Friends play an important part in our lives, and although we may take the fact of friendship for granted, we often don't clearly understand how we make friends. While we get on well with a number of people, {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Moreover, a great many relationships come under the general term "friendship". In all cases, two people like one another and enjoy being together, but beyond that, the degree of closeness between them and the reasons for their interest in each other change greatly.

    At the beginning, much depends on how people meet, and on good first impressions. As we get to know people, {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Although these factors are not of the greatest importance, it is more difficult to have a good relationship with people when there is a big difference in age and background.

    Then, {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Friends will stand closer together and will spend more time looking at each other than ordinary friends. Smiles and soft voices also express friendliness, and it is because they may give the wrong signals that shy people often have difficulty making friends. A friendly look with a wrong facial expression can turn into an unfriendly stare, and nervousness may be wrongly understood as unfriendliness.

    Some relationships are a result of argument and discussion, but it is usual for close friends to have the same ideas and beliefs, the same opinions and interests. The more closely involved people become, the more they depend on each other. And {#blank#}4{#/blank#}  Equally, friends have to learn to make allowances for each other, to put up with annoying habits, and to accept differences in opinions.

    In contrast with marriage, {#blank#}5{#/blank#} But the support and understanding that results from shared experiences and affections does seem to create a close and lasting relationship.

A. we are usually friends with only a few.

B. many factors can affect friendship and relationship.

C. people want to do friends favors and hate to let them down.

D. argument and discussion can improve personal relationships.

E. we consider things like age, race, looks, economic and social status, etc.

F. there are no friendship ceremonies to strengthen the relationship between two people.

G. we pay attention to actual behavior, facial expression, and the way a person speaks.

    Earth is home to around 7,000 languages, around half of which are expected to disappear by 2100.

    Languages disappear for many reasons. Sometimes younger generations stop learning a language because parents want children to fit in. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Native American children of the late-19th century were required to attend boarding schools where educators forbade them from speaking their native languages.

    The United Nations ranks endangered languages according to their risk level. For example, a "critically endangered" language is one that even grandparents don't speak often. New York's Onondaga language is an example with only 50 speakers left. An "extinct" language has no speakers. It is gone forever. Alaska's Eyak language is one example. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}In the same way, different languages contribute to cultural diversity. Saving these languages benefits our understanding of other cultures. Languages can show how a society looks at the world and what it values. A language may describe something in a way that is funny, too. In Welsh, it rains not cats and dogs, but old wives and walking sticks.

    The Endangered Language Alliance wants to save languages from disappearing. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} However, its efforts are limited. If an endangered language is going to make a real comeback, it'll probably get its start in schools. For nearly 100 years, public schools in Hawaii did not teach the Hawaiian language. Now students can keep learning in Hawaiian from elementary schools to college and beyond.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} At least one did. In 1881, a Jewish linguist named Eliezer Ben-Yehuda brought the 3,000-year-old language Hebrew back to life. Today it is one of the official languages of the country of Israel, with more than 4 million speakers.

A. The last person who spoke it died in 2008.

B. Why should we save endangered languages?

C. Various animals and plants benefit our environment.

D. With just 5 speakers left, it is absolutely endangered.

E. Can a language with zero native speakers come back to life?

F. Sometimes societies force minorities to give up their language.

G. The nonprofit group finds native speakers and records their stories.

The Four-step Approaches to Managing Anger

    If something happens that makes you feel angry, try these following steps. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Maybe it will help you prevent angry feelings from building up inside.

Identify the problem. Start by noticing what you're angry about and why. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Ask yourself: What's got you angry? What's your feeling and why? You can do this either in your mind or out loud, but it needs to be clear and specific.

    Think of potential solutions. This is where you stop for a minute to give yourself time to manage your anger. It's also where you start thinking of how you might react—but without reacting yet. Ask yourself: What can you do? Think of at least three things. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} This is where you think about what is likely to result from each of the different reactions you came up with. Ask yourself: What will happen for each one of these options?

    Make a decision. This is where you take action by choosing one of the three things you could do.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} Ask yourself: What's your best choice? Once you choose your solution, then it's time to act.

