Things to Keep in Mind before Moving to New York City

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#} So, reading up on New York's history, facts, statistics, facilities, etc, is always a good idea. Learn about the culture, how to deal with people, taxi drivers, manners, or lack of manners that is exhibited there, and so on. It is always best to know what exactly you are getting into rather than landing there and getting a complete shock.

    Before you buy your clothes or shoes, you always try them out first, right? In the same way, before you move to New York, you need to visit it for a couple of days, just do that you can see what the city is like. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    The best and worst thing about New York is that this city is controlled by money. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Then, you need to set aside (留出) an amount for emergencies only. If you are moving to New York with a job, or are planning to get a job once you are in the city, then you need to make sure that your salary covers up all your expenses and the amount that you would set aside for emergencies.

    Finding a neighbourhood in New York is the key to actually enjoying your stay there. If you are moving to the city due to work, then look for living accommodations close to your workplace.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}Do you see yourself living in a place that is quiet, like the Upper West Side or East Side, or do you want noisy setups, like the East Village, Lower East Side, or West Village?

    Give the city a chance, make some good memories, and enjoy your stay there. Be safe wherever you go, and don't worry too much. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. The easiest way to survive in New York is to have a friend who knows this city really well.

B. Once you are in New York, you would never want to leave it.

C. Before you move to any city, it is always best to know a little about the city.

D. To start with, you will need to make a budget.

E. You need to decide what kind of neighborhood you want.

F. Take a tour of the city and try to imagine yourself living there.

G. The experience of moving to New York depends on how the city treats you and what you make of the city. 

    How did you learn how to ride your bike? Someone probably gave you a few lessons and then you practiced a lot.{#blank#}1{#/blank#} No one is born to know how to study. You need to learn a few study skills and then practice them.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Do you have trouble paying attention in class? Are you sitting next to a loud person? Is it hard to see the board? Make sure you're sitting in a good seat that lets you pay attention. Tell your teacher or parents about any problems that are preventing you from paying attention and taking good notes.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}.Waiting until Thursday night to study for Friday's test will make a homework night no fun! It also makes it hard to do your best. We're all guilty of putting things off sometimes. One of the best ways to make sure that doesn't happen is to plan ahead.

    Break it up! When there's a lot to study, it can help to break things into chunks(大块). Let's say you have a test on 20 spelling words. Instead of thinking about all of the words at once, try breaking them down into a five-word chunks and working on one or two different chunks each night.

    Ask for help. You can't study effectively if you don't understand the material.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} You can check yourself by reading through your notes. Does it all make sense? If not, ask your teacher to go over it with you.

    Get a good night's sleep. So the test is tomorrow and you've followed your study plan—but suddenly you can't remember anything, not even 2+2! Don't worry. Your brain needs time to digest(消化) all the information you've given it. Try to get a good night's sleep.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. Plan ahead for tests and projects.

B. Study regularly instead of just the night before.

C. You can learn how to study in much the same way.

D. You'll be surprised by what comes back to you in the morning.

E. If you're studying math or science, do some practice problems.

F. Be sure to ask your teacher for help if you're confused about something.

G. Good studying starts in class.

    Identical twins are born when an egg divides into two, resulting in the birth of two children with identical genes. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Some believe, however, that there is also a close connection between twins in the way they think, not just in the way they look. Twins finish each other's sentences, and share the same tastes in clothes or music. Some have argued that identical twins have mysterious, even psychic, powers.

    Although many identical twins claim to know what the other is thinking, there is no evidence to suggest that this is because of special powers. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Most of us have met up with a brother or sister, or close friend, and immediately asked, “What's wrong?” because we have unconsciously recognized, in their facial expression, that they are upset in some way. Signs we would miss in a stranger's behavior are instantly obvious in the way those close to us act. It is hardly surprising that twins notice the way their brother or sister's facial expressions or body language gives away how they feel. Indeed, the closeness of their bond is likely to improve this ability over the years.

    The media is full of stories in which a twin senses her brother or sister to be in trouble. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Damien Croft developed a bad headache one evening and, concerned, felt the need to phone his brother to check if everything was OK. When there was no reply, he drove to his brother's home, only to find him unconscious, having had an epileptic fit (癫痫症) and fallen from a ladder while decorating. On the face of it, his sixth sense had saved the day. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Damien knew his brother was decorating, and knew that he was prone to epileptic fits. Subconsciously concerned, he had just imagined the worst-case situation. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. We all know such twins are often very similar in appearance.

