Tips for Cooking on a Tight Schedule

     From my experience，there are three main reasons why people don't cook more often：ability，money and time.{#blank#}1{#/blank#} Money is a topic I'll save for another day.So today I want to give you some wisdom about how to make the most of the time you spend in the kitchen.Here are three tips for great cooking on a tight schedule：

     1．Think ahead.The moments when I think cooking is a pain are when I'm already hungry and there is nothing ready to eat.So think ahead of the coming week.When will you have time to cook? Do you have the right materials already？{#blank#}2{#/blank#}      

     2．Make your time worth it.When you do find time to cook a meal，make the most of it and save yourself time later on.Are you making one loaf of bread？{#blank#}3{#/blank#} It takes around the same amount of time to make more of something.So save yourself the effort for a future meal.

     3．{#blank#}4{#/blank#} This may surprise you，but one of the best tools for making cooking worth your time is experimentation.It gives you the chance to hit upon new ideas and recipes that can work well with your appetite and schedule.The more you learn and the more you try，the more ability you have to take control of your food and your schedule.

     Hopefully that gives you a good start.{#blank#}5{#/blank#} And don't let a busy schedule discourage you from making some great changes in the way you eat and live!

A．Try new things.

B．Ability is easily improved.

C．Make three or four instead.

D．Understand your food better.

E．Cooking is a burden for many people.

F．Let cooking and living simply be a joy rather than a burden.

G．A little time planning ahead can save a lot of work later on.

    Taking good notes is a time-saving skill that will help you to become a better student in several ways {#blank#}1{#/blank#}.Second, your notes are excellent materials to refer to when you are studying for a test. Third, note-taking offers variety to your study time and helps you to hold your interest.

    You will want to take notes during classroom discussions and while reading a textbook or doing research for a report. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Whenever or however you take notes, keep in mind that note-taking is a selective process. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    The following methods may work best for you.

●Read the text quickly to find the main facts and ideas in it.

●Carefully read the text and watch for words that can show main points and

supporting facts.

● Write your notes in your own words.

●{#blank#}4{#/blank#}

● Note any questions or ideas you may have about what was said or written.

    As you take notes, you may want to use your own shorthand(速记). When you do, be sure that you understand your symbols(符号) and that you use them all the time. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A．Use words, not complete sentences.

B．There are three practical note-taking methods.

C．You must write your notes on separate paper.

D．Otherwise, you may not be able to read your notes late

E. you will also want to develop your own method for taking notes.

F. That means you must first decide what is important enough to include in your notes.

G. First, the simple act of writing something down makes it easier for you to understand and remember it.

How to Make Friends

    Friendship is a very important human relationship and everyone needs good friends. Good friendship has many benefits. If offers companionship, improves self-worth and promotes good health. There are times in our lives such as when we have recently moved into a new town, or changed our jobs or schools. Such changes often leaves us without a friend.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}. But for many of us the process is difficult and requires courage. Below are some helpful suggestions on how to make and keep friends.

1）Associate with others.

    The first step to making friends is associating with other people. You can go to public places to meet new people. Besides, you will need to make yourself known by becoming an active member of such places.

2）Start a conversation.

    Starting a conversation is the second most important step in making new friends.{#blank#}2{#/blank#} You can always start the conversation. Being able to make small talk is a very useful skill in relating with other people.

3）{#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    Choosing friends with common interests is important in building friendship as these interests would always bring you and your friend together. Hanging out will always be a pleasant experience.

4）Let it grow.

    It is a good thing to stay in touch. However, try not to press your new friend with calls, messages or visits as this would likely wear him or her out and finally you may lose your friend.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}. The best friendships are the ones that grow naturally.

5）Enjoy your friendship.

    The best way to enjoy your friendship is to allow your friends to be themselves.{#blank#}5{#/blank#} Try not to change them from who they are to what you want them to be.  Become the kind of friend you will want your friend to be to you.

A. Be cheerful.

B. So you will need to give your friend time to react to you.

C. Making new friends comes easy for some people.

D. For a friendship to develop you need to stay in touch.

E. Do not wait to be spoken to.

F. Try not to find fault with your friends.

G. Do things together.

    Your telephone is running low on power while you are waiting to fly out of an airport.

    Then you discover a public USB charging area close by.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}Then you take a deep breath and sit back, happy to get the power for free.

What could go wrong? Plenty.

