How to smile for better health

    As a fun way to improve your physical and mental health, smiling is free of charge. This article explores the ways you can smile to be healthy. 

    Smile to relieve stress. Stress is easily shown in our faces. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} When you're stressed, try to put on a smile, as it will make you feel happy, and you will appear happy. Your feelings of stress will be reduced.

    Smile to help your immune(免疫) system work better. Smiling brings about a sense of relaxation which helps your immune system to work better. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    Smile to stay positive. Have a simple test. First, try to think of something negative(消极的), and then smile. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}. When we smile, our body and mind are sending us a message that everything is okay, and that life is great.

    Smile to live longer. Those who smile are thought to live an average of 79.9 years, while non-smilers live an average of 72.9 years. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}.

    Smile to achieve success. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}. They will put their boss into a happy mood and are more likely to be approached by many people. They are more likely to be promoted. And it is an easy way to improve your relationships with others.

A. People who smile appear more confident.

B. Smiling is a good way to make new friends.

C. Smiling prevents people from looking too tired.

D. When someone is sad, try to make him laugh to cheer him up.

E. The only conclusion to be reached from this is to smile every day.

F. You will see that it is hard to combine the negative thought with the smile.

G. You can reduce the risk of sicknesses such as the cold and the flu by smiling.

    Since the day of its birth, the United Nations has been the subject of much debate.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}Others think that it is too weak. We can better understand this debate if we learn more about the U.N. and its history.

    The U.N. was started for two reasons. First, when the idea was born, people all over the world were tired of war. They felt that there must be peaceful answers to the world's problems.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    The second reason was that modern science had developed new bombs and airplanes.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}National borders were beginning to lose their meaning. Science would develop even more dangerous weapons in the future. Only an international organization would be able to control modern science.

    Franklin D. Roosevelt, U.S. President at the time, believed that the Allies (联盟) should plan for peace before the war ended. On December 1, 1943, Roosevelt, Britain's Winston Churchill and Joseph Stalin from Soviet Union agreed to start an organization for world peace.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    During the next year and a half, the idea of such an organization was debated around the world. Then came the big day. On April 11, 1945, the first international meeting of the United Nations took place in San Francisco. The goal of the meeting was to write the U.N. Charter (宪章). All of the fifty-one nations at the meeting had their own ideas to offer for the Charter.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}Every nation present voted for the Charter. No one voted against it.

A. After a long debate, a final Charter was agreed upon.

B. The U.N. Charter is a beautiful piece of writing.

C. They asked all countries, large and small, to join the organization.

D. Even the smallest country on earth can have its voice heard.

E. They also felt that only an international organization could keep world peace.

F. These weapons made it almost impossible for a country to defend itself.

G. Some people attack the organization because they think it is too powerful.

    Reading is really a good way to improve ourselves.{#blank#}1{#/blank#} If you don't believe me, please consider these reasons to read more books.

    ⒈You will optimize your brain power.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Unlike watching television, which requires no thought process, reading is an active learning experience that will keep your mind sharp（even in old age）.

    ⒉{#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    If you're looking for entertainment on a budget, you can't beat books. Thanks to the popularity of electronic reading devices like the Kindle and re-selling websites like eBay, it's never been easier to entertain yourself for hours at a time, for the low cost of a few dollars.

    ⒊You will reduce stress and get into a good night's sleep.

    Exposing yourself to artificial light on your cellphone or TV reduces your body's production of melatonin （褪黑激素）, which can make it difficult to get a good night's sleep.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} Just replace that with a good book, which is a much better sleep-friendly alternative.

    ⒋You will change your life.

    I firmly believe that if it were not for books, I wouldn't have achieved so much in my life; nor would I have the knowledge, imagination or creativity that I depend on as a writer, business owner, and coach.

    Do you have the desire to read books now?{#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. You will entertain yourself at any time.

B. You will entertain yourself at a low price.

C. The more books you read, the better your life will be.

D. This shouldn't come as a shock, but studies suggest reading makes you smart.

E. I hope these reasons encourage you to unlock your potential with the power of reading.

F. You should know that it is wise to keep a book in your purse or car at all times.

G. You would be wise to cut off all electronics at least an hour before bed.

Rich and Famous

    Twenty years ago the most common ambition of American children was to be a teacher, followed by working in banking and finance, and then medicine. But today's situation is quite different. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Instead they most commonly say they want to be a sports star, a pop star, or an actor—in other words, they hope to become a celebrity.

