The art of growing dwarf trees, or "bonsai"（盆景） as their Japanese planters call them, is increasing in popularity in the United States. Growing bonsai can make a fascinating hobby for anyone who enjoys plants and creating beautiful effects with them.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}．

    In growing bonsai, in fact, one must be careful in choosing the type of tree, as the growing conditions are unusual.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}．Varieties of pines with small needles and hardwood trunks are especially suitable.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}This is necessary because the major growth of bonsai is kept confined(被限制) to the tree's trunk and leaves, not its root system-a process quite unlike what is done with other plants.

    Another thing the bonsai-grower must do is to trim （修整） the roots and branches of the tree periodically （定期地）. Unless this is done, the plants will not have the proper proportions(比例) and will look unnatural.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    The last thing one must do is to be careful to keep the tree well-watered. Because bonsai are grown in smaller-than-usual containers, they often need more water than ordinary houseplants do.

    As can be seen from the above, the art of bonsai-growing is one which requires a certain amount of time and effort.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}Imagine having such a tree in your living room and passing it down through several generations of your family. That is exactly what bonsai-growing is all about: establishing a tradition of beauty which lasts for years and years and is a symbol of the beauties of the natural world.

You Can Fly More Frequently

    When traveling, airfare can take up a large part of your travel budget. What if you could fly practically for free? If it were possible, then you would probably travel more, right?{#blank#}1{#/blank#} While it may seem like a lot of work to accumulate miles, it's pretty easy when you know how.

    Sign up for mileage (里程) programs. You can't gain miles if you don't sign up.{#blank#}2{#/blank#} Pick one or two airlines that you use most often and try to bring all your points into those programs by flying with them.

    Buy gifts and have dinner out. Most mileage programs have a business list where you can register several credit or debit cards and then earn miles for each purchase you make through their participating shops or meal you have at restaurant partners.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}so why not make it count toward future travel?

    Use your credit card. Look for a card that gives you rewards. There are a ton of credit card companies that offer mileage cards that give you miles for each dollar you spend. Use it for bills, groceries, gas and anything else you would normally use your bank account for and then pay it off at the end of the month.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    Rent a car. Whenever you rent a car, you have the choice to include your frequent flyer member number.{#blank#}5{#/blank#} but it can be more beneficial to pay less than a dollar a day to earn one or more miles per dollar spent on your rental.

A. Some will charge a fee

B. With frequent flyer programs, you can

C. You're probably doing these things anyway

D. It's an easy way to accumulate miles and can add up really fast

E. In fact, you can get a free plane ticket just focusing on certain ones

F. Join frequent flyer programs, so you can start accumulating those miles

G. There are plenty of ways to earn money just by doing things you're already doing

    The Healthy Habits Survey(调查)shows that only about one third of American seniors have correct habits. Here are some findings and expert advice.

    ⒈How many times did you brush your teeth yesterday?

    Finding: A full 33% of seniors brush their teeth only once a day.

    Step: Remove the 300 types of bacteria in your mouth each morning with a battery­operated toothbrush. Brush gently for 2 minutes, at least twice a day.

    ⒉How many times did you wash your hands or bathe yesterday?

    Finding: Seniors, on average, bathe fewer than 3 days a week. And nearly 30% wash their hands only 4 times a day—half of the number doctors recommend.

    Step: We touch our faces around 3,000 times a day—often inviting germs(病菌)to enter our mouth, nose, and eyes. Use toilet paper to avoid touching the door handle. And, most important, wash your hands often with hot running water and soap for 20 seconds.

    ⒊How often do you think about fighting germs?

    Finding: Seniors are not fighting germs as well as they should.

    Step: Be aware of germs. Do you know it is not your toilet but your kitchen sponge (海绵) that can carry more germs than anything else? To kill these germs, keep your sponge in the microwave for 10 seconds.

    In 1812, the year Charles Dickens was born, there were 66 novels published in Britain. People had been writing novels for a century—most experts date the first novel to Robinson Crusoe in 1719—but nobody wanted to do it professionally. The steam-powered printing press was still in its early stages; the literacy（识字） rate in England was under 50%. Many works of fiction appeared without the names of the authors, often with something like “By a lady.”Novels, for the most part, were looked upon as silly, immoral, or just plain bad.