B. The fact that something awful had happened was only a coincidence.

C. In contrast, there are many other stories which can be more easily explained.

D. In truth, of course, the events might also be explained in more ordinary terms.

E. Recent studies show the reasons of all those cases of mysterious happenings between identical twins.

F. In a recent, widely-reported case, for example, a young man survived a horrific fall thanks to a feeling his twin is supposed to have had.

G. A more believable explanation is that, like any pair of people who have grown up together, they are just good at understanding the thought processes behind what their twin does.

    Taking good notes is a time-saving skill that will help you to become a better student in several ways{#blank#}1{#/blank#}Second, your notes are excellent materials to refer to when you are studying for a test. Third, note-taking offers variety to your study time and helps you to hold your interest.

    You will want to take notes during classroom discussions and while reading a textbook or doing research for a report.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}Whenever or however you take notes, keep in mind that note-taking is a selective process.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}

The following methods may work best for you.

    Read the text quickly to find the main facts and ideas in it.

    Carefully read the text and watch for words that can show main points and supporting facts.

    Write your notes in your own words.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    Note any questions or ideas you may have about what was said or written.

As you take notes, you may want to use your own shorthand(速记). When you do, be sure that you understand your symbols(符号) and that you use them all the time. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A．Use words, not complete sentences.

B．There are three practical note-taking methods.

C．You must write your notes on separate paper.

D．Otherwise, you may not be able to read your notes later.

E. you will also want to develop your own method for taking notes.

F. That means you must first decide what is important enough to include in your notes.

G. First, the simple act of writing something down makes it easier for you to understand and remember it.

    Thanksgiving Day is special holiday in the United States and Canada. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Thanksgiving Day is really a harvest festival. This is why it is celebrated in late fall, after the crops are in. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} On December 4, 1619, the Pilgrims from England landed near what is now Charles City, Virginia. They knelt down and thanked God for their safe journey across the Atlantic.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} The Pilgrims landed at what is now Plymouth, Massachusetts, in 1620. They had a difficult time and the first winter was cruel. Many of the Pilgrims died. But the next year, they had a good harvest. So Governor Bradford declared a three-day feast (盛宴). {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Everyone brought food.

    In time, other colonies (殖民地) began to celebrate a day of thanksgiving. But it took years before there was a national Thanksgiving Day. During the Civil War, Sarah Josepha Hale persuaded Abraham Lincoln to do something about it. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Today, Americans celebrate this happy harvest festival on the fourth Thursday in November. Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving Day in much the same way as their American neighbours. But the Canadian thanks-giving Day falls on the second Monday in October.

A. But one of the first thanksgivings in America had nothing to do with a good harvest.

B. He declared the last Thursday of November 1863 as a day of thanksgiving.

C. The Pilgrims were those who celebrated the first Thanksgiving Day.

D. Families and friends gather to eat and give thanks for their blessing.

E. The Pilgrims invited Indian friends to join them for their special feast.

F. This is why he decided to make it a national holiday throughout the U.S.

G. The first New England Thanksgiving did celebrate a rich harvest.

Four Steps to Begin Your Path to Greatness

    Feeling stuck is quite common. Many times, we have thoughts and dreams of what we want in life.{#blank#}1{#/blank#} Our thinking pattern holds us back from going forward. The good news is, at any moment in time, we have the ability to start taking action toward creating the life we want. Here are four steps to get started.

    Celebrate Your Success.

    Write down all the successes you've already achieved and all the awesomeness that you are today.{#blank#}2{#/blank#} And once you're in that positive routine with your thoughts, it will lead you to make better choices and take better actions toward your greatness.

    Create Your True Vision.

    Many times we live based on others' expectations or we stay stuck in a particular place because it's our safety zone. Own your path. It can be hard to do, but allow yourself to get out of your head(or stop listening to what others want for you) and focus on your heart and what it's telling you.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    If you want to start going to the gym, going 5 days a week right away is extreme, and setting yourself up by biting more than you can chew typically doesn't result in success, but failure. Instead, start slow and go once or twice a week. After you do that for a while and get into a nice routine, up it to more days. Over time, you will build toward your goal by taking realistic, smaller steps to get there.

    Have the Right Support.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}Find the right support to cheer you on in the process. It could be a friend, a family member, or significant other who you trust. Whoever it may be, having someone on your journey will be just what you need to keep you on track and celebrate with you as you work toward the life you dream of.

A. Don't do it alone.

B. Be realistic about your goals.

C. Be kind to yourself and accept the moment.

D. Your failure can lead you to another success.

E. This practice will direct your thinking to a positive place.

F. Sadly, they only stay as thoughts and dreams inside of us.

G. Look within yourself deeply and decide what you want and what's true for you.