Certain things confident people simply don't do.

They don't make excuses.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#}That's why you won't hear them blaming traffic for making them late. They don't make excuses, because they believe they're in control of their own lives.

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    Confident people don't give up the first time something goes wrong. They will figure out why it went wrong and how they can prevent it the next time.

They won't wait for permission to act.

    Confident people don't need somebody to tell them what to do or when to do it. Whether it's running a meeting or going the extra mile to solve a customer's problem, it doesn't even occur to them to wait for somebody else to take care of it. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

They don't need constant praise.

    Have you ever been around somebody who constantly needs to hear how great he or she is? {#blank#}4{#/blank#} . They don't think that their success is dependent on other people's approval, and they understand that no matter how well they perform, there's always criticism.

They won't put things off.

    Why do people postpone(拖延)? Sometimes it's simply because they're lazy. A lot of times, though, it's because they're afraid of change, failure, or maybe even success. Confident people don't sit around waiting for the right time. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}. If they think it's not the right time, they make it the right time.

A. They don't quit.

B. They won't lose heart

C. Confident people don't do that.

D. They are not afraid of failure at all.

E. They see what needs to be done, and they do it.

F. They know that today is the only time that matters.

G. Confident people believe that they can make things happen.

    Wouldn't it be wonderful to be able to afford all of that fancy equipment used in the gyms{#blank#}1{#/blank#} Now here are some effective exercises that you can do at home, without the need for any equipment.

    Jumping Jacks (开合跳)—These are always fun, as they bring back memories of being a kid.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}Well, surprise- they are also great aerobic exercise, and good for warming up, too.

    Pushups—While they can be hard to do, you can find easier ways to do them. You don't need to pretend you're“Rocky”, and do them with one hand; just do what works for you.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}Or, do them standing up against a wall. You will be building up arm strength and working out muscles(肌肉) in your chest area.

Light weight lifting—No, you don't need to go out and buy expensive weights for this! Just use whatever you can find in your house. Start out with something lighter, such as a can of peas.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    Step exercises—Using the steps in your home, you can do repetitions which will strengthen your leg muscles. (Just remember to be careful!)

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}You needn't join a gym, paying a large amount in membership fees each month. You don't even need the expensive equipment. Use what you have in your house, and work out in the comfort of your home. You will be more likely to keep up with the exercise when you're comfortable, so just get up and start exercising!

A. Now you have no excuses!

B. Getting some exercise is important.

C. And work yourself up to heavier items little by little.

D. Who has not done jumping jacks for fun as a child?

E. Nice as it sounds, it just isn't an option for most people.

F. Do them on your knees, instead of keeping your legs straight.

G. To make these exercises even more fun, you can watch TV while doing them.

    Teenagers who spend hours in front of the television may have a poorer diet as young adults.

    A study, which included nearly 1,400 high school students, found those who watched TV for five hours or more per day had less healthy diets than peers(同龄人）five years later. Why does this happen? Should the parents take any measures?

    On the one hand, people who spend a lot of time in front of the TV, especially teenagers, may snack more, and that may affect their long-term diet quality.

    On the other hand, TV ads for fast food, sweets and snacks tempt teenagers to eat more of those foods. And TV time might also replace exercise time for some kids.

Lead researcher Dr. Daheia J. Barr-Anderson, of the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, told Reuters Health a clear correlation between TV time during high school and diet quality in young adulthood. While the heaviest TV viewers were eating the most junk food , those who'd watched less than two hours per day had the highest intake(吸收)of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and high-calcium food. In her opinion, parents should limit and monitor TV viewing.

    As far as I am concerned, children should watch no more than two hours of television per day. And parents should set a good example by eating right, being physically active and curbing their own TV time.

    Even accomplished public speakers worry about whether or not their presentation is effective. Fortunately, improving your effectiveness as a public speaker is very simple! Here are some ways.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#}. This includes the expected size of the audience, as well as their age and educational background. It's also important to know their level of knowledge about the topic you're presenting. Finally, consider how the audience view you and what they will likely expect to gain from your presentation.

    Determine the appropriate tone(语调) for your speech. You can think about the tone of your speech as the feeling of the speech. It will be determined by the audience, place, topic and purpose of your speech. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}， as you'll want to use a tone that's natural for you.

