Are you truly happy? {#blank#}1{#/blank#}.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}. It is easy to begin to think negatively when you are surrounded by people who think that way. On the contrary, if you are surrounded by people who are happy, their emotional state will be infectious.

    {#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 putting yourself in a better mood.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}. Find a way to make light of a situation that would otherwise make you happy.

Keeping healthy is another way to achieve happiness.

A. Finding the humor in situations can also lead to happiness.

B. The following tips may help you to create happiness.

C. Surround yourself with happy people.

D. There are some reasons in life that lead to unhappiness.

E. Being overweight or not eating nutritious foods can have a negative effect on your health.

F. Spend a few minutes each day thinking about the things that make you happy.

G. It‘'s also important to take some time each day to do something nice for yourself.

    How to find time for yourself

    Do you ever find yourself dying for some time for yourself? Many of us are so busy with work, school, and home life that often there is no time left over to do something that you enjoy. What follows are some ways to find out the necessary time you need to slow down, and enjoy life.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#} This is a great one because you can get many things at the same time when you are walking. You're getting exercise, you have time to think or enjoy music, and you're helping to save the environment.

    Arrive early.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}Then use this time for yourself: reading, writing, relaxation, thinking, or whatever.

    Buy tickets ahead. Sports, theater, concerts, or any other event you would enjoy. Make the plans with a friend later.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    Evenings with yourself.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} If others ask you to do things those nights, just tell them you have plans. Use the time for gardening, reading, exercise, or doing nothing!

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}What are you interested in? Strike while the iron is hot. Look up a club in your area today and join! If you can't find a club, consider starting one yourself!

A. Walk to work.

B. Join a group.

C. Take an education class.

D. Any appointment that you have, plan to arrive 15—30 minutes early.

E. If you want more time for yourself, you can get it.

F. Having the tickets already in your hand will force you to make it happen!

G. Try to save certain weeknights just for you.

    The world is becoming more and more connected, but many people feel lonely in the midst of it. You might not feel lonely right now, but there might be times when you do. Here are some tips on dealing with loneliness:

    Be positive about yourself.{#blank#}1{#/blank#} If you constantly think of yourself as ugly, mean, or unattractive, then it will be difficult for you to connect with others. You must accept yourself before you can accept others. It's common that you might have some negative qualities. So does everyone else. So in order to get rid of loneliness, you should focus on your positive side and think of yourself in a positive way.

    Have an attitude of gratitude (感恩){#blank#}2{#/blank#}It's easy to focus on the negatives in life, but don't forget that there are also many positives. Remember them and be thankful. What does this have to do with loneliness? Well, if you are grateful, then you will become cheerful{#blank#}3{#/blank#} See the positive side of others. Just as you should see the positive side of yourself, you should also see the positive side of others. Everyone has shortcomings, but everyone also has a positive side.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}That will make you like them and make it easier for you to connect with them.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} The more you think about yourself, the more likely it is for you to have a pity party and feel lonely. For example, you might think that nobody likes you or cares about you. So it's important that you shift your attention away from yourself. It can be as simple as smiling at your neighbors or holding a door for a stranger.

A. Join a community group.

B. Do something for others.

C. Negative thoughts can kill you.

D. Instead, try to make more friends.

E. And that will attract people to you.

F. Count your blessings and be grateful for them.

G. So choose to value the positive aspects of them.

Taping and bracing ankles

    Ankle sprains(踝关节扭伤) are the most common sports-related injuries in the United States. If there was an easy way of decreasing the number and severity of these injuries, that would be great. For this very reason, the practice of taping and bracing ankles was introduced decades ago.

    How, then, do taped or braced ankles decrease the incidence and severity of sprains in athletes? One explanation for how it works comes from a study which found that taped athletes had improved proprioception(本体感受), which is the body's ability to know how fast the ankle and foot are moving and if they are starting to roll over or not. When they were compared, the athletes with taped ankles had better proprioception both before and after exercise compared with athletes using no tape. The tape's traction(拉力)or pressure on the skin of the foot and ankle helped improve sensitivity and proprioception, resulting in fewer ankle sprains.