    According to experts, young people desire these jobs largely because of the wealth and the fame. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Let's take athletes and singers as an example. Their careers are short-lived. Many athletes' best time only lasts a few years and singers can have a very limited career. The field that was once the focus of their lives becomes something they have little or no involvement in. As a result, they'll have a feeling of worthlessness and a lack of control. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}The truth is quite simple: they have been so far removed from it for so long.

    In spite of these disadvantages, there is greater ambition than ever among young people to achieve that status. They are not satisfied just making a living—they want to be rich and famous. Globally, more and more TV shows provide talent competitions where winners can achieve their goals in just a few weeks or months. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}They unrealistically believe that this lifestyle is easily obtained and leads to great satisfaction.

    While many people argue that there is nothing wrong with having such ambitions, others feel that this trend will finally lead to dissatisfaction as more and more people are unable to reach their goals. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} That means they ignore the simple fact that great effort is needed before success. As a result, many people won't realize their childhood dreams, which could have a negative effect on their happiness.

A. In many ways this has been brought about by the celebrity culture.

B. People no longer have a sense of satisfaction once their goals have been achieved.

C. Besides, it can be difficult for them to adapt back to a normal everyday life.

D. The younger generation don't favor these professions any more.

E. Unfortunately, they do not always have a positive effect on people's life.

F. The reason is that they don't realize it takes talent and hard work to be rich and famous.

G. This quick way of gaining wealth and fame creates a celebrity culture among people.

    Are you truly happy? Do you ever know what it means to be happy and what it takes to achieve happiness?

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#}. The following are a few tips that I follow to create happiness in my life.

    ※ Make a plan for attaining goals that you believe will make you happy. Your moods will very likely increase if you are going after something you value.

    ※Surround yourself with happy people. It is easy to begin to think negatively when you are surrounded by people who think that way. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}.

    ※When something goes wrong, try to figure out a solution instead of being absorbed in self pity. Truly happy people don't allow setbacks to affect their mood because they know that with a little thought they can turn the circumstances back to their favor.

    ※{#blank#}3{#/blank#}. These few minutes will give you the opportunity to focus on the positive things in your life and will lead you to continuous happiness.

    ※{#blank#}4{#/blank#}. Whether you treat yourself to lunch, take a long, relaxing bath or simply spend a few extra minutes on your appearance, you will be subconsciously (下意识地) putting yourself in a better mood.

    ※Finding the humor in situations can also lead to happiness. Find a way to make light of a situation that would otherwise make you happy.

    ※Keeping healthy is another way to achieve happiness. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

My first career had been related to audiology (听力学)—one that allowed me to work part time while tending my growing family. But when my children grew up and left home, I found myself longing to be outside, not in a soundproof room in the hospital.

    So I began attending classes at the local university, hoping that might lead me to a new career. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} "What gave you pleasure as a child?" the counselor (顾问) asked. I thought for a while before responding, "Playing outside in the woods." Our discussion eventually led to a second master's degree, this one in zoology, and the job as a naturalist at a state park. I was 44 years old. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    But as I climbed the career ladder, my time in the field disappeared. I was chained to a computer screen. In the back of my mind, the career counselor's question sounded again. "{#blank#}3{#/blank#}"

    Shortly thereafter, an opportunity presented itself: a 4-month field research project at a university in the Netherlands. I found that field research allowed me to play in the woods again, but with a new purpose.

    At the end of the project, I was invited to participate in the "sandwich" Ph.D. program, in which students do research in their home country while receiving support and instruction in the Netherlands. I was 60 years old. I didn't think that earning a Ph. D. would further my career. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    Still, my colleagues raised their eyebrows. "{#blank#}5{#/blank#}" they asked, "It is all about the journey," I responded.

A. What gave you pleasure as a child?

B. I also went to see a career counselor.

C. What do you intend to do with a Ph.D.?

D. But I wanted to follow my new passion.

E. But when it was no longer right, I changed direction.

F. Can you believe you're actually getting paid to have this much fun?

G. And I was delighted to once again experience the joy of being outdoors.