It is said that farmers or peasants, especially those in developing countries, are often criticized for cutting down forests. But a new study suggests that many farmers recognize the value of keeping trees.

    Researchers using satellite images found at least ten percent trees cover on more than one billion hectares of farmland.{#blank#}1{#/blank#} Earlier estimates were much lower but incomplete. The authors of the new study say it may still underestimate the true extent worldwide.

    The study found the most trees cover in South America.{#blank#}2{#/blank#} North Africa and West Asia have the least.

    The study found that climate conditions alone could not explain the amount of trees cover in different areas.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}There are areas with few trees but also few people, and areas with many trees and many people. The findings suggest that things like land rights, markets or government policies can influence tree planting and protection.

    Dennis Garrity heads the World Agroforestry Center.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}The problem, he says, is that policy makers and planners have been slow to recognize this and to support such efforts.

    The satellite images may not show what the farmers are using the trees for, but trees provide nuts, fruit, wood and other products.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}Even under drought (干旱) conditions, trees can often provide food and a way to earn money until the next growing season.

    Some trees act as natural fertilizers. They take nitrogen (氮气) out of the air and put it in the soil. Scientists at the Center say the use of fertilizer trees can reduce the need for chemical nitrogen by up to three-fourths. Trees also capture carbon dioxide, a gas linked to climate change.

A. Nor could the size of nearby populations, meaning people and trees can live together.

B. He says farmers are acting on their own to protect and plant trees.

C. Almost all of it is covered by trees.

D. They also help prevent soil loss and protect water supplies.

E. He devotes most of his time to making people realize its importance.

F. That is nearly half of the farmland in the world.

G. Next comes Africa south of the Sahara, followed by Southeast Asia.

    Understanding body language can lead to closer relationships. Noticing the signals that people send out with their body language and being able to effectively read them is a very useful skill.

    Watch for crying. Usually crying is considered a sign of sadness, but crying can also be an expression of happiness. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Thus, when judging crying, you'll need to look for other signals to determine the real meaning of the crying.

    Look for signs of anger. Signs of anger include v-shaped eyebrows (眉毛), and wide eyes.{#blank#}2{#/blank#} Arms tightly crossed over the other is a common sign that the person is angry and is closing himself off to you.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Studies have found that when people are engaged in an interesting conversation, their eyes remain focused on their partner's face about 80% of the time.

    Look for expressions of embarrassment. Embarrassment can be signaled by turning the eyes or head away, and forcing smiles. If someone looks down at the floor a lot, they are probably shy, or embarrassed.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} People are often thinking and feeling unpleasant emotions when they are in the process of staring at the ground.

    Notice any sense of pride. People express pride by showing a small smile, moving their head backward, and putting their hands behind their backs.

    As a general rule, people are best at reading facial expressions, and then body movements, and, finally, personal space and touch.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} People are generally better at reading body movements that are pleasant rather than unpleasant. One study finds that individuals are better at accurately interpreting (领会) happiness, and excitement, compared to anger, sadness, and fear.

A. Read interest from eyes.

B. Look for signals of anxiety.

C. However, different body movements have different meanings.

D. Down-turned mouth is also a sign of being angry.

E. People also tend to look down when they are upset.

F. Crying can also come about through laughter and humor.

G. However, not all body movements are equally easy to understand.

How to Recognize a True Friend

Sometimes it can be hard to recognize a true friend. Hopefully this article will help you recognize which friends are the keepers.

Be able to trust your friends. You should be able to trust true friends and they should return this trust. Do your friends tell you secrets that no one else knows? Ask you for advice? {#blank#}1{#/blank#} However, if your friends hide things from you and act secretly, then this is a sign that they may not trust you.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Think about it. How comfortable are your friends when they are around you? Are they being themselves around you? Are they acting fake or perhaps hiding something? True friendships can take a while to develop, but if your friends are true they should feel comfortable around you, and vice versa (You with them)

Think about loyalty(忠诚). {#blank#}3{#/blank#} If you are in need of a helping hand, your true friends should be there to offer it to you. True friends don't try to get one another into trouble. A true friend will always be loyal to you and will not reveal secrets.

    Think about nicknames. A lot of true friends love to give each other nicknames！ If your friend is giving you nicknames, then this is a great sign. Think of the nickname your friend has given you, does it suit you well? {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

Look at how you fight. Nearly all best friends fight. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} True friends will find their way through a fight, no matter what the size is. True friends will remain “faithful” to each other even during a fight. They will not tell each others' secrets, and they still care about each other.

