The holiday season isn't just about shopping and gifts. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} However, holiday travel can be more expensive than the gifts. Fortunately, the following tips will help keep your travel spending under control.

● Plan ahead. The earlier you book your travel, from airfare to hotels, the easier it is to find good deals. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Your best prices on airfare come when you book three weeks before the plane leaves for domestic flights. For international flights, consider booking 30 days in advance. Many experts point out that you should book travel between  one month and three months out for high-traffic holidays.

● Book your air travel on cheaper days. Traveling by air on Tuesdays and Wednesdays often costs less than traveling on Fridays and Sundays. During the holidays, it is not just about a specific day of the week. You also need to consider the days surrounding the holiday but days immediately before and after a holiday can be expensive. One of the best ways to save is to plan your air travel on the Day of the holiday. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

● Consider traveling overnight. Red-eye flights and overnight flights often cost less than those at more convenient times. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}Traveling overnight can help you avoid a night in the hotel, as well as save your money on travel to your destination.

●{#blank#}5{#/blank#} You can't bring liquids with you on the airline, but you can bring sandwiches and other snacks. When you are on the road, you can buy food at local groceries to make your own meals. If you are staying in a hotel long-term, consider cooking your own food, especially if you have access to a microwave.

    Any car accident is frightening, but an accident in which your vehicle is thrown into the water, with you trapped inside, is absolutely terrifying. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} However, most deaths result from panic, without a plan or understanding what is happening to the car in the water. By adopting a brace (支撑) position, acting decisively and getting out fast, you can save yourself from a sinking vehicle.

    Brace yourself for impact (撞击力). As soon as you're aware that you're going off the road and into a body of water, adopt a brace position. The impact could set off the airbag system in your vehicle, so you should place both hands on the steering wheel in the "ten and two" position.

    Undo your seatbelt. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Untie the children, starting with the oldest first. Forget the cell phone call. Your car isn't going to wait for you to make the call.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Leave the door alone at this stage and concentrate on the window. A car's electrical system should work for up to three minutes in water, so try the method of opening it electronically first. Many people don't think about the window as an escape option either because of panic or misinformation about doors and sinking.

    Break the window. If you aren't able to open the window, or it only opens halfway, you'll need to break it with an object or your foot. It may feel counter-intuitive (有悖常理的) to let water into the car. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    Escape when the car has equalized. If it has reached the dramatic stage where the car cabin has been filled with water and it has become balanced, you must move quickly and effectively to ensure your survival. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} While there is still air in the car, take slow, deep breaths and focus on what you're doing.

A. Open the window as soon as you hit the water.

B. Surviving a sinking car is not as difficult as you think.

C. It takes 60 to 120 seconds for a car to fill up with water usually.

D. Such accidents are particularly dangerous to the risk of drowning.

E. In conclusion, if you know what to do in the water, you will be safe.

F. This is the first thing to attend to, yet it often gets forgotten in the panic.

G. But the sooner the window is open, the sooner you can escape directly through it.

                                                                             Easy Ways to Keep Your Brain Sharp

Everyone is forgetful, but as we age, we start to feel like our brains are slowing down a bit一and that can be a very annoying thing.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}Read on for some techniques worth trying.

    ⒈{#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    People who regularly made plans and looked forward to upcoming events had a 50 percent reduced chance of Alzheimer's disease (早老性痴呆症)，according to a recent study.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}Something as simple as setting a goal to have a weekly coffee date with a friend will do. There's evidence that people who have a purpose in life or who are working on long or short-term goals appear to do better. In other words, keep your brain looking forward.

    ⒉Go for a walk.

    Mildly raised glucose (葡萄糖) levels can harm the area of the brain that helps you form memories and physical activity can help get blood glucose down to normal levels. In fact, exercise produces chemicals that are good for your brain.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    ⒊Learn something new.

    Take a Spanish class online, join a drawing club, or learn to play cards. A study found that mental stimulation (刺激) limits the weakening effects of aging on memory and the mind. But the best thing for your brain is when you learn something new and are physically active at the same time.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}Or go dancing with your friends.

