A. Come in with something to say.

B. Prepare general comments.

C. Bring materials with you.

D. Don't make them wait.

E. Have no fear.

F. Go it alone.

One of the best things you can do any time in the semester is go see the professor. So hoof on over to an office hour and have some one-on-one face time with someone who'll help you master the material and improve your grade, to boot. But how should you have this conversation with the professor? Here are five insider tips about how to make that office hour really count:

{#blank#}1{#/blank#} No need to get all bent out of shape about going to see the professor. The professor would actually like to see you and answer your questions. Believe it or not, he or she is on your side and is eager to see you do well. And besides, he or she has seen many students stupider than you, so nothing you're gong to ask will set the record for stupidity.

{#blank#}2{#/blank#} Even though you might feel more comfortable going with a friend or partner, the office hour will go better if it's just you and the professor. You'll get in more questions, the discussion will be tailored to what you need most help on, and two-party communication is almost always more productive than committee work. You friend can wait outside for the discussion.

{#blank#}3{#/blank#} If you can't make the official office hours, most professors are willing to make individual, appoin tments to help you out. If you're lucky enough to land such an accommodation, though, be sure you're 100 percent on time. There's nothing that ticks off a professor more than making him-or herself available for a custom office hour only to find that you don't care enough to come on time. And besides, the professor might leave after ten minutes, which would make your trip a total loss.

{#blank#}4{#/blank#} If you're meeting with the professor to go over a paper or test, or to ask questions about a particular lecture or reading, make sure you bring that paper or test, or your lecture notes or a copy of the article. The professor doesn't remember the comments he or she wrote on your individual piece of work—though he or she will be able to recall them after just a brief glance at your work. And if you have your lecture notes or the article in hand, you and the professor will be able to examine specific points that are confusing to you, rather than just talking in a general way about the contents.

{#blank#}5{#/blank#} Office hours almost always go better if you bring a few specific questions to the meeting. It's almost never good to start a meeting with general comments such as: “I didn't understand what you said about [main topic of the course]”or “I couldn't understand any of your lectures last week.” Much better is to come in with two or three conversation-starters, about a specific concept, point, or problem you didn't understand. Keep in mind that in a fifteen-minute office hour (which is how long these things usually last), two or three questions are usually the most you'll have time to discuss.

    While serious training is important for all dogs, playtime is just as important. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Use these games to help teach your dog how to play.

1). Hide and Seek

    Hide and seek isn't just for kids. Dogs can really enjoy this game. Pick up one of your dog's favorite toys or treats. Tell your dog to stay. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} When you are ready, call your dog to come to you. If possible, squeak (使吱吱叫) the toy or shake the treats. Reward your dog with praise and the toy or treat when she finds you.

2). Fetch

    Many dogs have a natural ability to fetch. Other dogs can be taught how. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Play indoors with a soft toy or outdoors in a fenced-in area with a ball or disc. For dogs that really love to run, try this game of fetch!

3). Find the Treat

    Dogs have superior senses of smell, and most love to use their noses to find food. Let your dog use her brain and her nose to find hidden goodies. First, have your dog stay out of sight. Then, hide her favorite treats in various places around the room. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} If help is needed, you can lead her around or point to areas for her to explore.

Whatever the game, safety comes first! Remember to watch your dog for signs of exhaustion or overheating when you are playing. Stop if your dog seems tired or shows signs of anxiety. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} When other dogs or people are around, it may create a dangerous distraction.

    Everyone wants to be self-confident, but maybe we just don't know how to be. Here are some tips on how you can feel more confident about yourself.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Everyone has shortcomings. When you have found your shortcomings, work to overcome them. If you are a shy person, take part in social activities, such as parties, and speak to at least one or two people there.

Second, try to spend more time with positive people. Successful and confident people have their own ways of settling problems. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    Third, set goals for yourself. With each goal you achieve, you self-confidence will increase.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}We are afraid that we might lose. Stop thinking like that and give yourself a chance.

    Fourth, start each day with a sense of opportunity. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}Think positively about yourself.

    Actually everyone has his or her own way of becoming confident. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}Friends might have useful suggestions, too.

    In short, as long as you try new things, you are sure to become more confident.