    Another common concern often expressed by the public is that lengthened practice of taping or bracing ankles results in weak ankles that then tend to get injured more easily; this would be a strong case against taping or bracing ankles. However, a scientific study looked at the effects of consistent ankle brace use on the peroneus longus muscle. It is an important stabilizer(稳定装置)of the ankle, particularly against inversion, the most common type of ankle injury. This study showed that the peroneus longus muscle's ability to do its job was not changed by the long-term wearing of an ankle brace.

    Many studies have been completed to compare taping ankles and bracing ankles to try to determine which one is better. Most have shown that braces are slightly more effective than tape, but that both are better than no support at all. One study found that simply wearing high-top sneakers instead of low-tops prevented some ankle injuries and that high-tops plus tape had more than 50% fewer injuries than low-tops plus tape.

    So whether it's on the field or on the court, the tape or brace is an important piece of athletic equipment just like your helmet or mouth guard.

How to Cultivate Confidence?

    When faced with a big challenge where potential failure seems to appear at every corner maybe you'll hear this advice: "Be more confident." {#blank#}1{#/blank#}Take the belief that you are valuable, worthwhile, and capable, also known as self-esteem. Confidence turns thoughts into action. It comes from the genes you are born with, the way people get used to treating you as well as the choices you make. While it isn't possible to completely separate these three factors, the personal choices we make obviously play a major role in confidence development. As a result, by keeping in mind certain practical tips, we do actually have the power to cultivate our own confidence.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} If you're looking for a long-term change, consider the way you think about your abilities and talents. Do you think they are fixed at birth, or that they can be developed? These beliefs mater because they can influence how you act in the face of setbacks, if you have a fixed mindset, meaning that your talents are locked in pace, you might give up, assuming you've discovered something you're not good at. But if you have a growth mindset, and think your abilities can improve, a challenge will become an opportunity to learn and grow. Neuroscience(神经学)supports the Jatter. The connections in your brain do get stronger and grow with study and practice.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    Practicing failure is a must. Failure happens.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} J.K. Rowling was rejected by twelve different publishers before one picked up Harry Potter. The Wright Brothers built on history's failed attempts at flight before designing a successful airplane. Studies show that those who fail regularly and keep trying anyway are better equipped to respond to challenges in a constructive way. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}So, think of a challenge you want to take on, realize it's not going to be easy, accept that you'll make mistakes, and be kind to yourself when you do. You'll feel the excitement, knowing that whatever the result, you'll have gained greater knowledge and understanding.

A. But what is confidence?

B. So can confidence be easily cultivated?

C. Everyone is possible to encounter failure.

D. Being a talented person is quite necessary.

E. They learn to try different strategies and persevere.

F. Believing in your abilities to improve is the first step.

G. It also turns out that people with a growth mindset are better at dealing with challenges.

Green: More than just a colour

    Green is an important colour in nature. It is the colour of grass and the leaves on trees. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}.

    Sometimes, the word green means young. fresh and growing. Sometimes, it describes something that is not yet ripe or finished.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}A person with a green thumb seems to have a magic touch that makes plants grow quickly and well. You might say that woman next door has a green thumb if her garden continues to grow long after your plants have died.

    The Green Revolution is the name given some years ago to the development of new kinds of rice and other grains. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}The Green Revolution was the result of hard work by agricultural scientists who had green thumbs.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}The green－eyed monster is not a frightening creature from outer space. It is an expression used about four hundred years ago by British writer William Shakespeare in his play Othello.

    In most places in the world，a green light is a sign to move ahead. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}In everyday speech, a green light means approval to continue with a project. We want you to know we have a green light to continue this series next week.

A. For example, a greenhorn is someone who has no experience, who is new to a situation.

B. Someone is also the colour used to describe the powerful emotion, jealousy.

C. Someone who has the ability to grow plants well is said to have a green thumb.

D. A green light on a traffic signal means your car can continue on.

E. The new plants produced much larger crops

F. It is also the colour of most growing plants.

G. About one hundred years ago, having a green thumb was a popular expression in the American west.