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.

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

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

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.

    Do you still remember the haze (雾霾) in the winter? So many people got terribly ill during or after the haze. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}Here is advice for you to protect yourself in hazy weather.

    Spend less time outdoors. This is the most effective way for self-protection in such bad weather. With PM 2.5 increasing 103mg per cubic meter, residents will risk a 2.29% increase of death, which experts found out in 2013. If you have to get out, avoid riding bicycles. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    Close your windows. Experts advise residents to avoid opening windows at home if you have to, avoid the time when smog is at its densest (浓的) {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Besides, you can keep plants with broad leaves at home to absorb dusk, and use air purifiers.

    Smoke less. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} In hazy weather, smoking would be even more harmful. Smokers are advise to keep their distance from cigarettes before the weather gets better.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} For example, wear special masks outside to avoid breathing in PM2.5. Then take off your coat after getting indoors and keep it away from your other clean clothes. Don't forget to wash your face, rinse your mouth, and clean your nasal cavity (鼻腔) to clean the particulate matters(颗粒物) that fall on you. Last but not least, keep off stimulating foods.

A. Pay attention to other daily things.

B. Wear masks.

C. That's because haze does harm to the health of people.

D. Also avoid rush hours, when pollutants will be denser.

E. For residents who use air-conditioner, make sure your apartment has enough oxygen indoors.

F. Take more fruits and vegetables instead, which are good for lung, spleen and kidney.

G. Cigarettes could cause more particulate matters, which are included in PM 2.5.

    It is important that you teach your baby to read as young as possible. Why? Because there is simply no better time in a child's life for learning than when they are between 3 months old and their 5th birthday.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    As a result, they are sponges(海绵)for knowledge. Moreover, being able to read is the basis for any successful education, so the earlier they start, the better. All too often, parents leave educating their children up to schools, which probably explains why the United States is currently ranked 18th in its rate of reading and writing.

    Teaching your baby to read provides brain exercise during the very time when his or her brain is developing. It has also been shown to increase the baby's IQ. The sooner they begin to read, the sooner they can begin to learn other subjects. This way, by the time your children begin school, they will already know what's being taught, and will be put on the fast track. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    One of the cases that really began to bring the fact that babies can learn to read to the public's attention was 17-month-old Elizabeth Barrett. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    She was given a series of words and even sentences that she could read quite well. Her parents had been reading to her since she was born and had provided her with a very early education.

    Reading is the most important thing to teach babies at a young age. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}Learning can be fun at such an early age, and it can be accomplished so easily that they won't have to struggle in order to learn. In fact, when you use the proper materials, they will look forward to learning.

    If you're interested in teaching your baby to read, the best way to start is by spending just a few minutes a day. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    Simply show your baby matching pictures on the opposite side. There are also videos that help to teach babies to read.

    There is no better time to teach your baby to read than the present. Begin by looking for learning materials that your baby might enjoy.

A. Flash cards are an effective tool.

B. She appeared on the Today show.

C. Maybe they will even skip a grade down the road.

D. During this time, their brains are developing rapidly.

E. What's more, your child will be able to read so successfully.

F. It doesn't have to be stressful or difficult for your child though.

G. Parents talk about the pride that their children can read at an early age.

    Many people think of guys as being carefree when it comes to their appearance. But in fact, a lot of guys spend plenty of time in front of the mirror. They care just as much as girls do about their body image.

    Body image is a person's opinions and feelings about his or her own body and physical appearance. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} You appreciate your body for its capabilities and accept its imperfections.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Here are some ideas.

    Recognize your strengths.

    Different body types are good for different things. What does your body do well? Maybe your speed, strength, or coordination (协调) makes you better than others at a certain sport. That may be basketball, table tennis, mountain biking, dancing, or even running. Or perhaps you have non-sports skills, like drawing, painting, singing, playing a musical instrument, writing, or acting, {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    Exercise regularly.

    Exercise can help you look well and feel good about yourself Good physiques (体形) don't just happen. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} A healthy habit can be as simple as exercising 20 minutes to 1 hour three days a week Working out can also lift your spirits.

    Respect your body!

    Practicing good habits—showering regularly; taking care of your teeth, hair, and skin; wearing clean clothes, and so on can help you build a positive body image.

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    Your body is just one part of who you are. Your talent for comedy a quick wit (智慧), and all the other things make you unique. So try not to let small imperfections take over.

Helping people is the backbone (支柱) of a healthy society. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} This statement is true and the following are some of the major benefits of assisting other people.

 {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Researchers have done lots of work to prove that helping others does have a great effect on a person's happiness. Even though we usually feel the urge to compete with other people, taking time to assist others can be very beneficial to us. The key to internal joy and happiness is simply helping those in need.

Build trust. When people see that you have genuine intentions of assisting them, it is likely they are going to be very grateful. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Helping people is also a good way to create and develop trusty relationship, particularly if you never expect anything to be given to you in return.

Improve the community. The mentality of helping people is increasing in popularity since more people have realized that we do not need to fight for survival. A rising number of individuals now assist others without asking for anything back. This has resulted in the change in attitude and people are now more giving, more willing and also much readier to offer assistance.

{#blank#}4{#/blank#}

Helping other people is important as it helps to connect many people together.

{#blank#}5{#/blank#} The end result is an inspired community in general.

A. Increase happiness.

B. Improve mental health.

C. This improves the whole community and changes the atmosphere.

D. It is believed that helping others is basically helping yourself.

E. As a result, they see you as a caring person and begin to trust you.

F. If you often help others, you will become a more responsible person.

G. Those who offer help and get help come together and inspire one another.

Have you promised that your are going to get healthier? Maybe you want to lose weight, get stronger and have more energy. Maybe you are under the doctor's orders to eat right and take exercise more. Well, those all sound great. But with so many choices, it can be hard to get started. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} .

Eat right. Healthy eating is harder than before. Now many supermarkets or restaurants are packed with unhealthy choices that cause weight gain and weaken energy. Over time, making poor food choices can cause illness. But you don't have to be concerned about it. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Cut out the junk food.

Keep healthy. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}. So take exercise at once. Once you get started, you will be more likely to stick to it. Reduce stress. In the US, 77% of people often experience physical stress. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}You can manage stress by taking exercise, getting enough rest and cleaning bad relationships from your life.

{#blank#}5{#/blank#}. Sure, some people are naturally happier than others. But there are things you can consciously do to be happier. And guess what they are all free. So if you want to be happier, there are a few things to do, for example, express thanks, help others ,or how to meditate.

A. Sleep well.

B. Choose happiness.

C. So here are healthy tips that you can follow.

D. Eat natural and organic foods as often as possible.

E. That is not a group you want to be a part of.

F. So tell someone you love how you feel about them.

G. People who often take exercise are generally happier and healthier than people who don't.