A. Focus on the future.

B. This can be especially harmful to the aged.

C. It should be something like learning gardening.

D. So take a few minutes each day to do some reading.

E. But don't worry if your schedule isn't filled with life changing events.

F. Luckily, research shows there is a lot you can do to avoid those moments

G. In other words, when you take care of your body, you take care of your brain.

    The USA is a society formed by many different immigrant cultures that produced a new and mixed culture. Most Americans celebrate different customs which started in other countries and start several new traditions and cultures. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} They tend to live independently, and communicate directly, honestly and informally with their families, friends and colleagues.

    Americans always keep advancing with the times. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} In America, it is relatively common for both parents to work, and American women are equal partners in marriage.

    In the USA, the most common family unit consists of the parents and children living under one roof. Most American children are taught to compete, through organized sports and education, as well as speak out their minds and have confidence to stand up for what they believe in. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Many immigrant families also feature several generations living under one roof, with younger family members respecting the elders' needs and valuing their opinions.

    When people from different cultures get married and have children, they may have issues when it comes to maintaining their unique traditions and mixing shared customs at the same time. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} However, with a little effort, children in these families can benefit from having both outlooks and traditions. Children who are raised bilingually can also benefit in future careers and learn to make decisions better than monolingual kids.

A. Many Americans find happy life is important.

B. They are also taught to respect their parents at all costs.

C. It can be a challenge to find the perfect balance between cultures.

D. According to socialists, the American family culture has many unique aspects.

E. American children refuse to follow their parents' advice and always argue with them.

F. Changing rather than sticking to tradition is considered by many Americans as improvement.

G. The difference is easy to deal with if parents can meet halfway and stand in the other's shoes.

    Homesickness is a feeling that we all have probably experienced at one time or another.{#blank#}1{#/blank#} Remember the following strategies before you get ready to leave.

     {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Knowing more about homesickness will provide insights into how common it is for people to have feelings of missing home. This will surely help make you feel less stressed or embarrassed about missing home.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} You can ask someone who is knowledgeable about where you'll go to describe the daily routines or activities you should expect. If it's practical, you could plan a preliminary(初步的)visit with family or friends to the place you'll go to.

    Make plans for when you arrive at your new location. When you know what some of your routines and activities will be when you get to the new place, you'll feel more comfortable.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} One study found that vigorous exercise and purposeful social interaction while away helped to avoid feelings of homesickness.

    Bring something from home. Sometimes homesickness can be difficult because you never know when it might hit you. Bring along a favorite book, a pair of slippers, or a picture.{#blank#}5{#/blank#} They can be helpful to comfort you when you're homesick.

A. Adopt your previous habits and routines.

B. Explore your new location.

C. Become familiar with the place you will go to.

D. The experience will seem a little more familiar, making homesickness less likely.

E. Preparing to move away from home helps prevent homesickness.

F. Know that homesickness is totally normal.

G. These items might help make home feel a bit closer.

    Recently, crazy rich Asians are posting photos of themselves facing down and surrounded by luxury goods in a new trend sweeping social media.

    Falling down in public is embarrassing for most people. However, the new social media craze(时尚)called the "Falling Stars Challenge" has turned falling into something fun to do.

    The craze began in Russia. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Items like handbags, accessories (配饰) and cash were spread out on the ground around them in the photos. People shared these photos to show off their wealth.

    The craze soon became popular around the world. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} People are using it to show off their hobbies and professional talent. The items in their pictures show what they do for a living and what they have achieved in their lives.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} For example, students fall down on textbooks and test papers. Police officers fall in front of their police cars with handcuffs (手铐) in their hands. Famous people are also taking the challenge. Writer Liu Tong took a fall with dozens of copies of his new book.

    More than 1.08 million Chinese have taken this challenge on Sina Weibo. Their pictures have been viewed more than 2.22 billion times. Internet users also comment on these posts. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} One Weibo user wrote: "This shows the positive energy of fighting and working hard. Applause for these young people!"

    However, some also think the craze is just another example of a successful internet meme (网络爆红). {#blank#}5{#/blank#} What do you think? Will you try this challenge?

A. They think people are just imitating others.

B. Most of them speak highly of the craze.

C. However, in China, it is taking on a new meaning.

D. The challenge is particularly popular among young people.

E. The biggest reason for the success of the challenge is simple.

F. People from all walks of life are taking part in it.

G. People posted pictures of themselves faking a fall.