Question: I have recently got a senior position within my company．One of my new tasks is to make monthly progress reports on my department in front of other senior officials. During my first meeting, I presented and then opened the floor to questions．{#blank#}1{#/blank#} My first reaction was to answer defensively(防卫地;戒备地)．Later, I realized that I shouldn't have felt that way．But how can I keep cool and effectively answer questions in this type of settings?

Answer: Congratulations on your new position! Presenting in front of your peers (同事) is a hard task in itself and it becomes much more difficult when a question-and-answer period is required! Question-and-answer periods are a great way to clarify (使……清楚) the message and strengthen key points．{#blank#}2{#/blank#}

●{#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    When a person is asking a question, show interest and a desire to understand the question by listening and asking for clarification.

● Buy time

    When facing a hard question, most people can't give an answer immediately．Buy time by repeating the question in your own words．{#blank#}4{#/blank#} These techniques allow you to quickly organize your thoughts as well as to make sure you will be correctly answering the question.

● Suggest a private meeting.

    A one-to-one meeting is a calmer setting than speaking in front of your peers. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A．Show your true interest.

B．Restate the question with respect.

C．Some ideas can be quite concrete.

D．There were many difficult questions.

E．It can also be more effective in exchanging ideas.

F．You may also ask for clarification on the question.

G．Here are some ideas that can help prepare for your next meeting.

How to Read More and Learn More

    These days, more and more Chinese people enjoy sending and receiving messages on the phone. It can help them to get the latest news and communicate with friends. But I think I should read more books besides the textbooks, the more, the better. It can broaden my mind and improve my language skills. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Do you know how to read more and learn more? Here are some tips for you.

    Clear your purpose for reading.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Most people read for two main reasons, pleasure or knowledge. Clearing about your reading purpose can not only help you choose the books you really need to read, but also remind you why reading the book is important to you, so you will keep reading and complete the book faster.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    No matter what you are reading, it is important to enjoy what you read. Your friends may tell you the books they love, but those books might not necessarily be the ones you enjoy.

    Give up books that you don't enjoy.

    You may have chosen books that you are interested in, and they are right purpose. But while you are reading them, there may still be some books that you don't enjoy reading. Whenever you realize that you aren't enjoying the book you are reading, give it up.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    Set a reading goal.

    It is interesting that I read the books borrowed from libraries faster than those I bought. The reason is the books I bought don't have a due date! I don't need to return those books.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}Before you read each book, ask yourself what time you need to complete this book by.

A. Read only what you are interested in.

B. Read the books borrowed from others.

C. Remember reading shouldn't be a chore.

D. Of course, it also can help me to get good grades.

E. We need to get the latest news and communicate with friends.

F. Before you start reading, ask yourself why you are reading this book.

G. Having a reading goal helps you work out how much reading you need to do in a week or even a day.

    How Can I Fight Laziness?

    Lazy people will never amount to anything in life. However, laziness can be defeated once a few changes have been made in your mind.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Many people lack sleep constantly, since they stay up too late and get up too early to prepare for work. These people have little motivation once they arrive home. Laziness works hand in hand with a lack of motivation and a tendency (趋势) to put off things. By adjusting your sleep schedule to provide a few more hours of meaningful rest, you can fight laziness throughout the day.

    Another way to fight laziness is to change your mind from passive to active. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Others take a more active approach, viewing each task as a challenge they must overcome alone. Laziness sets in when you no longer feel in charge of your own life.

    Some people fight laziness by removing the temptations (诱惑) that surround them. A television in the living room may provide entertainment. However, watching too much TV in your spare time often contributes to laziness. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Complete a few tasks and reward yourself with what you enjoy, such as a good dinner or a film. Laziness can also be a lasting problem at home. Couples and children may all have different energy levels, but laziness can be spread if not dealt with immediately. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Be the first to collect and wash dishes after a meal. Others in the home may eventually follow your example and perform their own task. It is difficult to practice laziness when you are surrounded by motivated people.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Enough exercise and a balanced diet can enable you to have more energy and help lift your spirits.

A. To fight family laziness, set an example.

B. Knowing how to fight laziness is important.

C. One way to fight laziness is to get enough sleep.

D. Finally, developing a healthy lifestyle can help you fight laziness.

E. With strong determination (意志力), you will be able to achieve your goal.

F. Some people treat their lives as if they were pushed from task to task.

G. Create a reward system for yourself, just as parents do for a child.

    Do you want to be excellent in study? Add these tips to your life and you should be on your way to being an excellent student!

