Some people make you feel comfortable when they are around. You spend an hour with them and feel you are already close friends. They are always good talkers. Here are several skills that good talkers have in common. If you follow the skills, they'll help you put people at their ease, and make friends with them quickly. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    First of all, good talkers ask questions. Almost anyone, no matter how shy he is, will answer a question. One well-known businesswoman says，“At business lunches, I always ask people what they did that morning. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}” From there you can move on to other matters—sometimes to really personal questions. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    Second, once good talkers have asked questions, they listen to the answers. Your questions should have a point and help to tell what sort of person you are talking to. And to find out, you really have to listen carefully. Real listening at least means some things. If someone sticks to one topic, you can take it as a fact that he's really interested in it. Real listening also means not just listening to words, but to tones of voice. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    Finally, good talkers know well how to “say goodbye”. If you're saying goodbye, you may give him a firm handshake and say, “I've really enjoyed meeting you.” {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Let people know what you feel, and they may walk away, happy and satisfied.

A. It's polite to listen to others with a smile.

B. You'd better change the subject if the voice sounds dull.

C. Don't be afraid to say so if you want to see that person again.

D. Common as the question is, it will get things going.

E. You can become a popular person.

F. And how he answers will let you know how far you can go.

G. These people have something in common.

Five Steps to Better Handwriting

    Some kids love handwriting, but others hate when it's time to put their pen to paper. Maybe they are worried about their handwriting. Are you one of them? {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Here are five steps that really work!

    Get a great grasp

    Try this—hold your pencil at the top and try to write your name. Pretty hard？But when you hold your pencil the correct way, writing is much easier. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Hold it in place with your thumb, and your index(食指) and middle fingers.

    Let the lines be your guide

    Lined paper is your friend！Those lines can help you create letters that are the right size and proportion(均衡). {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Also be sure to fill up the lined space completely. Those capital letters should be from the bottom line to the top one.

    Slow down

    If your writing is hard to read, try slowing down a little. If you rush, it's hard to control where you stop and start your letters.

    Lower the pressure

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} That makes it harder to make the smooth lines. Try easing up and don't hold the pencil too tightly.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    Lots of games require you to write or draw pictures. So even though it's not schoolwork, you're still using the skills you need to control your pen better.

A. Play games.

B. Ask for more advice.

C. So "a" should be half the height of a capital "A".

D. You've been writing since you were a little kid.

E. Some kids press down really hard when they write.

F. The good news is that just about everyone can improve their handwriting.

G. The best way to hold a pen or pencil is to let it rest next to the base of your thumb.

Dear Seth,

    You're only three years old, and at this point in your life you can't read, much less understand what I'm going to try to tell you in this letter. But someday, when you're ready, I hope you will find some wisdom and value in what I share with you.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    There will be people in your life who won't be very nice .They'll tease you or try to hurt you because you're different.

    There's not much you can do except learn to deal with them, and learn to choose friends who are kind to you and who make you feel good about yourself. When you find friends like this, treasure them, spend time with them and love them.

    Be open to life anyway

    Yes, you'll find cruelty and suffering in your journey through life, but don't let that close you to new things.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}Be open to new things, new experiences, new people.

    Life isn't a competition

    You will meet many people who will try to do better than you, in school, in college, at work. To them, life is a competition.

    But here's the secret: life isn't a competition.{#blank#}3{#/blank#} Learn to enjoy the journey and make it a journey of happiness, of constant learning, of continual improvement, of love.

    Love should be your rule

    If there's a single word you should live your life by, it should be this: love.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    Love not only your loved ones, but your neighbors, your co-workers, strangers, your brothers and sisters in humanity.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}You are starting out on an unknown, tiring, scary, but eventually great journey, and always remember I will be there for you when I can.

Love,

Your Dad

A. It's a journey.

B. Life is full of love.

C. Life can be cruel.

D. It might sound corny(老掉牙的), but there's no better rule in life.

E. Finally, know that I love you and always will.

F. Last, think that you are a wonderful human being.

G. Don't step backwards from life; don't hide yourself.

    Reasons Why Physical Education is Important in School

    Are you looking for information about the importance of physical education in schools and why it should be emphasized? Do you want a healthy active lifestyle for your kids? Then this article can help you convince your kids that exercising and participation especially in school PE classes are important.

