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 (压力)

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

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    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.

How to Introduce Yourself Before Giving a Speech

    Greet the audience and state your name. If you're giving a speech, it's important to state your first and last name. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Don't state down or at some aimless point in the corner of the room. If you don't like the thought of looking into that many eyes, look at their eyebrows or noses—they won't be able to tell the difference.

    Share some relevant（相关的）information about yourself. After you provide your name, share why you and the speech are relevant, making sure you provide something believable. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} If you're giving a speech about the importance of eating organic foods, tell people that you're a scientist, chef, or environmental professional. If you're giving a speech about child development, be sure to include that you are a child psychologist.

    Communicate effectively. From the very start, make sure your voice is loud enough for everyone to hear you. You can even ask the audience if you are speaking loudly enough for all to hear. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    Move your body. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Stand up tall, move your shoulders back, and keep your hands free, using them to gesture when necessary. You can walk around to show the crowd how comfortable you are and to make yourself look less stiff.

A. Make eye contact with a few people.

B. Focus just on what you are going to talk about.

C. Stand with good posture（姿势）, and move freely while you speak.

D. As you say hello and give your name, remember to speak clearly and confidently.

E. It depends on the context of the conversation, but start off by telling something about yourself.

F. People will not be able to understand you or respect what you are sharing if they cannot hear you.

G. The sort of information you share will depend on the audience and the subject you'll talk about.

Exercise

    Exercise is a way of keeping the body healthy through being active. Another name for exercise is physical fitness. Most people exercise in their spare time. Sports are some of the most popular ways to get exercise.

    The two main kinds of exercise are aerobic exercise(有氧运动)and anaerobic exercise(无氧运动). Sports such as football and basketball are great forms of exercises. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Aerobic exercise is energetic movement that lasts for a certain period of time.{#blank#}2{#/blank#} The lungs and the heart work harder to bring in extra oxygen. Swimming, cycling, running and rapid walking are good examples of aerobic exercise.

    Anaerobic exercise is a powerful burst of movement followed by a period of rest. During anaerobic exercise the muscles need more energy than the body can make with its supply of oxygen. After the exercise a person feels out of breath because the muscles have worked without oxygen.

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    Exercise affects every part of the body in positive ways. It improves balance and coordination(协调).{#blank#}4{#/blank#}Exercise strengthens the heart and increases the lungs' ability to take in oxygen. Through exercise the bones and muscles get stronger, and the whole body becomes healthy and strong.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}People who exercise generally have a more positive, happy attitude.

A. This is because they combine both of these types.

B. Frequent and regular exercise helps prevent diseases.

C. Exercise also gives people a greater feeling of well-being.

D. It also improves posture, or the resting position of the body.

E. Weight lifting, jumping, and golfing are all types anaerobic exercise.

F. Physical exercise can contribute positively to keeping a healthy weight.

G. During aerobic exercise the body combines oxygen with sugar to get more energy.

    One of the easiest and most pleasing ways to express your creativity (创造力) is by drawing. In addition, drawing can calm you down in many ways. It can help keep you away from negative thoughts and clear your mind. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Draw something that makes you comfortable. Content (内容) does not matter as much as the meaning you connect with whatever you choose to draw. If you find mountains or trees relaxing to be around, try your hand at drawing. You can also draw things like pets or buildings. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} For example, draw a dog's head on a pig's body with a horse's legs and tail.

    Just draw. Experiment on drawing with different color patterns (色型) and emotions. Believe it or not, drawing can help realize physical relaxation by lowering your blood pressure. Color your drawing with bright, exciting colors. Draw patterns. Start with changes of circles, as they're easier to draw. Simply cover a page in a pattern. Keep your subjects smile. Whether you are drawing mountains, humans, or animals, add a face with a smile. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    Go somewhere where you feel calm. Choose some quiet places. Turn off your phone, and avoid areas with television or computers. Some private (私人的) places are best, as your drawing will not be forbidden by the presence of others, and you will be less likely to be bothered. Get outside. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}. Drawing outside can also give you ideas of things to draw.