Pay attention to everything the teacher says. I cannot stress how important it is to pay attention to what your teacher is teaching you. Take part in class discussions if you have something worthwhile to add. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}.

    Taking notes is important. You don't need to write down every single word your teacher says but write down what he/she writes on the board, or any special fact you think you might need for a test. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}. This way it will help you learn more effectively by actually thinking about what you are writing.

    Don't skip school. You will be missing out on stuff(东西). {#blank#}3{#/blank#}. However, you will have more work and you have missed lectures and in-class movies. Also, try not to be late for class. It's most likely that your teacher won't appreciate it and you will get yourself behind.

    Keep a good attitude towards things. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}, then teachers will be less willing to help you with problems or offer you extra credit. The same goes for lazy attitude. Have a respectful attitude to the teacher and other students. Try not to laugh when other students make a mistake.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}. There is no shame in needing some help. If you don't understand, ask someone. Read your textbook and notes, and then if that fails, seek help. Ask a teacher, friend, classmate, parent, etc. Get a tutor if you are really a poor learner.

A. Enjoy your class

B. Always ask questions

C. Write in your own words

D. When you do poorly in your study

E. It is true that you could make up the work

F. If you have an "I don't care about study" attitude

G. Pay attention during class, especially during lectures

Problems between parents and children are common. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}Developing a better relationship with your parents involves knowing the causes of the problems and focusing on changing how you think and behave. There are some ways to help you develop a better relationship with your parents.

Act first. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} If you want to improve your relationship with your parents, you should start right away and act first.

Be appreciative. Consider everything that your parents have done for you. You may find yourself feeling grateful to your parents. Show your appreciation with your actions. Give them a nice gift, or if you live with your parents, do some extra housework without being asked. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

Be open and honest. One way to improve your relationship with your parents is to be more willing to talk to your parents about things that you care about and your feelings and views about these things. Keep in regular contact, so your parents can get a better understanding of what upsets you and what makes you happy. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}And it's hard for them to discuss things that can attract your interest and develop the relationship between you and themselves.

{#blank#}5{#/blank#} They grow up in a different generation with different technologies and ways of thinking. Think about how these different histories may contribute to problems in your relationship. See if they can recall any problem in their relationships with their parents that is due to these generational differences. And try using this information when you talk about improving your relationship with them.

A. Accept that your parents are different.

B. Focus more on seeking your parents' agreement.

C. They will likely be happy with you for these actions.

D. There are a number of ways in which you can stay positive.

E. Don't wait for your parents to try to improve the relationship.

F. If you don't share your stories with your parents, they will not know you very well.

G. If you are looking to improve your relationship with your parents, you are not alone.

I have worked for a local charity for many years. I volunteered there as one of the youth group leaders. The job sometimes was tiring. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} And one of our favorite activities is called "ARK night" — A couple of times a year, on a Sunday night, all kids in the charity went into our community to perform kind acts for others.

{#blank#}2{#/blank#} One group typically goes downtown and hands out sandwiches, water and bread. Another group makes posters and goes to local police and fire stations to say "Thank you". Our group often visits nursing homes and hospitals.

One time, the group I was leading left post-it notes (便利贴) with positive messages on the cars in a hospital's parking lot. The hope was that someone who was sad after visiting a patient would be cheered up by our notes. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} I made the kids write positive messages on the notes. Then we went out to put those notes on cars.

After the kids left their notes on the cars, one girl said, "We didn't see one single person tonight. How will we know our notes made a difference?" I replied, "{#blank#}4{#/blank#}" But actually I wondered about it, too. Would the notes cheer anyone up? But I had to take those kids back before 9:00 pm.

Later I got the answer. On Monday morning I found a post online by a woman. She described her bad luck over the weekend. "But then," she added, "this morning I found the nicest little note on my car. It made my day." She included a photo of the note. It was one of our notes! {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. Let's stay here and find out.

B. We'll just have to trust that they did.

C. The drivers were surprised by our special notes.

D. But I loved working with those little volunteers.

E. I smiled and couldn't wait to tell the kids the good news.

F. We had spent the first part of the evening preparing notes.

G. The kids are divided into small groups, with each group having a different task.