Things I Wish I'd Known in High School

    Sometimes high school seems like a necessary evil. Now at the end of my college journey, I know that there are still more things I could have done to make my high school experience more beneficial.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#}Take a class that scares you during high school. The experience will definitely prepare you for future academic challenges.

    Don't worry about your grades too much. Getting a B is not the end of the world.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}I started college with all A's since seventh grade, and it was hard to deal with not being able to repeat that. I stayed away from taking some harder courses I might have done well in because I was afraid of doing poorly. Now, I can fully accept that if I try my best in at least one harder class and get a B+, that is still something to be proud of.

    Find your own de-stressing routine. Another essential skill to begin building in high school is how to manage work and stress. Maybe you deal with stress by going for a run, or watching a silly movie. Talk with a friend for a while or play with your dog.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    Spend your summers wisely. Don't take on a full-time job the first summer you decide to work.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}Do find something to do that will make the ten weeks worthwhile. Look for programs that take you to interesting places, or a job that will give you insight into something you might be interested in.

    Finally, remember to have fun. Your life does not depend on high school.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}You will have plenty of time to work hard in college and beyond. Be prepared, but don't stress out too much about it. If you can make your high school experience fun, you will have no problem doing the same for your life in college and beyond.

A. In fact, it's kind of a good thing.

B. Take full advantage of your brain.

C. You do have to be active about making friends.

D. Do your best, but leave time for fun with friends.

E. Forty hours a week will be a huge shock and you'll have plenty of time for that in the future.

F. Find out what relaxes you, and you will feel less stressed.

G. They will be improved if you make great efforts.

Five Simple Ways to Increase Your Intelligence

    Your IQ, which stands for Intelligence Quotient, is a scientific assessment(评估)of your intelligence. While there are limits based on native intelligence levels, recent studies have shown that it's possible to increase your intelligence. Your brain needs exercise just like a muscle. If you use it often and in the right ways, you will become a more skilled thinker and increase your ability to focus. Here are five simple techniques to exercise your brain.

    Minimize(使减少到最低程度)television watching.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}When you feel like relaxing, try reading a book instead. If you're too tired, listen to some music. When you're with your friends or family, turn your television off and have a conversation.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}Time spent exercising always leads to greater learning because it improves productivity during the time afterwards. Using your body clears your head and creates a wave of energy.

    Read Challenging Books. If you want to improve your thinking and writing ability, you should read books that make you focus.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}Besides, it will make you think in more precise, elegant English.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}Nothing makes it harder to concentrate than lack of sleep. You'll be most rejuvenated(恢复活力的)if you go to bed early and don't sleep more than 8 hours.

    Take time to reflect. Spending some time alone in reflection gives you a chance to organize your thoughts and prioritize(优先处理)your responsibilities.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}.

A. Early to Bed, Early to Rise.

B. Take some time to exercise

C. Think of new ways to do old things

D. Reading a classic novel can change your view of the world

E. Watching television doesn't use your mental ability or allow it to recharge

F. Afterwards, you'll have a better understanding of what's important and what isn't.

G. Just as sitting at your desk all day is bad for your physical self, sitting in the same mental seat all the time is bad for your bran.

    Gratitude(感恩)is a social feeling．Many people see it as relationship—strengthening because it requires us to see how we've been supported and recognized by other people．

    First，it's belief of goodness．We are convinced that there are good things in the world，gifts and benefits we've received．The second part of gratitude is figuring out where that goodness comes from{#blank#}1{#/blank#} It doesn't come from anything we necessarily did ourselves．Instead，we acknowledge that other people gave us many gifts to help us achieve the goodness in our lives{#blank#}2{#/blank#}Of course，there are various important reasons．Here are some of them．

    Gratitude allows us to celebrate the present{#blank#}3{#/blank#}We notice the positives more，and that enlarge the pleasures you get from life．Instead of adapting to goodness，we celebrate goodness．

    Gratitude blocks negative feelings．You cannot feel envious and grateful at the same time{#blank#}4{#/blank#} If you're grateful，you can't hate someone for having something that you don't．Those are very different ways of connecting to the world，and sure enough，research has suggested that people who have high levels of gratitude have low levels of negative feelings．

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}That's because when you're grateful，you have the sense that someone else has provided for your happiness．You notice a network of relationships of people think it's worthwhile to help you get to where you are right now．Realizing someone has seen the value in you transforms the way you see yourself．

A．They're contradictory feelings．

B．It strengthens positive feelings．

C．Gratitude heightens your sense of self-worth．

D．Most of the time，it makes you feel confused．

E．Gratitude allows us to participate more in life．

F．So why gratitude has such effects on people's lives?