    Have fun. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Don't worry about the final product. And don't judge your artistic abilities. Lose yourself in the experience of creation! Sitting down to draw for just a few minutes can brighten your feelings. You'll feel energetic and may feel even more open­minded for the rest of the day.

A. Let yourself enjoy the process.

B. Listen to music when you draw.

C. Simply being outside will calm you down.

D. Sure, it's silly but you'll probably smile back.

E. Hang up your work somewhere it will catch your eye.

F. You can even try combinations of different animal parts.

G. And the enjoyment of drawing can help keep your stresses away.

Mystery of Mosquito Flight

    The mosquito is a troublesome and dangerous insect. Their bites itch and can carry dangerous diseases, like malaria, Zika virus and yellow fever. Recently, researchers from Britain and Japan discovered how mosquitoes fly. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Mosquito wings are small and have an uncommon shape.{#blank#}2{#/blank#} So, how is their flight possible? The team of scientists from Britain and Japan solved the mystery. They used high-speed cameras and computer images to understand the mechanics of how the insect moves its wings to stay in the air.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} They set up eight super-high speed cameras that take 10,000 images each second. Simon Walker, a researcher at the University of Oxford, explains that normally at least two cameras are needed to record an insect, so they've got enough views of an insect. With two camera views they can then take any point on an insect and calculate its 3-D coordinates (三维坐标).

    Mosquitoes can spread diseases. The insect has two antennae, or tall, thin organs on its head that it uses to feel things. But its antennae and six legs make it difficult to take clear images of the wing movements. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} The extra cameras let the researchers see that the mosquito's wings move eight hundred times each second. That is four times faster than many insects of a similar size.

    Mosquitoes fly by moving their wings in several different directions. The thin top edges of their wings move forward first and then they change direction and move down. The movement looks as if the wings are drawing the number eight. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Walker says that existing unmanned flying devices do not work very well outside because wind can affect their flight.

    "Insects, on the other hand, deal really well with even quite windy conditions. So understanding how they can do this is going to be advantageous to us." These researchers say that understanding how mosquitoes fly might help find ways to stop them from spreading diseases.

A. Because of this, it is hard to believe that they are able to fly.

B. Mosquitoes evolved from other insects about 226 million years ago.

C. So, the team needed to use eight cameras to view the wings from many directions.

D. Researchers at the University of Oxford took images of mosquito wing movements.

E. Many measures have been tried for mosquito control, for example, getting rid of breeding places.

F. This knowledge, they say, help find ways to stop mosquitoes from spreading diseases in the future.

G. The research team believes the mosquitoes' wing movements could help inventors design new flying devices.

Teen Read Week is a week-long celebration for teens and reading. Teen Read Week is held during the third week of October each year. It aims at encouraging teens to read for pleasure. Reading for fun has many benefits. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} More reading will improve test scores and broaden teens' horizons. And it also helps with their future success.

{#blank#}2{#/blank#} They, will plan various activities in hopes of encouraging young adults to pick up a book. Activities can range from simple programs to events featuring special guests and some delicious food.

Some libraries host an open house for teens during Teen Read Week. During an open house, the young adult librarian may talk about his or her library's services for teens, upcoming teen programs, and collections of books suitable for teens. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}.

If the budget (预算) permits, some libraries may invite popular authors to their places. Authors who write books for teens can make, a public appearance there. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} If necessary, they can also answer questions from teens. In the end, the library can offer the authors' books as a prize to some of the teens in the audience.

If you're reluctant (勉强的) teenage readers, there are tips for you on how to follow Teen Read Week's spirit — reading for fun. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} An audiobook (有声读物) can be a good choice to start your interest in reading. You can listen on the way to school. If you like some movies about history, you can try reading related history books. You'll probably enjoy the more detailed stories presented by the novels.

A. Teen gaming nights are another option for libraries.

B. Thus, the teens can better learn about the library.

C. You might think they are characters out of reach.

D. They can tell about their works and writing methods.

E. You can search for some interesting reading materials.

F. For example, teens can become more interested in reading.

G. Public libraries will organize events in honor of Teen Read Week.