A. You should talk with your friends.

B. Pay attention and learn from them.

C. First, don't think about your weak points.

D. It's not always right to ask friends for help.

E. sometimes we might be afraid of trying new things.

F. First, you should know what your weak points are.

G. Start your day by reading something encouraging.

    Water covers 70% of the Earth, but only 3% of it is clean and suitable for human consumption. Even if you live in an area with enough rainfall, using water requires energy to process, pump, heat, re-pump, and reprocess it.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Save water from your taps.

    Turn the tap off while you are brushing your teeth, shaving, washing your hands, doing dishes, and so on.{#blank#}2{#/blank#} Get wet, and then turn off the water while you soap up. Turn it back on for long enough to wash away the soap.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    Take a timer, clock, or stopwatch into the bathroom with you and challenge yourself to cut down your showering time. You could even play music while in the shower and challenge yourself to cut down the number of songs it takes you.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    Use wastewater from the bath, washing machines or dish washing on the garden.

    If possible, connect a pipe to the outlet on your machine to send the water outside onto your garden. When hand-washing dishes, rinse (冲洗) the dishes into a container, and empty the container into your garden.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Either pour it directly into the bowl, or use it to refill the toilet tank when you flush.

A. If you're not sure whether wastewater is suitable for plants, you can use it to flush (冲) your toilet.

B. Not all toilets will be able to flush effectively with a reduced amount of water.

C. Turn the tap off when you shower, too.

D. Replace your clothes washing machine with a high-efficiency washer.

E. Shave outside the shower, or turn off the shower while you shave.

F. Take shorter showers.

G. Fortunately, there are ways to save water for everyone.

Why people collect art

    Many people through history have gone to great lengths to collect art. But what motivates these collectors?

    One popular explanation for collecting is that they can have financial gain. Some resell works, earning enormous profit. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Immorally, some 'collectors' buy art as a form of money laundering(洗钱), since it is far easier to move art than cash between counties without examination.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} For them, art is important for other reasons. The best way to understand the underlying drive of art collecting is as a means to create and strengthen social bonds, and as a way for collectors to communicate within these new networks.

Collectors are not only interested in creating social links; they are also motivated by the messages they can send once these social networks are created. We all know art is a powerful way for the artist to express thoughts and feelings. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Displaying art can send a message about who the collector really is — at least who she sees herself as.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Through the collections, collectors convey messages not just about themselves, but about the world as a whole. For example, the kid with the shoebox of bird feathers might show others her collection not just to make friends, but also to convince them about the importance of protecting endangered species.

    People collect art for various reasons. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. Some gain art works in an illegal way.

B. But most collectors think little of profit.

C. Artworks preserve the qualities of their makers.

D. No doubt art collection is a hard addiction to overcome.

E. Some get large tax reductions for donating art to museums.

F. It also serves as an effective way to express collectors.

G. Other art collectors see their collections as having a broader power.

How to Save Your Laptop after a Spill

    Spilling coffee, juice or water on a laptop might seem like the end of the world, {#blank#}1{#/blank#}. Here's a five-step plan to rescue a laptop after a liquid spill.

    Switch the laptop off

    Shut down the laptop. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}. Remove the power cord, unplug any peripherals and remove the battery. The biggest danger at this time is the device shorting out.

    Remove excess liquid from the laptop

    Remove excess liquid with a soft cloth or paper towels. Do not use a wiping motion as that just spreads the liquid further.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    With the laptop facing away from you, move it from side to side and from front to back in a gentle rocking motion to help the liquid to escape from all four sides.

    Use compressed air to dry the laptop

    Make sure that you have removed all excess liquid. Then, if you have one, use a can of compressed air to help dry the laptop. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}. Keep the dryer moving all the time and hold it at least 20cm above the laptop.

    Leave laptop to completely dry out

    Leave the laptop opened in an inverted "V" shape in a warm area, to completely dry out. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}. Wait for 24 hours or longer, making sure the keyboard is completely dry, before reinstalling the battery and peripherals.

    If you must replace your laptop keyboard, please remember: most laptop keyboards can be replaced by a technician, or you can purchase a new USB or wireless keyboard to use with the laptop.