G．We recognize the sources of it as being outside of ourselves．

    Most of us will admit that on occasions we can be bad－tempered. This can be for a number of reasons.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#}As the body and mind are tired, it seems to take us less time to become angry just because of something that is of little importance. Young children are usually the cause of tiredness and it is highly likely that parents allow themselves to release(释放) their exhaustion directly at the children. Children are very good at remembering these instances and it will affect them for a long time.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    Diet and lifestyle can be key factors in causing a bad temper. Some people don't realize that their diet can directly affect their moods. Processed food and items that contain a lot of sugars, especially those that aren't natural sugars, can cause a rise in blood sugar. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}Similarly, lifestyle choices can encourage bad tempers and poor moods, especially if drug and alcohol are used too frequently.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    If you have noticed that you are becoming increasingly bad－tempered, it is important that you take steps to try and regain control. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}After you find the cause, try and make positive changes to prevent this from occurring in the future.

A. Find your ways to release your anger.

B. Check what it is that causes the bad mood.

C. Tiredness is often the most common reason.

D. Managing your anger is good for your health.

E. Therefore, it is important to have more patience when with children.

F. This rise can have a very negative effect on moods and mental performance.

G. So it is important to keep away from these temptations(诱惑) for your own mental state.

    Getting your children to study can be a little like getting them to eat their vegetables.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Make a study time and have it at the same time every day. This will help your kids to learn to schedule their day and will give them a sense of control over how they spend their time.

    Allow them to study in blocks of time, such as for half an hour with a five­minute break in the middle. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Ideal(理想的) study times are after dinner or right after school before dinner.

    Never allow your children to study in front of the television, as that will encourage passive activity. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    You'll also need to help your kids find the right place to study. After you've set up a good study time for little learners, set up a good place where they can get those creative juices flowing.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Make sure there is a table or a desk and a comfortable chair.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} This includes helping them out with their homework sometimes and being there for them with the answers to any questions. The input you give your children during study periods will help form a bond and help make studying enjoyable.

A. Pick a place where your children can study properly.

B. Hold them to the schedule they create for themselves.

C. Finally, spend time with your kids when they're studying.

D. Keep the atmosphere light and offer lots of encouragement, too.

E. Instead, use TV as a treat or a reward when the homework is completed.

F. Try to stop this bad habit by offering some sort of reward.

G. One of the best ways to form good study habits for your kids is to design a schedule that they keep to.

5 Ways to deal with anxiety

    Everyone has feelings of anxiety, nervousness, tension, and stress from time to time. Here are 5 ways to help manage them:

    Become a relaxation expert.

    We all think we know how to relax. But chilling out in front of the TV or computer isn't true relaxation. (Depending on what you're watching or doing, it could even make you more tense.) The same is true for alcohol, drugs, or tobacco. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}. What the body really needs is daily practice of a relaxation technique — like deep breathing, tai chi, or yoga — that has a physical effect on the mind. For example, deep breathing helps to relax a major nerve that runs from the diaphragm to the brain, sending a message to the entire body to let go and loosen up.

    Get enough sleep, and nourishment.

    Want your mind and body to feel peaceful and strong enough to handle life's ups and downs?

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}. Eat well: Choose fruit, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains for long-term energy (instead of the short bursts that come from too much sugar or caffeine).

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}.

    Spend time with friends or family. Organized activities are great, but just hanging out works too. Doing things with those we feel close to deepens our bonds, allowing us to feel supported and secure. And the fun and sharing that go with it allow us to feel happier and less upset about things. If you feel worried or nervous about something, talking about it with someone who listens and cares can help you feel more understood and better able to cope. You'll be reminded that everyone has these feelings sometimes. You're not alone.

    Get close to nature.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}. (Choose somewhere you feel safe so you can relax and enjoy your surroundings.) Walking, hiking, trail biking, or snowshoeing offer the additional benefit of exercise. Invite a friend or two — or a family member — along and enjoy feeling connected to people as well.

    Pay attention to the good things.

    A great way to keep our minds off the worry track is to focus our thoughts on things that are good, beautiful, and positive. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}. Allow yourself to dream, wish, and imagine the best that could happen.

A. Connect with others.

B. Appreciate the small, everyday blessings.

C. There are many safe, drug-free remedies (补救措施) for anxiety

D. They may seem to relieve anxiety or stress, but it's a false and temporary state of relaxation.

E. Get the right amount of sleep for your needs — not too much or too little.

F. Some start working right away, while others may help lessen anxiety over time.

G. Heading out for a walk in the park or a hike in the woods can help too.