Ways to protect eyes from screens

    Too much screen time may cause serious eye strain(眼疲劳) and even a sharp decline of eyesight. That's a big problem a lot of people are faced with nowadays, especially those who work on a computer. The following tips may be helpful.

Get regular eye tests.

    Experts recommend having a comprehensive eye exam every year to detect (探测) problems before they develop. During this test, you should tell the doctor how often you use your phone and your computer. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}Tell your doctor about it, and your eyes can be tested more accurately at that distance.

Give your eyes space

     {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Studies on computer-related eye strain suggest that screens should be no closer than 40cm from your face. If this makes it hard for you to read, consider increasing the size of the text rather than moving the screen closer.

Take breaks

    This may not always be practical if you're quite busy, but it's important not to stare directly at a screen for too long.  {#blank#}3{#/blank#} While surveys have shown that many office workers take no more than half an hour a day away from their computer, it's recommended that you take a 15-minute break after every two hours spent at your screen.

     {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    Staring at a screen continuously for hours on end may make it difficult for you to focus. To avoid this, many eye experts recommend the “20-20-20 rule” --looking away from your phone/computer screen every 20 minutes and focusing on an object at least 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds. The science behind his trick is that looking at objects at a distance relaxes the focusing muscle in the eye.  {#blank#}5{#/blank#}.

Healthy eating begins with learning how to eat smart—it's not just what you eat, but how you eat. Your food choices can reduce your risk of illnesses such as heart disease, cancer, as well as defend against bad mood. Moreover, learning the habits of healthy eating can increase your energy, sharpen your memory and stabilize(稳定)your mind.

    Healthy eating is about more than the food on your plate.{#blank#}1{#/blank#} Healthy eating habits can be learned and it is important to slow down and think about the food as nourishment rather than just something to gulp down between meetings or on the way to your school.

    Eat with others whenever possible.

Eating with other people has a lot of benefit—particularly for children—and allows you to follow healthy eating habits.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    Take time to chew your food and enjoy mealtimes.

    Chew your food slowly and taste every bite. We always tend to rush through our meals, forgetting to taste and feel the food in our mouth. Reconnect with the joy of eating.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    Ask yourself if you are really hungry, or have a glass of water to see if you are thirsty instead of hungry. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}It actually takes a few minutes for your brain to tell your body that it has had enough food, so eat slowly.

    Eat breakfast and smaller meals throughout the day.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}And eating small, healthy meals throughout the day(rather than the standard three large meals)keeps your energy up and your metabolism(新陈代谢)going.

A. It is also about how you think about the food.

B. Eating in front of the TV or computer often leads to mindless overeating.

C. Listen to your body.

D. During a meal, stop eating before you feel full.

E. A healthy breakfast can start your metabolism,

F. It is about where you eat your food.

G. Drink more water when you are hungry.

    Asthma(哮喘) is a long-lasting breathing disease that affects millions of Americans, many of whom are children. People who get asthma will suffer from lack of breath, difficulty in breathing or coughing--which are caused by the tightening of the muscles in airways. Untreated asthma can lead to poor lung function and death, but asthma can also be effectively controlled with proper treatments.

    Research is discovering genes that contribute to the development of asthma. This development has pointed researchers to the role of indoor and outdoor pollution as environmental factors that contribute to the increased occurrence of asthma.

    The Indoor Pollution

    Indoor pollution has increased with the developments in building materials and in heating and air conditioning systems. In addition to poisonous gases that come from paint, other materials like dust and perfumes used in household products such as washing powder are recycled continuously through the house, winter and summer.

    Unlike the days before central heating or before whole-house air conditioning, these materials and chemicals cannot get out of modern homes. Most often, they cause breathing problems in the members of the family with the least-developed autoimmune(自身免疫的) systems. Proper venting (通风) and use of environmentally-friendly building materials and carpeting can help reduce the presence of these chemicals.

