Why should you read every day?

    When was the last time you read a book? If you're one of countless people who don't make a habit of reading regularly, you might be missing out. Reading has many benefits, and just a few benefits of reading are listed below.

    Mental Stimulation

    Studies have shown that staying mentally stimulated can slow the progress of Alzheimer's and Dementia. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}. Just like any other muscle in the body, the brain requires exercise to keep it strong and healthy.

    Wider Knowledge

    Everything you read fills your head with new bits of information, and you never know when it might come in handy. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    Stress Reduction

    No matter how much stress you have at work, in your personal relationships, or countless other problems, it all just slips away when you lose yourself in a great story. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}. And an interesting article will distract you and keep you in the present moment, allowing you to relax.

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    When you read a book, all of your attention is focused on the story— the rest of the world just falls away. Try reading for 15 to 20 minutes before work, and you'll be surprised at how much more focused you are once you get to the office.

    Tranquility(安宁)

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}. Reading spiritual texts can lower blood pressure and bring about a sense of calm, while reading self-help books has been shown to help people suffering from certain mood disorders or mental illnesses.

A. Stronger thinking skills.

B. Improved focus and concentration.

C. A well-written novel can transport you to other worlds.

D. Reading a good book can also bring about great inner peace.

E. That's because keeping your brain active prevents it from losing power.

F. Reading books is also important for learning new languages and cultures.

G. The more knowledge you have, the better-equipped you are to deal with your future challenges.

    "Post-truth" was chosen by Oxford Dictionaries as the Word of the Year 2016. Indeed, digital misinformation is on the rise and it is hard for people to distinguish. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Before the dawn of the Internet, Canadians regularly turned to trusting their preferred newspapers or radio stations for the latest news. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} It's now coming at you from so many different sources that you need to take responsibility for what you're seeing.

    Experts recommend relying on a range of sources instead of just one, but looking into them first. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} For example, the people connected where they're based, and their intention. A lack of information is certainly a warning.

    Next, learning to recognize misinformation is important. False news spreads mostly through social media. So if you're looking at news on Facebook, you have to handle it in a wiser way.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} Is it from a well-informed relative or a friend who regularly expresses extreme views? And whatever you do, only by clicking through can you see whether the information is accurate.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} It has no limits in achieving that goal, so it plays on feelings and uses improper language. Therefore, if you feel excited to share something immediately, that's the time you should stop and ask, "Is it accurate?" If we all take that extra little pause, we'll be able to stop this false thing from spreading.

A. Sources that are reliable tell you about themselves.

B. Fortunately, there are some simple ways to tell facts from fiction.

C. Consider who's sharing it if it's not posted directly from the source.

D. Today 42% of them use social media at least once a day to get their news.

E. Someone sets up "Hot Global News", hoping the ad dollars would pour in.

F. False news is designed to seek attention in order to sell ads or make an idea public.

G. Evaluating sources and getting reliable news is important in the age of misinformation.

How to Make Friends

    Friendship is a very important human relationship and everyone needs good friends. Good friendship has many benefits. It offers companionship, improves self-worth and promotes good health. There are times in our lives such as when we have recently moved into a new town, or changed our jobs or schools. Such changes often leave us without a friend.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}But for many of us the process is difficult and requires courage. Below are some helpful suggestions on how to make and keep friends.

    ⒈Associate with others.

    The first step to making friends is associating with other people. You can go to public places to meet new people. Besides, you will need to make yourself known by becoming an active member of such places.

    ⒉Start a conversation.

    Starting a conversation is the second most important step in making new friends.{#blank#}2{#/blank#} You can always start the conversation. Being able to make small talk is a very useful skill in relating with other people.

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    Choosing friends with common interests is important in building friendship as these interests would always bring you and your friend together. Hanging out will always be a pleasant experience.

    ⒋Let it grow.

    It is a good thing to stay in touch. However, try not to press your new friend with calls, messages or visits as this would likely wear him or her out and finally you may lose your friend.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}The best friendships are the ones that grow naturally.

    ⒌Enjoy your friendship.

    The best way to enjoy your friendship is to allow your friends to be themselves. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}Try not to change them from who they are to what you want them to be. Become the kind of friend you will want your friend to be to you.

A. Be cheerful.

B. Do things together.

C. Do not wait to be spoken to.

D. Try not to find fault with your friends.

E. For a friendship to develop you need to stay in touch.

F. So you will need to give your friend time to react to you.

G. Making new friends comes easy for some people.

A new documentary, Pot of Fire, went online on Tencent Video on Feb 14, allowing netizens to "enjoy" hotpot together on the Internet. No food other than hotpot is so welcomed by Chinese people.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}.

As one of the famous meals in China, hotpot has been popular for ages, for it's "free-for-all and healthy way", according to National Public Radio. From vegetables to meat, from noodles to seafood, diners can add different ingredients to the soup to cook. Unlike frying or other cooking methods, boiling food only releases their nutrients into the soup.{#blank#}2{#/blank#} Besides, hotpot can bring warmth to our body and improve blood circulation in winter, and increase sweat to help cool the body in summer, according to China Highlights.

But eating hotpot is much more than an enjoyment for our taste buds and health. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}For most Chinese people, eating hotpot is usually a social event. A survey by Chenzhi Catering Database showed that 40. 2 percent of Chinese usually eat hotpot with friends, while 17. 6 percent use the occasion for a family reunion. When a group of people sit around a table to eat, chat and drink, it's a good time." As the food continues to boil in the soup, we keep drinking and chatting with each other.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} " said Yu Jiaqing, a 28- year -old luxury brand marketing staffer from Beijing.

{#blank#}5{#/blank#} Or, at least you can watch Pot of Fire. As a popular saying goes, "There's nothing to worry about after having a hotpot. If you are still worried, then go for it twice."

A. Hotpot is very popular in China.

B. The atmosphere makes the time warm.

C. It's also a celebration of life and friendship.

D. Hotpot does much good to people's health.

E. This way can maximize (使最大) the flavors of all the ingredients.

F. It represents how much they like to gather together to enjoy happiness.

G. So if you feel empty or lonely, cook a hotpot to fill your stomach and heart.

How to be a Good Listener

Being a good listener can help you see the world through the eyes of others. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Good listening skills can provide you with a deeper level of understanding about someone's situation. If you want to know how to be a good listener, read on to get started.

·Place yourself in other people's shoes.  It's easy to only consider the impact of the other person's "telling" on you. But you must open out and look at the problems from the other person's view. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

·Avoid comparing the person's experiences to your own. You may think that the best thing you can do to really listen is to compare the person's experiences to your own. But this type of thinking actually makes the person feel like you're not really listening at all. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} That means that you're focusing more on yourself than on the person's situation.

·{#blank#}4{#/blank#} Some people think that, when they're listening, they should find a quick and easy solution to the person's problem. According to the research, it is totally wrong to do so. Instead focus on absorbing everything the person is saying to you. Only after that can you really try to help.

·Know what not to do. Knowing what to avoid when you're trying to be a good listener can be almost as helpful as knowing what to do. If you want the speaker to take you seriously, you'd better not interrupt in the middle of a point. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Make eye contact with the person so that he or she realizes that you are listening with interest.

A. Don't try to help immediately.

B. Avoid saying "I" or "me" a lot.

C. Try to solve the person's problem quickly.

D. Don't try to change the subject even if it's a little uncomfortable.

E. If so, you would see your way through the problems much faster.

F. Therefore you'd better listen to what the person is saying carefully.

G. It enriches your understanding and expands your capacity for empathy (同情).