When a New Yorker was hiking in Europe, his Swiss friend kept saying “Listen to that!” but he didn't hear anything. His ears were accustomed to loud city noises and it was days before he was able to notice the sound of a bird. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}. There is background music in restaurants, bars, stores, rest rooms, elevators, and when you are waiting on the telephone. Russell Baker blames “society's determination to entertain you whether you like it or not”.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}, but in practice they avoid it. They drive with the car radio turned up, switch on the television when they get home, and exercise while listening to music on headphones. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} They can buy things in stores, but they do not have enough human contact. So they fill their lives with sound.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}. Young men play their car stereos loudly in order to create a personal environment around them. Like animals, they are marking a territory to warn rivals away and to attract a mate.

    It may also be true that the brain itself wants excitement just as the stomach insists on food. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} This seems extreme. Perhaps we would be better off if we sought periods of silence to provide balance.

    Confidence is a skill that many folks want to master, but have a hard time acquiring. Have you ever wondered why? Possibly you were born confident. You were talked to negatively as a child or maybe you were rejected many times. Whatever the case is, {#blank#}1{#/blank#}.

    But how to boost your confidence?

    Act as if .Begin to act as if you are confident. Act as the person you would want to be like. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}. Surround yourself with people who you think are confident and have high value. You will learn so much from observing other confident folks.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}. One of the most areas that you need to pay attention to is your self-talk. Your thoughts about your capabilities and self-worth need to be positive and encouraging. Whenever you notice you think negatively, pause and take a moment, and shift your focus to something that can help you feel better about yourself.

    Go after your goals. If you are really serious about building self-confidence, you need to identify your goals and go after then. The more you add to your accomplishments, the more confident you will feel about your abilities and skills. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}.

    By using these steps to boost your confidence, {#blank#}5{#/blank#}.

    The UN has recognized the contributions of volunteers on Dec. 5, International Volunteer Day. Here, the four things are offered to consider before taking the leap into overseas volunteering.

    Choose your organization carefully

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#} volunteering may be a fundraising mechanism（筹资机制）for a development project. For others, volunteering is fundamental to their programs, and those serving take on professional roles in longer-term development.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    Volunteers want to help and make a difference, but most know this isn't a purely selfless act. You will learn new skills, broaden your horizons and come to better understand yourself and the world.{#blank#}3{#/blank#} Reflect on your motivations. You want to help reduce global poverty or protect the natural world, but what else? Have you always wanted to travel, but not as a tourist? Work with kids? When you understand your motivations, you'll be in a better position to choose the option that is right for you.

    Work alongside the local community

    Often times, travelers volunteer in isolation（隔离）from the local community in which they are working in.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} This enables you to ensure you are committing to a project that promotes long term and sustainable change.

    A volunteer trip is just the beginning

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}Further ignite（点燃）the global change maker in you by taking your experience one step further when you return home. Spread the message of your transformative experience to others, helping to spark the change within them.

    On many websites, experts share advice on how to achieve your life goals. Most of the experts agree on one thing. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Here are some ideas on how to start your day on the right foot.

    Get up an hour early.

    People who get up early in the morning get a jump on the day. In American English, we like to say, “The early bird gets the worm.” Here, if you were a bird, the worm would be the reward. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Therefore, they are more likely to succeed.

    Exercise!

    Some people may disagree with this one. Exercising in the morning may not be for everyone. Some people like to exercise after work or at night. However, at the end of the day, you may not have the tune or energy to exercise. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}.

    Think about your day at night.

    Take time at the end of the day to think back on all the things that have happened. And spend a little time thinking about tomorrow. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} But it may help you to prepare if you take a few minutes to think about what you need to do next day. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} You probably won't have time to do everything you've planned. But that's fine. If you have done one thing, that means you are one step closer to your goal.

A. This is not the best way to start your day.

B. Starting your day in a right way is most important.

C. Also, know that your day will probably change.

D. You've already gotten your exercise!

E. Exercising in the morning prevents that from happening.

F. So this expression means that people who rise early have an advantage.

G. Some people who talk about “living in the present” may disagree with this.

    If something that you're doing doesn't challenge you, then it doesn't change you. We all need some normal stress in our lives, after all. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} So challenge the following limits:

    Figure out what you're scared of and do it continuously.

    If you're a salesman, and you're scared of talking to people personally or over the phone, now, instead of being scared and thinking you'll fail, spend at least five minutes a day to pick up the phone and make a call. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} But don't stop on the first try! Eventually, you can look at fear in the eyes and say, "Go on, I'm not scared!"

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    Make sure this hobby is not linked to your career; you have to relax and relieve your stress while performing this. Some examples might be cooking, sewing, painting and so on. Apart from helping you challenge yourself, taking a class for your hobby may also give you extra income.

    Set aside at least nine minutes a day for physical exercise.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}  A simple 9-minute run around your neighborhood can do wonders for yourself. Exercise can not only help you maintain your regular weight, but also make you feel better about yourself.

    Travel and allow yourself to be interested in new people.

Don't just limit yourself to your fellow travelers — try to connect with the service staff. You never know what kind of people they're going to be. Get out of your house or go online right now to book your class. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. You can never see any improvement if you stick to your comfort zone.

B. Take a class for a hobby you've been wanting to develop.

C. Start to travel now and then to challenge yourself.

D. Running in the gym may be a better choice.

E. You don't need to go to the gym.

F. Someone may hang up on you.

G. You should do it continuously.

    We know that choosing a college major can be very hard. But have no fear! Your choice of major will not lock you into a specific career for the rest of your life. Here's what you need to know about college majors before you commit.

    What is a major?

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#}Beyond general college requirements, you'll also take a group of courses in a subject of your choosing such as Chemistry, Literature, or Political Science.

    How important is my major?

    The major you choose will neither predict nor guarantee your future. Many graduates find jobs that have nothing to do with what they studied in college. If you intend to earn a professional degree after college, you will probably need certain courses. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    When do I declare a major?

    This varies widely across schools and programs. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}Others require that you declare upon a major by the time that you set foot inside your first class.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    Definitely. One of the most exciting aspects of college life is that it introduces you to new subjects and arouses new passions. However, keep this in mind. Every major has necessary coursework. If you change your major late in the game, it may take more than the traditional four years to earn a degree.

    What are minors and double majors?

    If one field of study doesn't satisfy your intellectual appetite, consider a minor. A minor is similar to a major in that it's an area of academic concentration. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}A double major provides you with an understanding of two academic fields. It allows you to become familiar with two sets of values and views while it also requires you to fulfill two sets of requirements.

A. Can I change my mind?

B. Is my major time-consuming?

C. It's your specialized area of study in college.

D. Most students find one major is more than enough.

E. Some schools may give you one year or more to decide.

F. But many future doctors major in non-science related fields.

G. The only difference is that it doesn't require as many classes.