    In addition to providing an electrical current, phone charging cords can send and receive data. That free USB charging hub at an airport, hotel or any other public place may not only charge your phone.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}The USB charging hub could be connecting to your phone and copying your contact list, email and text messages, voice mail, photographs and videos. It can also copy passwords, banking information and any other information stored on your phone.

    If you want to charge your phone while traveling, you have other choices that do not increase your risks.

    Connect your phone only to electrical outlets so data transfer is not possible.{#blank#}3{#/blank#} It is better to use a distant wall outlet than a nearby USB charging hub.

    Carry an extra, fully-charged battery. Having one means you can charge your phone without having to worry about carrying a special cord or finding a power outlet.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    If you must use a public USB charging center, be sure to turn off your phone completely.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}But it will reduce the chances of it happening, depending on what phone you have.

A. Remember to fully charge your phone before you leave home or work.

B It also could be transferring information to and from the device.

C. The public USB charging hub may even download programs to your phone.

D This may or may not prevent data transfer.

E. You can charge your phone with the extra battery wherever you are.

F. An available outlet may not be as near as a USB charging hub, but the few extra steps may keep you safe.

G. You quickly reach for a charge cord and connect your phone to the charging hub.

Things to do when you are feeling down

    Let's start with a fact. We all have days when we feel down and discouraged.{#blank#}1{#/blank#} Here is a list to help you get back on track.

    Take care of yourself

    This may seem like an obvious thing, but try your best to get a good night s sleep and eat healthy food when you're hungry{#blank#}2{#/blank#}Consider setting an earlier bedtime than usual and stick to it. Make some nourishing snacks that you can easily grab instead of sugary junk food. Fresh fruit, a piece of cheese, some cut-up vegetables, homemade soup, they are all quick and easy options to consider.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    If you are going through a tough time, think about some healthy comforts that will make you feel better. Take a bike or go for a walk in nature. Treat yourself to a lunch at your favorite restaurant. Listen to some good music. Call a friend. Watch a funny movie. Take a nap. Read a good book. The release from stress will add to your level of happiness.

Make an action plan

    Can you identify what's making you unhappy? If so, you have a good chance of changing it{#blank#}4{#/blank#} You don't have to figure out a whole plan to solve your conflicts; simply taking some steps in the right direction will boost your good feeling.

    This, too, shall pass

    What do you say to yourself when you are going through a tough time? Beating yourself up is not helpful!{#blank#}5{#/blank#} Examples are, “It is what it is; let me just accept it and move on.” “All I can do is put one foot in front of the other and keep moving.” “And finally, this, shall pass.”

A. Science shows that both of these things can have a huge positive impact on both your mood and your blood sugar.

B. A lot of researches show that when we intend to be happy, our thoughts and actions follow suit.

C. What action can you take today that will make you feel better and change the pattern?

D. What can you do to pull yourself back from despair?

E. Try saying things that are comforting your heart and mind.

F. Other times, the blues just seem to hit for no reason at all.

G. Find things to comfort yourself.

How to make Quick Decisions For Your Life

We make decisions every day. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}When it comes to making decisions, choosing the right one can at times be stressful, especially if the decision must be made quickly. Indecision often weighs us down, but there are some useful tips for making quick decisions more easily.

{#blank#}2{#/blank#} Sometimes the key to making a quick decision comes down to planning ahead of time for just such an occasion. We all know we're going to come to an important decision-making point sooner or later, so having a plan already in hand can put our mind at ease when that time comes.

Overcome fear. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} While it may seem difficult to overcome the fear of making the wrong choice, many experts agree that we shouldn't be afraid to make the wrong decision, even if it seems important. The vast majority of wrong decisions can be corrected, while delaying decisions can often lead to more problems.

Write down all the advantages and disadvantages of your decision. Even if you don't have all the information, writing down all the pros and cons (优缺点) is a good starting point for figuring out what to do. In cases where there simply isn't enough time to write things down, make a mental list in your mind. Thinking of the pros and cons can help you organize your thoughts. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}.

Determine criteria. Remember that every decision you make should come with a certain list of criteria. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} But once you know the requirements you're looking for, making a decision will become easier. Look for the choice that satisfies the list you've made, and once that choice is found, you should move ahead with it.

A. Have a plan.

B. The list may be short or quite long.

C. Communicate your decision with others.

D. And this can always lead to a clear answer.

E. So cut out any options that you know you will not choose.

F. Often, one thing that keeps us from making decisions is fear.

G. Some can be very important while others are not serious in the long run.