scorers and highest enrollment rate received negative reviews. This year, the ministry published a notice which stressed its firm stance (立场) of banning the practice before the exam. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. New majors for artificial intelligence

B. New majors for the age of intelligence

C. According to it, violators would be punished severely.

D. Talent selection process will be simplified in many places this year.

E. Cyberspace security is also a new option in this year's major selection.

F. Previously, students with top performance were awarded bonus points.

G. This effort, hopefully, will positively promote a more fair and scientific selection process.

The Seven Cs of a Good Letter

    What is the secret of writing a good letter? Here are two main ones. Don't try to be fancy. Don't try to impress your reader. You will be successful if you follow these seven Cs.

    Clear. Use short, direct sentences. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}Try your tone as if the reader were right there with you. Above all, don't use an introduction.

    Correct. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}Don't guess, even for spelling. Refer to your dictionary. If you need to, check a reference book too. Use them as much as you need to.

    Complete. Don't scatter(分散) your points. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}This is good organization too.

    Courteous. Be friendly rather than overly casual. Present your information nicely even if you are complaining about something. In all letters, treat others as you want them to treat you.

    Concise. Make each point as clearly and briefly as you can.

    Conversational. This is really the secret of good writing. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}Such a letter has a natural, friendly tone. Let your personality come through naturally.

    Considerate. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}Write about what you believe the reader needs or wants to know. Try to be helpful. This will build good feeling toward you.

    The seven Cs are about writing letters. But how about school papers? Use the seven Cs. Write as if you are talking to your teacher or professor. You'll be surprised. You'll almost instantly become a good writer. And you might even enjoy writing from now on.

A. Just "talk" to the person.

B. Make them easy to understand.

C. Make sure what you say is correct.

D. Include long sentences in your letter.

E. Writing should not be taken too seriously.

F. Think of the readers' point of view as you write.

G. Finish one point completely before going on to the next.