    It's a link to good health.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#} It's only in physical education classrooms that students learn the value of taking care of themselves through proper healthy eating and regular exercise.

    It's preventive measure against diseases.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Without any forms of diet management and control with the numerous processed foods students intake every day, a student's health can easily be at risk of many diseases. Physical education in schools is a preventive measure to teach students the value of regular exercise.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    Physical health allows students to function even better in classrooms. A good cardiovascular(心血管的) system developing from regular exercise promotes excellent blood and oxygen circulation. This means more nutrients circulate throughout the body which includes the brain. This circulation produces longer attention time during classes allowing longer concentration and better absorption.

    It builds self-esteem

    Students who are active in physical activities like basketball, volleyball and running are more confident with themselves according to most social school studies. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}In school, the physical education program introduces these sport activities to students allowing them to make choices of which sport areas they want to get involved in.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    Most physical education programs are holistic. The program allows students to interact together to a common goal, that is, to win and excel physically. It not only brings out the competitive sides of students working with both body and mind but also promotes sportsmanship.

    It promotes a physically active lifestyle.

    The purpose of physical education is to instill（逐渐灌输） in students, at an early age, the value of self-preservation and choosing a lifestyle that is good for both the mind and body.

A. Physical education plays a vital role in students' development and growth.

B. It's a program for muscle strength and fitness.

C. It's probably because of the dedication made to a sport that brings out the best in          students.

D. It develops cooperation, teamwork and sportsmanship.

E. The value of physical fitness cannot be overstated too much.

F. It promotes academic learning.

G. Many doctors today agree that obesity is a serious health risk.

    There are many expressions with the word “dog”.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#} They take their dogs for walks, give them goof food and medical care. However, dogs without owners to care for them lead a different kind of life. The expression, lead a dog's life, describes a person who has an unhappy existence.

    When we say we live in a dog-eat-dog world,{#blank#}2{#/blank#}A person has to work hard like a dog to be successful. Such hard work can make people dog-tired. And, the situation would be even worse if they became sick as a dog.

    Still, people say every dog has its day. This means that every person enjoys a successful period during his or her life.{#blank#}3{#/blank#} Yet, some people say that you can never teach an old dog new tricks. They believe that older people do not like to learn new skills and will not change the way they do things.

    Some people are compared to dogs in bad ways. People who are unkind or uncaring can be described as junkyard dogs living in places where people throw away things they do not want. Junkyard dogs are often used to guard this property. They bark or attack people who try to enter the property. However, sometimes a person who appears to be mean and threatening is really not so bad. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    Dog expressions are also used to describe the weather. The dog days of summer are the hottest days of the year. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} But we do not want it to rain cats and dogs.

A. We could say his bark is worse than his bite.

B. That means many people are competing for the same things, like good jobs.

C. But there are many difficulties on the road to success.

D. People love dogs and treat them well.

E. To be successful, people often have to learn new skills.

F. Dogs are loyal to people.

G. A rainstorm may cool the weather.

Five steps to better handwriting

Some kids love handwriting, but others hate when it's time to put their pen to paper. Maybe they are worried about their handwriting. Are you one of them? {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Here are five steps that really work!

Get a great grasp

Try this — hold your pencil at the top and try to write your name. Pretty hard? But when you hold your pencil the correct way, writing is much easier. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Hold it in place with your thumb, and your index (食指) and middle fingers.

Let the lines be your guide

Lined paper is your friend! Those lines can help you create letters that are the right size and proportion (均衡). {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Also be sure to fill up the lined space completely. Those capital letters should be from the bottom line to the top one.

Slow down

If your writing is hard to read, try slowing down a little. If you rush, it's hard to control where you stop and start your letters.

Lower the pressure

{#blank#}4{#/blank#} That makes it harder to make the smooth lines. Try easing up and don't hold the pencil too tightly.

{#blank#}5{#/blank#}

Lots of games require you to write or draw pictures. So even though it's not schoolwork, you're still using the skills you need to control your pen better.

A. Play games

B. Ask for more advice

C. So "a" should be half the height of a capital "A".

D. You've been writing since you were a little kid.

E. Some kids press down really hard when they write.

F. The good news is that just about everyone can improve their handwriting.

G. The best way to hold a pen or pencil is to let it rest next to the base of your thumb.