Homework is a major part of going to school: It's your teachers' way of evaluating(评价)how much you understand of what's going on in class. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}Luckily, you can do a few things to make homework less work.

    Be sure you understand the homework.

    Write your homework down in your notebook or day planner if you need to. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}It's much easier to take a minute to ask the teacher during or after class than to struggle to remember later that night!

    Use any extra time in school.

    Many schools have study halls that are specifically designed to allow students to study. It's tempting(诱惑)to hang out with friends during study periods or unstructured(松散的) time. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    Take a break.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}So take some breaks while doing your homework. Sitting for too long without stretching or relaxing will make you less productive than if you stop every so often. Taking a 15minute break every hour is a good idea for most people.

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    If you don't finish your homework during school, think about how much you have left and what else is going on that day, and then budget your time. Most highschool students have between 1 and 3 hours of homework a night. If it's a heavy homework day and it seems like you've got an assignment in every subject but gym and lunch, you'll need to devote more time to homework. It's a good idea to come up with some kind of homework schedule（日程）, especially if you are involved in sports or activities or have an afterschool job.

A.Pace yourself.

B.Settle down to do homework.

C.And it helps digest important concepts(概念).

D.Most people's attention spans(注意力持续时间)aren't very long.

E.Don't be afraid to ask questions about what's expected.

F.Once your homework is done, you can check over it if you have extra time.

G.But the more work you can get done in school, the less you'll have to do that night.

    The benefits of keeping a journal (日志)

    If you want to grow, one important thing you should do is keeping a journal. It may seem simple, but it can make a big difference in your life. I have been keeping journals for years. Writing all the lessons I learn and all the ideas I get has become a habit for me.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}Here are some benefits you will get by keeping a journal.

    It prevents you from losing an idea. Have you ever gotten an idea only to lose it later because you didn't write it down?{#blank#}2{#/blank#}But then I developed the habit of writing down every idea that came into my mind as soon as possible. If I'm away from my computer, I usually write it down on a piece of paper that I bring wherever I go. I will then transfer the idea to the journal in my computer.

    It helps you review all the lessons you've learned. By reviewing your journal, you can quickly see the lessons you've learned and the ideas you've gotten.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}You can use the ideas to propel (鞭策) yourself forward.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}After keeping a journal for years, you can look back at it and see how far you've gone. Things that were big problems in the past might seem small today. The raw ideas you had in the past might have been realized today.

    It helps you expand（扩展） your ideas. When you try to come up with a sentence to express an idea, you are thinking actively about it.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}In the end, you will expand your ideas.

A. I often experienced that myself.

B. It trains you to express your thoughts.

C. It allows you to see your progress over time.

D. Just use whatever tool you feel comfortable with.

E. Thinking actively helps you connect your idea to another idea.

F. And to be honest, I can't imagine what my life would be like without it.

G. Then you can do whatever necessary to avoid repeating the same mistakes.

    Having a busy schedule can result in chaos (混乱) as well as the lack of not completing various tasks at hand. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Below are some tips of how to improve it.

    Set up a planning system

    There are several planning systems you can use. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} With a planning system in place, when you have a task to do, you need to record the details of the task. Record what you need to do, the date it should be done and the time to complete the task.

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    Having a busy day can result in disorganization and many tasks will not be done. When you check your planner before starting your day, you will know what should be done, at what time and for how long.

    Complete tasks at the scheduled time

    In your planner, you have organized every task to be done at a specific (特定的)time and at a specific date. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} If you don't complete a task at a specific time or spend too much time completing a task, you will disorganize everything.

    Clean your work-space

    You need to be organized, therefore clean your work-space before and after you have completed the task. If the books were for a past homework, you need to clean up first before starting the new task. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}.

    Remember, an organized day in your life will save a lot and will help you enjoy your life.

A. Check your planner ahead of time

B. Finish your task as soon as possible

C. Don't deal with many tasks at a time

D. This will ensure every item is at its proper place

E. In order to have an enjoyable day, you need to start being organized

F. Make sure that every task is completed at the time and date scheduled

G. They include notebooks, a planning book and a smartphone with a to-do app

    The jobs of the future have not yet been invented. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} By helping them develop classic skills that will serve them well no matter what the future holds.