    Check your progress.{#blank#}5{#/blank#} Ask yourself: How did you do? Did things work out as you expected? If not, why not? Are you satisfied with the choice you made? Taking some time to reflect on how things worked out after it's all over is a very important step. It helps you learn about yourself and it allows you to test which problem-solving approaches work best in different situations.

A. Learn to receive the fact.

B. They help you cool down when you feel like your anger might explode.

C. Put into words what's making you upset so you can act rather than react.

D. Look at the list and pick the one that is likely to be the most effective.

E. It's called a problem-solving approach.

F. After you've acted and the situation is over, spend some time thinking about how it went.

G. After that you should consider the consequences of each solution.

Why is volunteering important?

    When it comes to service work, it is important to realize that the actual goal should be getting the most out of your volunteering work. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Gaining new /social experiences.

    Volunteering allows students to get involved with new things and develop social and academic skills that couldn't be learned in a classroom environment. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    Giving back and helping others.

    Volunteers create better environments for others—they create healthier communities and they brighten lives. Jill, a senior student, had been a volunteer in her community (社区) for more than three years. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} "They always tell me how great we sound and how they wish they had taken time to learn an instrument in their youth."

    Creating connections with people.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Not only does the volunteer work you do show who you are as a person, but it reflects many positive qualities that possible employers and admission officers want to see. Volunteering allows you to meet a wide variety of people from all sorts of walks of life.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    Volunteering isn't one of the most attractive jobs, but it is one of the most beneficial and uplifting (令人振奋的). It's taking some time out of your day to help others. Volunteer work makes us feel good. It builds self-confidence and lifts up the spirits.

    It's sometimes hard to understand a teenager. It's even harder if a teenager doesn't agree with you.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Listen to what the teenager has to say. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} While you may not entirely agree with what he's saying, the tension will be lessened if the teenager feels like you are listening and trying to understand him. Also, he might return the favor and give you the chance to talk as well. It's best to have a conversation where both of your opinions matter rather than fight and possibly hurt each other in the process.

    Understand that while teenager may appear grown up and perhaps even sound matured, his mind has not fully developed, and he cannot think like an adult all the time. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} However, this doesn't mean you're completely right or he deserves to be ridiculed or treated like a child.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} However, remember that the teenager should understand when "no" is "no". Avoid bringing up a compromise every time you disagree on something. This might teach him that he can always get away with what he wants, whenever he wants it.

    If the conversation launches into an argument, stop it. Tell him that you both need to calm down and think clearly or the problem will never be solved. If he refuses to listen and continues arguing, step out of the room and allow time for both of you to settle down. Do not scold him or shout back. Your words will possibly be lost on the teenager since you both are too angry to listen to each other. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. He still needs to learn, and he doesn't know everything.

B. Avoid having a bad tone, including accusations in your words.

C. Find the good points the teenager has and mention the negative points too.

D. This article tells you how to disagree with a teenager in a kind manner.

E. People like being listened to, so give him the chance to express his opinion.

F. Come up with a compromise if the situation allows one.

G. Bring up the topic after a while and make sure you listen to each other patiently.

Whether you're traveling to the next town over or to the other side of the word, careful planning goes a long way toward ensuring your trip is a success. The right preparation helps you avoid potential disasters, such as having your credit card declined or running out of clean clothes to wear. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

Make your reservations for fights and accommodations.

{#blank#}2{#/blank#}, where you want to stay and how you want to get around, make your reservations. For flights, book around two months out. And don't wait till the last minute for your hotels either. You don't want them to be booked or almost-booked because then prices skyrocket.

Set a travel budget.

Before you do anything, you need to know how much money you will have for this trip. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}, so start your planning by breaking down how much you want to spend on transportation, food, accommodation, sightseeing and any other activities you hope to include in your trip.

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

If you're going abroad, you may be required to get a visa. Besides, check the website of your intended country's consulate or embassy to see what is required for you to enter the country. Visas may take weeks or even months to finalize, so check early in the planning process.

Pack appropriate clothing for your destination and trip.

Check the weather at your destination 2-3 days before you depart. This will let you know what type of clothes you need to bring. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}. Will you be expected to wear a suit for a conference, or will you be able to bathe in a bathing suit on the beach?