    Conduct research if necessary. If you're already an expert on your topic, then you may be able to write your speech from memory or from your own notes. However, it's important to do research if there are any gaps(空白) in your knowledge. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}. Also, audience members may appreciate statistics and facts that support your points.

    Outline your speech if desired. Many people find that outlining helps them organize their thoughts and create a good speech. First, write your purpose at the top of the page. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}. Finally, write the conclusion that you want the audience to draw.

    Add anecdotes or jokes. Although the audience want to hear your speech, people lose attention quickly. Stories, particularly personal ones, and jokes help hold their attention and make your speech more enjoyable. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}. Just be sure not to say anything inappropriate.

A. Know your audience

B. Make friends with your audience

C. Otherwise, there might be some weaknesses

D. You'll also want to consider your character

E. Then, write out your main supporting points

F. Additionally, they help people be related to you

G. The audience may notice those gaps and ask questions

    HSC, mid-terms, finals, no matter how you describe them, exams have something in common—including how to study well. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Plan a study timetable

    Make sure you will cover your material in time with a realistic study timetable. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}. With a plan in place, you'll be less likely to put off your work as knowing how you will use your time will also mean you make best use of it.

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    Give yourself the best environment by choosing somewhere with enough light, a comfortable chair, and little to no distractions. Sit down with all that you need — and only the things you'll need — like any books, notes or pens, as well as some water and healthy snacks on hand. Also ask what you don't need. A rule of thumb is if it doesn't help you study, it shouldn't be on your desk. It may look so simple but is really effective to help you focus on your study.

    Keep healthy: sleep, eat and move

    When exams come around somehow there never seems enough time for the basic things like sleep and exercise. Taking care of your health and wellbeing will really help you study at your best by improving your memory, mood and energy levels, and keeping those stress levels down. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}. Eating three meals and sticking to healthy snacks throughout the day will give you the energy you need to focus. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} A good aim is 20-30 minutes of exercise but even a walk nearby during study breaks will do you good!

Plants, and the insects which rely on them, are the living foundations of our planet. But these foundations are under stress because we have a tendency to replace fields and forests with decorative trees and shrubs imported from around the world. Adding to the problem, our obsession (痴迷) with perfection leads us to use a lot of pesticides (杀虫剂).

These actions are part of the reason global biodiversity is crashing. There are over three billion fewer wild birds in North America than there were in 1970. Recent research shows that insect numbers, even in nature reserves, have fallen, and 40 percent of all insect species may be extinct within a few decades. This is discouraging news; however, there are actions we can take to help bring at least some species back.

The first step is to redefine our concept of "garden" to include more than just plants. We need to intentionally share our space, and not just with the birds, bees and butterflies that visit our flowers, but also with the little insects that may eat a part (very rarely all) of our plants. Therefore, we must limit pesticide use. It's crucial to support nature's recovery, and it's much better for everyone: no doctor has ever recommended long-term exposure to pesticides.

Many drought-tolerant plants brought in from across the planet are being passed off as ecofriendly. However, mostly they're not. Yes, you're saving water, but these foreign plants can become disasters when they escape our yards. Helping the environment can be about more than saving water. Even in drier areas, like the American West, the selection of attractive native plants to choose from is vast. If dry is your style, there are native wildflowers, flowering bushes and trees that allow you to save water and nature.

Xeriscapes (节水型园艺) leave many gardeners thirsting for green, and there's an important alternative that has been largely ignored. For those disenchanted with dry landscaping, using underappreciated and water-loving native plants to make your garden a real-life oasis (绿洲) could be lifesaving to wildlife. In nature, this unsung group of native plants is limited to riparian zones, the narrow belts of green along water bodies, but if consumers demand them, nurseries will increasingly carry these riparian species, and the presence of such plants in the garden will provide for many animals including not just butterflies and their relatives but also colorful birds.

The ideal garden would offer a combination of drought-tolerant native plants and a few species that need a little more water, providing options for little guests and the bigger ones that will come to eat them. As more creatures stop by to share our yards, we will be making nature, and us all, a little healthier.