Success seems to find Maya Moore everywhere she goes. But life hasn't been a bed of roses for Maya and her biggest supporter, her mother.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Maya discovered her love of basketball in 1997 at the age of 8. That was the year the WNBA (Women's National Basketball Association) began holding games. The young girl watched WNBA star Cynthia Cooper play in Olympics.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    Three years later her mother, Kathryn, was offered a better job in North Carolina. Kathryn decided to make the move from Missouri because North Carolina provided greater basketball opportunities. Sadly, in under two months the company downsized, and Kathryn lost her job. She remembers, “{#blank#}3{#/blank#}” Maya says the difficulties brought them closer, and she praises her mom. “She's more than a teammate. I know she's going to be on my side.”

    About a year later, mother and daughter moved to Georgia, where Maya continued to play basketball. In high school she had the opportunity to play basketball against some of the nation's best players.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} Maya led her team to 125 victories and three state championships. During this time, she was named the national player of the year twice.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Maya and her mother approached the college decision like they did everything. With careful consideration, Maya chose the University of Connecticut.

A. It was a bad time.

B. It really a competitive skill.

C. The competition improved her skills.

D. You can't succeed without too much payment.

E. The path to success required a lot of hard work.

F. Maya dreamed to compete in the Olympics one day.

G. Universities compared to invite her to join their teams.

Why Do We Get Angry?

    Anger seems simple when we are feeling it, but the causes of anger are various. Knowing these causes can make us examine our behavior, and correct bad habits. The main reasons we get angry are triggering（触发）events, personality traits（特征）, and our assessment of situations. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Triggering events for anger are so many that to describe them all would take hundreds of pages. However, here are some examples: being cut off in traffic, a deadline approaching, experiencing physical pain, and much more.{#blank#}2{#/blank#} The reason why someone is triggered by something and others are not is often due to one's personal history and psychological traits.

    Each person, no matter who they are, has psychological imbalances. People who have personality traits that connect with competitiveness and low upset tolerance are much more likely to get angry. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Also, sometimes pre-anger does not have to do with a lasting condition, but rather a temporary state before a triggering event has occurred.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}Sometimes even routine occurrences become sources of pre-anger, or anger itself. Sometimes ignorance and negative (消极的) outlooks on situations can create anger.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}However, anger can easily turn violent, and it is best to know the reasons for anger to appear in order to prevent its presence. With these main reasons in mind, we can evaluate our level of anger throughout the day and prevent cases of outbursts by comprehending the reasons for our feelings.

A. Our attitude and viewpoint on situations can create anger within us as well.

B. But some types of situations can help us to get rid of the occurrence of anger.

C. Anger is rarely looked upon as a beneficial character trait, and is usually advised to reduce it.

D. Anger is a particularly strong feeling and maybe people think that they have reasons to feel angry.

E. Having these personality traits implies the pre-anger state, where anger is in the background of your mind.

F. Understanding these reasons will control our own anger if we are willing to evaluate ourselves with a critical eye.

G. Not everyone acts the same in response to events, and that is why what triggers one person may or may not trigger another.

    As a senior year student, you may have so many pressures coming from so many directions that you can't figure out what to do first.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    When you have many things to do and a lot of demands on your time, you can lose sight of what's important. One of the best ways to see the big picture - what you want out of life - is to lay out your goals.

    Pressure Points and How to Deal With Them

    Confused or overwhelmed - talk to someone you trust.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}. They may help you find solutions to your problems and worries.

    Being too hard on yourself - ease up, take a break and do something you enjoy. Daydream, read a book, go out with friends — anything that helps you relax.

    Problems, problems, problems — recognize your limits. It's too stressful to try to deal with all your problems at once.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}.

    Goal-Setting Tips

    It's important to remember that goals belong to you — not to your parents, your teachers, or your friends. After you've set your goals, identify the skills you have to achieve those goals.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}. Try the library, your guidance adviser and teachers, and other people who could help you.

    Goals exist to serve you. If your goal is something you no longer want, change it. Identify the barriers to getting your goals.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}. Don't get depressed by a big, long-term goal — see what steps you can take to achieve it and set those steps down as short-term, "do-able" goals.

A. Too much to do

B. Balancing goals in life

C. Consider ways to overcome them

D. Discuss your concerns with a friend, parent or teacher

E. Choose what's most urgent and set aside the rest until later

F. As long as you know what skill is important and what isn't

G. If you're not sure what skills you'll need, do some research

    Many countries have traditional dishes, made with special ingredients and prepared in a certain way. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}, and when tourists visit, these are the foods they want to try. But why are some foods more popular than others in certain areas?