    ⒈Curiosity

    Your children need to be deeply curious. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Ask kids, "What ingredients(配料) can we add to make these pancakes even better next time?" And then try them out. Did those ingredients make the pancakes better? What could we try next time?

    ⒉reativity

    True creativity is the ability to take something existing and create something new from it. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} There are a dozen different things you can do with them. Experimenting with materials to create something new can go a long way in helping them develop their creativity.

    ⒊Interpersonal Skills

    Understanding how others feel can be so challenge for kids. We know what's going on inside our own head, but what about others? Being able to read people helps kids from misreading a situation and jumping to false conclusions. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} "Why do you think she's crying?" "Can you tell how that man is feeling by looking at his face?" "If someone were to do that to you, how would you feel?"

    ⒋Self Expression (表达)

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} There are many ways to express thoughts and ideas—music, acting, drawing, building, photography. You may find that your child is attracted by one more than another.

A. Encourage kids to cook with you.

B. And we can't forget science education.

C. We can give kids chances to think about materials (物质，材料) in new ways.

D. So how can we help our kids prepare for jobs that don't yet exist?

E. Gardening is another great activity for helping kids develop this skill.

F. Being able to communicate ideas in a meaningful way is a valuable skill.

G. We can do this in real life or ask questions about characters in stories.

    With a tough economy, it's difficult to meet our employees' expectation of salary increases. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}Well, here are four important factors that help keep employees motivated, in addition to money.

    The first one is recognition. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}Examples include taking someone to lunch and letting them know how much you value their performance and how you thank them because they're loyal, publicly recognition someone's performance with details of what they did, and presenting certificates of recognition for "extraordinary contributions to the business and the organization".

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}If you can't afford to give every deserving employee a raise, invite them to a party to simply celebrate their good work, and tell them how much you appreciate their hard work and loyalty. Ask them to help you achieve your business goals so that next time you can reward them in better ways.

    Another one is motivational climate. Take a look around at the work environment and do whatever you can to make it a more pleasant place. Redecoration, better work spaces and working environment that isn't expensive will be appreciated by those who spend 8-10 hours a day working there. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    The last but most important factor that can motivate employees is trust. It's important to build trust in all your work relationships. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}Take an interest in their families, their hobbies, and their development. Treat people with respect.

A. The next one is celebrations.

B. The second one is persuasion.

C. Conduct team discussions on ways to increase business profits.

D. Appreciating a person's strong contribution can make a difference.

E. To achieve this, spend time with your employees and show your care about them.

F. If you aren't sure what to do, ask your employees what they'd like in terms of it.

G. How can we motivate them in other ways to keep them from leaving the company?

How to Pass Final Exams

    If you're a student, exams are an important part not only of any class, but also your final grade. Preparing throughout the semester is the most effective way to do well on your final exams. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}There are things you can do to help you pass your exams.

    Attend class regularly. You cannot successfully pass a class or exams if you do not attend the class. This will allow you to hear important lectures and take notes. It also helps you understand your readings and assignments. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}Teachers usually discuss what is on an exam during classes. If you aren't in class, you can, t get this important information.

    Start studying early. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}A month before the test date is a good time to begin your preparations. You can study simply by reviewing your notes for 20­30 minutes a day. If you have questions, ask the teacher.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}Practice exams are a highly effective way to study for tests. They will help you relax and point out any weak areas you may have going in to the final exam date. If you test yourself just twice, you will remember 75% ­ 80% of the material two weeks later. With no practice tests, that figure is just 20%.

    Reduce your anxiety. You wouldn't have anxiety if you weren't worried about passing your final exam. However, research shows that anxiety blocks your ability to focus, which can really put a damper （抑制）on your studying and test performance. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. Do a practice exam.

B. Understand how you can study best.

C. Every individual learns differently.

D. Most exams are based on what happens in class.

E. It is never too early to start studying for a final exam.

F. Basically, there's just no shortcut for knowing the material.

G. Try some relaxation techniques when you're feeling worried.