My grandmother is over eighty years old. She always complains about how greatly things have changed, and she often says that life used to be better.

    Families aren't families the way they used to be. If a husband and wife are having problem with their marriage, they don't stay together any more. They choose to divorce. Mothers used to stay at home and take care of their children, but now everyone is busy working; no one has time to look after children at home.

    And the cars! No one walk any more; people get richer and richer, and more and more people buy cars and drive. We used to walk five miles to school every day, even in winter. But now children don't.

    And in school, children don't have to think any more. When I was at school, I used to add, subtract, multiply and divide using my head in math class, but now, children use calculators instead.

    Most families have computers and TVs now. In the past we didn't have computers or TVs, we spent a lot of time talking with our family members. But now, people are too busy to talk to each other. If they have time, they'd watch TV or surf the Internet rather than talk to family members. They are even too busy to eat and think.

    Life used to be simple, but it isn't any more.

Information Card

    Can you help me, please? I can't find my son. He is four years old. His name is Peter. He has a long face, big black eyes and a small nose. His hair is brown. He is in a blue hat and gray pants. Please help me find him. My telephone number is 6353—2278. My name is Steve. Thank you very much.

    When we are talking to someone, we tend to change someone else's mind to our way of thinking. And we may often find it difficult to do that. So here are five tips on how to change someone's mind.

    The first one is never to turn the conversation into an argument. It should be a conversation where you show your opinions and the facts that you've collected. By showing them the facts, we want to tell other people that we are right. But emotionally, they may not totally agree with what you say. So when you are trying to change someone's mind, try to keep it as a conversation and not an argument.

    The second tip is never to say that you are wrong. If someone makes a statement that you think is wrong, it's better to point it out by saying, “I thought otherwise but I might be wrong, let's look at the facts.” The key is to say that you might be wrong, not that you are wrong. This opens up the other person to look at the data again and shows them that you're not bullheaded (顽固的) and that you're not going to change your opinion. You're showing them that you are open to new ideas and this is super important in changing someone else's mind to your way of thinking.

    Tip number three is to get the other person saying yes as fast as possible. You may begin your conversation on hobbies that you guys have, something that they're crazy about, something that gets them saying yes. Because the more that you get them to say yes now, the more likely they are to say yes in the future. A conversation like this will get them to start to like you and maybe even more open up to ideas that you have. It builds up trust between the two of you.

    Tip number four is to let the other person do a great amount of talking. If you let them talk more, you're going to show that you actually care about their opinions and ideas, which will earn their respect in the end. By listening to them, you're going to create a friendly relationship and build trust. So when you express your opinions, they will also show a willingness to listen. Never interrupt them when they are talking. Just listen patienly with an open mind, encourage them to talk even more and more so that when it's your tum to talk, they'll listen and say nothing.

    The last tip is to let the other person feel like the idea was theirs. It's wiser to make suggestions and let someone else come to the conclusion, then they have a sense of pride that it's their idea. Giving someone the data and letting them come to the conclusion let them feel like it is their idea and they are proud of it.

    Title: How to change someone else's mind

A. B. C. D. E.

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    This graph shows the amount of electricity used in a small city. It is clear that the city uses more electricity in{#blank#}1{#/blank#}than in{#blank#}2{#/blank#}， In summer, people use the most electricity at 12:00. This is probably{#blank#}3{#/blank#}the high temperature at noon. In winter, people use the most electricity at{#blank#}4{#/blank#}. The graph also shows the amount of electricity used{#blank#}5{#/blank#}from 6:00 to 12:00. The amount of electricity used decreases(减少) from 18:00 to 24:00.

    When did you last say "I love you" to your father? If you can't remember, then you can get the chance this Father's Day on June 19. Generally compared with (与……相比) a mother's gentle love, a father's love represents qualities such as independence, confidence, courage and adventure (冒险).

    Also, caring fathers help their children get along with others. Fathers can lead their children into their social circle (社交圈). They can also teach them how to behave and control their feelings.

    For example, Microsoft founder Bill Gates was quiet and didn't like to talk with others when he was a little kid. So his father often held family parties and let Bill play games with family members. ⑶ "My ability of leading and cooperating (合作) became better through games." Gates once said in an interview with US Fortune magazine.

    US actor Will Smith said that his father taught him important lessons through small things. His father once planned to tear (拆) down a wall of their shop and rebuild it. But little Will thought it was impossible. After a year and a half, they did it. "You didn't try to build a wall. You are going to lay a brick every day. And soon you have a wall," he said on a TV show.

⑷"One father is more than a hundred school-masters", British poet George Herbert once said. Do you agree?