Cowboys in the US

    Cowboys played an important role in the settling of the west. Ranching (牧场经营)was a big industry and cowboys helped to run the ranches.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}

The Roundup

    Each spring and fall the cowboys would work on the “roundup”{#blank#}2{#/blank#} Cattle would walk freely much of the year and then the cowboys would need to bring them in. In order to tell what cattle belonged to their ranch, the cattle would have a special mark burned into them called a “ brand “.

Horse and Saddle (马鞍）

    The most important item of any cowboy was his horse and saddle. The saddles were often custom-made (定制的) and, next to his horse, probably the most valuable item a cowboy owned.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}

Clothing

    Cowboys wore special clothing that helped them with their jobs. They wore large 10-gallon hats to protect them from the sun and the rain. They wore special cowboy boots that helped them to get in and out of the stirrups (马镫）when riding a horse{#blank#}4{#/blank#} Many cowboys wore chaps on the outsides of their legs to help protect them from sharp bushes that their horse may rub up against.

Cowboy Code

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} The code included such rules as being polite and respectful, always saying “howdy”, not waving at a man on a horse (you should nod) , never riding another man's horse without his permission,always helping someone in need, and never putting on another man's hat.

A. They herded cattle, repaired buildings, and took care of the horses.

B. The cowboys of the Old West had an unwritten code that they lived by.

C. This when the cowboys would bring in all the cattle from the open ranch.

D. Horses were so important that anyone caught stealing a horse was usually hanged!

E. Their clothing grew out of practical need and the environment in which they worked.

F. This was especially important if they fell, so they wouldn't get dragged by their horse.

G. They have deep historic roots dating back to the earliest European settlers of America.

    People Are People

    Globalization has brought different cultures together in a way unimaginable one hundred years ago. Today, Chinese, Indians, Arabs, Africans, Anglos, and Hispanics may all work in the same offices, attend the same schools or live in the same neighborhoods{#blank#}1{#/blank#} And our society has lately emphasized（强调）the importance of diversity.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}Take the following old proverbs for example.  

    “Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom.” Thomas Jefferson, American President

    “One falsehood spoils a thousand truths.” African proverb

    “Be honest to those who are honest, and be also to those who are not honest.” Lao Tzu, Chinese philosopher

    “A sacrifice is written off by a lie and the merit of devotion by an act of cheat.” Hindu saying

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} These seems to be a sort of cultural unity.

    We don't wish to imply all cultures are the same. Cultural diversity is real, and people from different cultures view many situations in different ways. However, historically, different cultures seem to share many common values. They are justice, courage, patience, generosity, equality, mercy and kindness, respect for the elders, and many more. Lying and stealing appear to be wrong no matter where you go. Perhaps some cultures make room for extenuating（情有可原）circumstances more than others; perhaps cultures apply these virtues in different ways; and when values disagree, different cultures may place different levels of importance on them{#blank#}4{#/blank#} But both cultures may still value both.

    To us, it seems as if there is some sort of code of right and wrong that everyone everywhere seems to understand, regardless of culture. It is almost as if, behind all of the diversity, one finds a common understanding – a human culture, if you will – that goes beyond racial, social, and political boundaries.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. All people seem to agree that we should tell the truth.

B. As cultures meet with each other, many differences stand out.

C. Each value supports many more sayings from different cultures.

D. We want to show, however, that there is more to these cultures than diversity.

E. These sayings from four separate cultures all support the same value – honesty.

F. It is almost as if, despite all our differences, we are all still the same – we are just people.

G. In other words, one culture may lean more toward justice and another culture more toward mercy.

    Lots of people find it hard to get up in the morning, and put the blame on the alarm clock. In fact, the key to easy morning wake-up lies in resting your body clock. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Here's how to make one.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} In order to make a change, you need to decide why it's important. Do you want to get up in time to have breakfast with your family, get in some exercise, or just be better prepared for your day? Once you are clear about your reasons, tell your family or roommates about the change you want to make.

    Rethink mornings. Now that you know why you want to wake up, consider re-arranging your morning activities. If you want time to have breakfast with your family, save some time the night before by setting out clothes, shoes, and bags. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}That's a quarter-hour more you could be sleeping if you bought a coffee maker with a timer.

