How to Improve Speed Reading Skills

    Speed reading is one of many skills that can improve your reading comprehension and shorten your study time. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}.

    Look at groups of words, not single words.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}. However, if you can get into the habit of reading groups or chunks of words at one time, then you can read much faster. Start by trying to look at a group of three or four words at once, then work up to looking at an entire line of words. Focus on words that give the sentence meaning, such as the nouns and verbs and pay less attention to the filler words, such as “A, the, and, etc.”

    Scan for keywords.

    Scanning is a highly effective way of extracting answers from a text without really reading it. If you know exactly what you are looking for—a name, a date, a statistic, or a specific word—you can find it quickly by skipping over large chunks of the text. To scan, first visualize the word, number, or phrase you would like to find. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}. The information you are looking for should pop out at you.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}.

    You can train yourself to read faster by timing yourself as you go. Start by getting your base time. Set a timer for fifteen minutes, and speed read as you normally do. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}. Do not count the words, just the pages or paragraphs. Record your figures: for instance, you might write “15min/6.5 pages.”

A. Then, run your eyes rapidly over the text

B. Race the clock

C. Check your comprehension

D. If you read a text one word at a time, then this will slow your reading speed way down

E. Here are some Speed Reading Techniques

F. One of the reasons you read slowly is that you have to pause sometimes to understand what a passage is saying

G. When the timer goes off, check to see how far you have got

Many people find it hard to lose weight and have to go starvation. Now, I'd like to offer some tricks to help lose weight.

Put out a large vegetable plate. Eating water-rich foods such as tomatoes during meals reduces calorie consumption. Other water-rich foods include soups and salads.{#blank#}1{#/blank#} Because the body processes hunger and thirst through different systems, it simply doesn't register a sense of fullness with water (or tea, coffee or juice).

Downsize your dinner plates. The less food put in front of you, the less food you'll eat. So instead of using standard dinner plates, serve your main course on salad plates.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}Instead of large glasses and coffee mugs, return to the old days of cups and even smaller coffee cups.

Serve your dinner restaurant-style (with food already on the plates) rather than family-style (where the food is served in bowls on the table).{#blank#}3{#/blank#}There's no reaching for seconds.

{#blank#}4{#/blank#}You're more likely to eat more—and eat more high-fat, high calorie foods—when you eat out than when you eat at home.

    Eat slowly and calmly.{#blank#}5{#/blank#} Vary your eating with stories of the interesting things that happened during your day. Your brain is behind your stomach by about 20 minutes when it comes to fullness signals. If you eat slowly enough, your brain will catch up and tell you that you no longer need food. Serving separate courses will also slow you down

A. The same goes for liquids.

B. Eat 90 percent of your meals at home.

C. When your plate is empty, you're finished.

D. Put your fork or spoon down between every bite.

E. Be sure to choose a high-fiber, low-sugar variety of food.

F. You won't get the same benefits by just drinking water, though

G. You should eat equal amounts of vegetables and grains at dinner.

    While some lucky people are born with the gift of artistic power, others have to study to become fluent in the language of art.{#blank#}1{#/blank#} If the artistic path is calling you, begin the journey with tiny steps and follow it. Here are some ways to show you how to become a true artist.

    Try a generous choice of differing forms of art. If you have never spent much time creating art, it may feel challenging to try to become an artist.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}They just need to express their creative ideas in a great way. If there is a specific type of art you would like to learn more about, go for it, but don't be afraid to branch out and try other forms as well. Some of the most basic forms of art include drawing, painting, sculpting, and photographing.

    Do your research and learn the basics.{#blank#}3{#/blank#} Learn as much as you can about the medium-read books and articles, watch educational videos, and research various methods and other artists. One of the best ways to learn is by studying the work of others who have come before you. If you put effort, it is completely possible to teach yourself how to be a great artist. Need help?{#blank#}4{#/blank#} I'll work for sure.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}Many artists devote their lives to creating art. While you do not have to spend every single second of your day working on a painting, do try to dedicate some time each day (or every other day) to working on your project, whatever it might be.