Traditional ingredients

    Typical recipes (菜谱) are usually made with native plant and animal products. For example, Korean dishes often include rice and soybeans because both plants are native to East Asia and grow well in hot, wet areas. In contrast, wheat grows well in drier areas, like the Middle East, where bread is a common staple food.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}, whereas inland cuisines tend to use more meat from farm animals.

    Food preservation

    Local cuisines often depend on how people traditionally prepared food for storage. In warm weather, meat and fish can go off quickly, so they must be cooked right away or preserved for later. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}, for that reason, modern Norwegian cuisine includes many smoked foods.

    Cooking techniques

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}. In China, people often fry food in a deep metal pan or steam it in a basket over hot water. In Morocco, people cook traditional dishes in a special pot called a tajine. And some local dishes aren't cooked at all.

    Imported (进口的) ingredients

    Sometimes local cuisines include ingredients that originally came from another place. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}, while many Russian dishes are made with potatoes. However, all of these ingredients were brought to Europe from South America in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. But now they are common around the world.

A. Seafood is often a key ingredient in coastal areas

B. There is a danger that local food traditions will be lost

C. Many different cooking techniques are used around the world

D. For example, Italian dishes often include tomatoes and peppers

E. These local dishes can become symbols of a place and its culture

F. Nowadays, we can buy food products from all around the world

G. In Norway, the Vikings used to "cure" meat and fish by smoking them over a fire

Benefits of Sports

    Doing sports is a physical, mental and social adventure. It's a great way for children to take a break from academics and release extra energy. It also helps them lead fuller and happier lives as regular sports have proven to improve overall well-being.

    The physical benefits of doing sports are probably the most obvious. Regardless of your fitness level when you start playing sports, you'll notice an increase in your overall fitness once you're involved.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}Basketball players focus on strength training; football players work on speed while track athletes train through longer runs. The training process helps promote physical fitness and performances in competitions.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}Playing sports contributes to mental health, helping to increase confidence and self-worth. A pat on the back, high-five from a teammate, or handshake after a match really boosts a child's confidence. Words of praise and encouragement from the coach, parents and other players raise the self-worth.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}So after a game, it's a better idea to ask "Did you enjoy the game?" rather than "Did you win?"

    Children who participate in sports might also benefit from the social aspect, feeling part of a group, building up accountability and leadership.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}Teamwork involves both being dependable as a teammate and learning to rely on your teammates to achieve a positive outcome. Teamwork breeds accountability and challenges you to be responsible for your actions. Being part of a team gives you an opportunity to be a leader.

    Discipline is another social advantage. Most organized sports require a strict training and practice schedule. As a student-athlete, you need to balance academics and athletics.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    There is no shortage of reasons to find a sport to get involved in. Are you ready to go? Pick one and get moving!

A. It's not just your body that benefits from sports.

B. Therefore, playing sports is going to make you more fit.

C. But remember, a child's self-worth should not be distinguished by victory or loss.

D. If you play group sports, you'll be part of a team that takes direction from a coach.

E. Nearly every sport requires physical activity and the skills needed to be competitive.

F. Among these, learning how to function as part of a team is the most important advantage.

G. Only with strict discipline can you be successful both in the classroom and in the sports field.

    Are you sometimes stressed? Singing is a simple and effective way to reduce stress. It is beneficial mainly in the following three aspects.

    Physical Benefits

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#} This is especially recommended for the elders and those who have some form of disability in their voice. However, it is important to find a capable instructor to employ good singing techniques so as not to further damage vocal cords (声带) or lungs.

    Singing also helps to improve your posture (姿势). Most people think that singing begins and ends with their mouth. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Singing practice will get you used to the proper body position of standing and help you form the good habit of standing straight.

    Emotional Benefits

    Singing helps in reducing your depression and lowering your stress level. When you sing, your body releases chemicals that make you feel happy, easing the tension and helping you to relax. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    Social Benefits

    The social benefits of singing are huge. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} So people who suffer from stage fright are advised to sing in front of family and friends before a live performance.

    Singing is also very good for improving your communication skills. It is said that singing to babies helps to prepare their brains for language and may lessen the risk of language problems later in life. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} The time spent in group singing, whether in a choir or at karaoke, creates a deep and lasting bond of friendship.

A. Try to regain your memory by singing.

B. First, it can help build up your confidence greatly.

C. When you sing, you can give your lungs a workout.

D Singing helps you to strengthen your immune system.

E. For adults, singing also enlarges your circle of friends.

F. In fact, the position of each body part affects your voice.

G. So, start to sing your favorite song next time you are feeling upset.