    The Out door pollution

    Researchers have also established outdoor pollution's role as a probable cause of asthma. Asthma has been proven to result from some fuel products. Smog and the small matters carried by it have been recognized as a factor which leads to asthma since the 19th century when London saw more and more diseases in the industrial population. Industrial pollutants and other chemicals which are produced in water treatment and open treated water like that found in the swimming pools also contribute to increased cases of asthma as well as other illnesses.

    Those most affected by the increase of industrial and environmental pollution are children. Although much has been done to control the levels of pollution in the US, there still remains much to do as it is a worldwide phenomenon. Until an international effort can be made to limit carbon emissions, the occurrence of environmental asthma will probably continue to increase.

每个空格只填一个单词。

    Do pretty school uniforms lead to early romance?

    A technical secondary school in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu province, planned to order Korean-style school uniforms for students, but parents opposed the move, believing that the new uniforms looked too good and would encourage early romances among the students, the Jinling Evening Paper reported Monday.

    Parents

    "My daughter was so excited about the Korean-style uniform, saying it's her dream to wear mini-skirt to school every day," a mom surnamed Cheng complained. "My daughter also called her classmates to talk about how handsome the boys looked in the uniform!"

    Cheng looked on the Internet and found that most Korean schoolboy uniforms are similar to western suits. "They are so handsome! My daughter is a fan of Korean fashion, that's why she is crazy about the uniform!" Cheng said. "If the students wear such beautiful uniforms, how can they study well? I prefer the sports wear which makes me think of health and positive thinking."

    School

    "The plan to change the current school uniform from sports wear has been cancelled," an employee of the school told the Jinling Evening Paper.

    "The students dislike the present uniform, so the school took advice from the students last November, knowing that most of students prefer Korean-or Japanese-style school uniforms. We know cities like Shanghai and Guangzhou have changed their sports wear school uniforms to more fashionable uniforms," an employee surnamed Lin said.

    "However, we had to stop the plan because many parents are strongly against it. Some parents think it's just a way for the school to make money, and others think the new uniforms will take students' attention away from their studies," Lin said.

    When asked about the possibility of problems with early romance between students because of the more fashionable uniforms, Lin said he hadn't considered it. He, however, agreed that the Korean-style uniform makes the students more charming.

    Students

    The students are very disappointed about the school's final decision. They think the sports wear uniforms make them look androgynous (难分性别).

    They said the Korean-style uniform has many advantages such as raising interest in class and lifting confidence. It is also considered to be a good way to develop their sense of pride for the school and help then create good temperaments(气质).

    As for concerns about romance, the students believe that love is love and bears no relationship to the uniform.

    Education department

    "We don't have a unified (统一的) standard for school uniforms. The schools can choose their own styles. Either sports wear or uniforms are ok," an official from the Nanjing Bureau of Education said.

    The art of academic writing is not easy to master. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Academic writing is the skilful exposition and explanation of an argument, which the writer has carefully researched and developed over a sustained period of time. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} But the joy of reading and sharing with others, one's succinctly composed piece of argument, is incomparable.

    Before beginning to write, the writer must ask himself a few questions – Why am I writing? What is it that I intend to share with others? What purpose will my writing serve? Have I read enough about the topic or theme about which I am going to write? {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Because academic writing is a serious activity – it makes one part of a shared community of readers and writers who wish to disseminate and learn from well-argued pieces of writing.

    The structure of an argumentative essay should take the form of – Introduction (which should be around ten percent of the entire essay), Body (it should constitute eighty percent of the piece) and the Conclusion (again, ten per cent of the essay). {#blank#}4{#/blank#} The body should include cogent and coherently linked paragraphs and the conclusion should re-state the argument and offer a substantial ending to the piece.

A. These questions may well get clearer and clearer during the process of academic writing.

B. The introduction should function as the hook which draws the reader in and holds his attention.

C. It is a formal skill, which requires precision and accuracy, and is perfected by continuous and dedicated practice.

D. If one is hesitant to answer even one of the aforementioned questions, one had better not write at all!

E. It may take one a considerable period of time to know the skills of academic writing, even long after his/her college graduation.

F. It is a time-consuming activity and demands patience and perseverance.