A. Make creating art your favorite.

B. Make time for your art every day.

C. The truth is that all people are artists.

D. Pick up some books on your chosen form(s).

E. You can always further your research with an art class.

F. A key part of being an artist is observing the world around you.

G. Whichever path you are on, be clear that everyone is an artist.

    In a world surrounded by bad news, it may feel like an unhappy place sometimes.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    If you make even one person smile today, you can help make this world a better place. Here is list of ideas to help you.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}In this day and age where everything is sent via the Internet, it's a shock to receive a letter through the post. Putting pen to paper and writing a few words to a friend can be an easy way to make a positive impact.

    Requiring some time and research to find the perfect project, volunteering is one of the nicest things you can do. Whether you volunteer at your local youth group or take dogs from shelters for a walk, the simple fact that you are giving up your time to help someone else is incredible. There are so many opportunities.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    Tell someone "I love you". It can be anyone. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}Perhaps you can tell a friend that you appreciate all they are to you, or remind your mum that it's her birthday. Sometimes, in our busy lives we forget to take a moment to tell people what they mean to us.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}Whether you're creative or not, taking time to make something for someone else shows how much you appreciate them. Even if you think you're not creative, the recipient will feel lucky to get such a unique gift that you put your precious time into. Some ideas could include a card, painting, drawing, song, poem or cake!

A. However, you can make a difference.

B. It's a surprise to send a handwritten letter.

C. And you don't even have to say "I love you"

D. So you are sure to find one that is right for you.

E. And it doesn't necessarily have to take up all your life.

F. Making something for a special person is always unique.

G. Even a postcard with a couple of sentences could really make someone's day.

    Why do people travel? There are many reasons one can think of when asked questions like this.

    To travel far enough to meet yourself

    Sometimes you find yourself in the middle of nowhere. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} You find out your abilities. When you are offered a different lifestyle, you can find out what you are made of. The farther you go from your home, the nearer you come to your true self.

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    If you look back at all the amazing memories of your life, you will realize that most of them were out of your comfort zone. Travelling is dangerous, full of life threatening possibilities and will not always be comfortable, but at the same time, it gives irreplaceable memories.

    To slow down and relax

    A wise man once said that never get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life. Money is worth nothing if you cannot spend it on a little adventure. While we are deeply involved in making money, we forget that time is going through our fingers. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} The feeling of being away from your workplace is pure happiness. The feeling of not having to worry about the never ending piles of files is pure joy. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    To celebrate life

    Life is short and the world is wide. One day you might wake up and realize that you don't have time to do everything that you have always wanted to do, anymore. Once in a while, make time to appreciate the fact that you are alive, young, free and healthy. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. To become a storyteller.

B. Travelling lets you discover yourself.

C. To break through your comfort zone.

D. So, go travelling to celebrate life itself.

E. You can relate to the world and connect to others.

F. And the feeling of being away from your boss for a few days is pure pleasure.

G. Escape life for a little while because experience is far more valuable than money.

When we hold our breath and go underwater, we'll soon be unable to stand it. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} However, there's little chance of catching up with the Sama-Bajau, who can stay underwater with a single breath for quite a long time. 

Sama-Bajau is a collective term（集合术语）that refers to several closely related native peoples. The Bajau live on long houseboats or small wooden houses that are built on the sea, close to the shore in Southeast Asia. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

 As they make their living primarily from fishing, they have become exper t free divers（自由潜水者）. Bajau divers have the longest daily diving time without breathing among allhumans. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} In their free time, the kids help around the house or play on the beach. 

It appears that centuries of free diving have scientifically distinguished the Sama-Bajau. According to research, the Bajau's spleens（脾脏）are much larger than the average people's on land. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Besides, the Bajau have also developed excellent underwater vision. 

{#blank#}5{#/blank#} The main cause is massive fishing, which has made it increasingly difficult for the Bajau to make a living and rely on fishing alone. As a consequence, more and more people are leaving the seas, and apparently, it's only a matter of time before the Bajau and their amazing qualities disappear. 

A. Larger spleens can have some weaknesses. 

B. Therefore, many older divers are hard of hearing. 

C. The difference makes the Bajau quite able to dive underwater. 

D. They only go ashore to trade or seek shelter during sea storms. 

E. Bajau children master swimming and diving skills at an early age. 

F. The existence of this special group of people is threatened nowadays. 

G. With free diving training, we can increase the time underwater by a few minutes.