A. Consider comfort.

B. Choose your friends carefully.

C. True friends are always there for one another.

D. Both are sure signs that your friend trusts you.

E. If so, this shows your friend must know you quite well.

F. So if you and your friend have a little argument, don't worry!

G. An inside joke shows that you share a special connection with your friend.

How to improve reading efficiency

    ⒈Make sure of your purpose of reading.

    Before you start reading, ask yourself why you are reading this book. Most people read for two main reasons: pleasure or knowledge. Being specific and clear about your reading purpose not only helps you to avoid books that you don't need to read, it also reminds you the book is important to you.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    ⒉Read only what you are attracted to.

    Whether you are reading fiction or nonfiction, it's important to enjoy what you read. Your friends may recommend books that they love, but those books might not necessarily be the ones you enjoy. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    ⒊Give up books that you don't enjoy.

    You may have selected books that match your purpose. You may have selected books that you are attracted to. But you are reading them, there may still be some books that you won't enjoy reading. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Remember reading shouldn't make feel annoyed.

    ⒋{#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    Having a reading goal helps you figure out how much reading you need to do in a week or even a day.

    ⒌Give yourself a deadline to finish each book.

    Before you read each book, ask yourself when you need to finish this book. What I find interesting is that I tend to read books that I borrow from libraries faster than the books I bought. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} I don't need to return those books. When you don't set a deadline to finish you book, there isn't a sense of urgency. And when something isn't urgent, you tend to slow down.

A. Set a reading goal.

B. Understand each word of the sentence.

C. Read books which you are interested in.

D. Reading is the most important way to get knowledge.

E. The reason is that the books I bought don't have a due date.

F. This encourages you to keep reading and complete the book faster.

G. Whenever you realize that you aren't enjoying the book you are reading, give it up.

Should schools allow Halloween celebrations?

    Halloween is one of the most celebrated holidays in the United States. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Many schools also celebrate the holiday by having kids dress up in costumes, take part in costume shows, and join in a variety of activities relating to Halloween. On October 31, the halls of schools across the country will be filled with princes, princesses, and superheroes. In addition to costumes, school Halloween celebrations often include classroom parties and trick-or-treating.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} They also say that dressing up in costumes allows kids to express themselves and show off their creativity.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Officials at many of those schools say the celebrations are too time-consuming (费时的) and take away class time. They also point out that kids who can't afford costumes or who don't celebrate Halloween for cultural reasons feel left out. For example, Seth Boyden Elementary School in Maplewood, New Jersey, canceled(取消)its Halloween celebration last year. Officials at the school said that in the past, many students stayed home on that day.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Bree Picower, a Professor of Early and Elementary Education at Montclair State, said, "Maplewood is a wonderful example of a school being responsive to society. Many schools plan to learn from it. Schools are places where students should feel included."

    Parents in Maplewood had different opinions of this policy. Some said that the new no-Halloween policy was a welcome change. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. It brings a lot of safety problems.

B. Experts say Maplewood is not alone.

C. Many people dislike these costumes.

D. Each year there're millions of Americans celebrations the holiday.

E. But more and more schools have canceled(取消)Halloween celebrations in recent years.

F. Many teachers, parents, and students see these celebrations as a fun break from the school day.

G. And others said that it was unfair that their children are now not allowed to celebrate Halloween in school.

    Training for a marathon (马拉松) requires careful preparation and steady, gradual increases in the length of the runs. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}, buy the best-fitting running shoes you can find. No one can say which brand will work best for you or feel best on your feet, so you have to rely on your experience and on the feel of each pair as you shop. When you have found shoes that seem right, walk in them for a few days to double-check the fit. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}. As always, you should stretch (伸展) at least ten minutes before each run to prevent injuries.

    During the first week, do not think about distance, but run five minutes longer each day. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}, it is wise to take a day off to rest. But during the next week, set a goal of at least a mile and a half per run. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}. After two weeks, start timing yourself. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}. Depending on the kind of race you plan to enter, you can set up a timetable for the remaining weeks before the race.

A. After six days

B. For a good marathon runner

C. Before you begin your training

D. With each day, increase the distance by a half mile

E. If they still feel good, you can begin running in them

F. Time spent for preparation raises the quality of training

G. Now you are ready to figure out a goal of improving distance and time