    Keep your sleep/wake schedule on weekends. If you're tired out by Friday night, sleeping in on Saturday could sound wonderful. But compensating on the weekends actually feeds into your sleepiness the following week, a recent study found.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    Keep a record and evaluate it weekly. Keep track of your efforts and write down how you feel. After you've tried a new method for a week, take a look at your record. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}If not, take another look at other methods you could try.

A. Get a sleep specialist.

B. Find the right motivation.

C. A better plan for sleep can help.

D. And consider setting a second alarm.

E. If the steps you take are working, keep it up.

F. Stick to your set bedtime and wake-up time, no matter the day.

G. Reconsider the 15 minutes you spend in line at the cafe to get coffee.

    You probably know that exercise is the key to reducing depression, but you might not know why. Here are some tips for exercising when you're depressed.

    Change your view of “exercise”.

    Forget “exercise”. Instead, think “being active” or “having fun”. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Besides, it gives you a bigger benefit.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    Taking part in physical activities with others supports you in doing those activities. Ask friends what activities they're doing or they would like to start doing, and join them. Other choices include hiring a personal trainer, joining an exercise group or going to a class.

    Try an experiment.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Or go to the gym every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Even if you're feeling too tired to do any actual exercise, still go to the gym, park your car, walk in, chage into workout clothes, and pick up a 5-pound weight. If you're really so tired that you don't want to do anything else, that's totally fine.

    Take it outside.

    Nature has a great effect on our feeling and decreases depressive symptoms. Even just looking at images of lakes and trees helps. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Or walk on a treadmill (跑步机) by a window.

    Tie it to a goal.

    Korb said, “When you connect your exercise to a long-term goal, it helps your brain forget momentary discomfort and makes your exercise more satisfying.” For example, Korb started getting active because it made playing sports more enjoyable. Figure out what's truly important to you. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. Move with someone else.

B. Sign up and go to exercise classes.

C. It's a lot easier to do something simple.

D. Remind yourself of your goal regularly.

E. Remember your partner to keep you company.

F. Take a walk around your neighbourhood or a local park.

G. This increases your chances of actually moving your body.

    In the 60s, people asked about your astrological (about star) sign. In the 90s, they want to know your website. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Your website is an electronic meeting place for your family, friends and potentially, millions of people around the world. Best of all, you may not have to spend a cent. The Web is filled with all kinds of free services and all it takes is some time and creativity.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Like the table of contents of a book or magazine, the home page is the front door. Your site can have one or more pages, depending on how you design it.

    While web pages vary greatly in their design and content, most use a traditional magazine layout (版面设计). At the top of the page is a banner (横幅) GRAPHIC. Next comes a greeting and short description of the site. Pictures, text, and links to other websites follow.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Think about whom the site is for and what you want to say. Next, gather up the material that you want to put on the site.

    While there are no rules you have to follow, there are a few things to keep in mind: {#blank#}4{#/blank#} If you want too much at the beginning, you may never get the site off the ground. You can always add to your site.

    Less is better. Most people don't like to read a lot of long texts online. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    Smaller is better. Since it can take a long time to download large files, keep the file sizes small.

    Have the rights. Don't put any material on your site unless you are sure you can do it legally. Always remember to get the permission from the writer first.

    Now it's time to roll up your sleeves and start building.

    Being overweight is one of the biggest problems that many men and women of all ages suffer from. Although everyone wants to lose weight quickly, burning fat is no easy task. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}. Don't expect to just read these tips and expect to lose weight while you sleep. It will take a lot of effort on your part to succeed.

    It's very important to drink lots of water while reducing the use of salt. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}.

Try not to eat the foods that contain high amounts of fats and instead focus on eating foods rich in fiber.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} This is the best way to lose weight, as playing a sport can give a person a sense of confidence.

    Avoid taking medicines that help reduce your appetite, as they usually have many side effects and can do you more harm than good. Also, you shouldn't follow unusual diets such as those that focus on drinking large amounts of vitamin-concentrated liquids. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}.

    Finally, everyone should know and understand that being overweight will eventually lead to bigger and more dangerous diseases and conditions, so it is best for us to stay fit before we gain weight while we still have a chance. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} It's better for you to take things slowly and start with losing just a few pounds a month and then increasing that.

A. Just stick to the most popular diets

B. Here are a few tips on weight loss

C. Exercise regularly while you're on a diet

D. Salt tends to store water in the body leading to weight again

E. And in case you feel hungry you should eat low-calories foods

F. Also, make sure you don't try reducing too much weight too fast

G. When in doubt, don't be afraid to ask your doctor for suggestions