    In 1870, when Dickens died, the world mourned him as its first professional writer and publisher, famous and beloved, who had led an explosion in both the publication of novels and their readership and whose characters — from Oliver Twist to Tiny Tim— were held up as moral touchstones. Today Dickens' greatness is unchallenged. Removing him from the pantheon（名人堂） of English literature would make about as much sense as the Louvre selling off the Mona Lisa.

    How did Dickens get to the top? For all the feelings readers attach to stories, literature is a numbers game, and the test of time is extremely difficult to pass. Some 60,000 novels were published during the Victorian age, from 1837 to1901; today a casual reader might be able to name a half-dozen of them. It's partly true that Dickens' style of writing attracted audiences from all walks of life. It's partly that his writings rode a wave of social, political and scientific progress. But it's also that he rewrote the culture of literature and put himself at the center. No one will ever know what mix of talent, ambition, energy and luck made Dickens such a singular writer. But as the 200th anniversary of his birth approaches, it is possible — and important for our own culture—to understand how he made himself a lasting one.

What is niksen? In Dutch, "niksen" literally means "to do nothing". Niksen used to have negative associations of laziness.{#blank#}1{#/blank#} The world today is more connected and faster. Niksen is allowing ourselves to take time out and consciously switch off, without feeling guilty.

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It enables you to prioritise (优先) yourself and what you need. Often we think we're busy, but who can't take a half-hour break? Niksen brings the same benefits as mindfulness in terms of mental health, sleep, creativity and enhanced focus. It helps the body and brain recover.

Describe some easy ways people can embrace doing nothing?

It might feel awkward at first. Do a relaxation exercise and let your mind wander. There's a Dutch verb, uitwaaien, to "go out in the wind".{#blank#}3{#/blank#} Go out and watch clouds — lie on your back and make up stories. People-watch. Indoors, choose a nice space and make it your own — make it comfortable, add some flowers, sit by the window and watch the day go by.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}

How can people ensure that niksen becomes a regular and fulfilling part of their life?

It should be a mindset. Schedule time and give yourself permission to do nothing. Start small — five minutes, ten, half an hour a day, up to a few hours at the weekend. Repeat to yourself, "It's a good thing to do nothing," and practise saying, "no, another time," when you're busy and somebody asks for your help.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. It refreshes the mind.

B. How can niksen help people?

C. How did you become an expert in it?

D. Do one thing a day for the purpose of it.

E. I write about mindfulness and psychology.

F. But it's been reinterpreted as a positive practice.

G. Single-focus crafts such as knitting or sewing can be a helpful first step.

We know that choosing a college major can be stressful.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}! Here's what you need to know about college majors before you commit.

Career prep

Choose a major because it will prepare you for a specific career path or advanced study. Maybe you already know that you want to be a nurse, a physical therapist, or a web developer.

{#blank#}2{#/blank#}. Make sure you're ready for the coursework required for the career of your dreams.

Earning potential

Future earning potential is worth considering. After all, college is such a big investment. The majors that lead to the highest salaries include just about any type of engineering, mathematics, computer science, and economics. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}. That six figure salary may not be worth it if you're not happy at the office.

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Some students choose a major simply because they love the subject matter. If your love is philosophy, don't write it off just because you're not sure about what the job market holds for philosophers. Many liberal arts majors provide students with critical thinking skills and writing abilities that are highly valued by employers.

Explore your interests

If you truly have no idea what you want to study, that's okay.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}. That gives you four semesters to play the field. Make the most of any required general education courses—choose ones that interest you. Exploring your interests will help you find your best fit major—and maybe even your ideal career.

A. Many schools don't require students to declare a major until the second year

B. The most exciting aspects of college life is that it fosters new passions

C. A double major provides you with an understanding of two academic fields

D. However, keep your quality of life in mind, too

E. But have no fear

F. Before you decide, check out the curricula

G. Subjects you love