Question: Why is it so hard for some people to apologize after they've done something wrong? I have made efforts to persuade my uncle to be nice to people that he's hurt. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} How I wish things would be better if he'd just say he's sorry and ask them to forgive him.

Answer: {#blank#}2{#/blank#} It's just easier for him to pretend nothing happened than to face the embarrassment (尴尬) of admitting he was wrong. You've probably done the same thing yourself at some time. In fact, most of us have. Furthermore, what if others won't forgive him even if he apologizes?

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Pride blinds us to our mistakes or faults. Or at least it makes us pay less attention to their seriousness.

    Pride also makes us unwilling to admit to others that we were wrong. Perhaps we're afraid they will look down on us if we admit it. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} 

    But others see through our pride. And things would be far better if we admitted our faults and asked for forgiveness. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} 

    Now you know why your uncle refuses to apologize, talk to him again. Help him to learn how to apologize and ask for forgiveness from others.

A. But a deeper reason is pride.

B. But he just refuses to do that.

C. We may even hope that somehow they will overlook it.

D. As a result, you would offend others and hurt their feelings.

E. There are a variety of reasons for your uncle's refusal to apologize.

F. Otherwise our pride would only hurt us and cause conflict with others.

G. One reason your uncle finds it hard to apologize could be embarrassment.

How teens can stay fit

    Any type of regular, physical activity can improve your fitness and your health. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Exercise should be a regular part of your day, like brushing your teeth, eating and sleeping. It can be in gym class, joining a sports team, or working out on your own. Keep the following tips in mind:

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} A good attitude is important. Find an activity that you think is fun. You are more likely to stick with it if you choose something you like. A lot of people find it's more fun to exercise with someone else, so see if you can find a friend or family member to be active with you.

    Take it one step at a time. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} For example, walk or ride your bike to school. Get on or off the bus several blocks away and walk the rest of the way. Use the stairs instead of taking the elevator.

    Get your heart pumping (跳动). Whatever you choose, make sure it includes aerobic (有氧的) activity that makes you breathe harder and increases your heart rate. This is the best type of exercise because it increases your fitness level and makes your heart work better. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Examples of aerobic activities are basketball, running, or swimming.

    Don't forget to warm up with some easy exercises or stretching (拉伸) before you do any physical activity. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} It is also important to stretch out after you exercise to cool down your muscles.

A. It also burns off body fat.

B. Stay positive and have fun.

C. Make physical activity a habit.

D. Small changes can add up to better fitness.

E. The most important thing is that you keep moving!

F. This warms your muscles up and may help protect against injury.

G. Do the activity as often as possible, but don't exercise to the point of pain.

    Some people make you feel comfortable when they are around. You spend an hour with them and feel as if you have known them half your life.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Here are several skills that good talkers have. If you follow the skills, they'll help you put people at their ease, and make friends with them quickly.

    First of all, good talkers ask questions. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}One well-known businesswoman says, "At business lunches, I always ask people what they did that morning. It's a common question, but it will get things going." From there you can move on to other matters—sometimes to really personal questions. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Second, once good talkers have asked questions, they listen to the answers. This point seems clear, but it isn't. Your questions should have a point and help to tell what sort of person you are talking to. And to find out, you really have to listen carefully and attentively.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} If someone sticks to one topic, you can take it as a fact that he's really interested in it. Real listening also means not just listening to words, but to tones of voice. If the voice sounds dull, then, it's time for you to change the subject. Finally, good talkers know well how to deal with the occasion of parting. If you're saying goodbye, you may give him a firm handshake and say, "I've really enjoyed meeting you."{#blank#}5{#/blank#} Let people know what you feel, and they may walk away feeling as if they've known you half their life.

A. Real listening at least means some things.

B. You can become a popular person.

C. Almost anyone, no matter how shy he is, will answer a question.

D. And how he answers will let you know how far you can go.

E. If you want to see that person again, don't keep it a secret.

F. It's polite to listen to others with a smile.

G. These people have something in common.

    Color is fundamental in home design—something you'll always have in every room. A grasp of how to manage color in your spaces is one of the first steps to creating rooms you'll love to live in. Do you want a room that's full of life? Professional? Or are you just looking for a place to relax after a long day? {#blank#}1{#/blank#}, color is the key to making a room feel the way you want it to feel.

    Over the years, there have been a number of different techniques to help designers approach this important point. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}, they can get a little complex. But good news is that there're really only three kinds of decisions you need to make about color in your home: the small ones, the medium ones, and the large ones.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}. They're the little spots of color like throw pillows, mirrors and baskets that most of us use to add visual interest to our rooms. Less tiring than painting your walls and less expensive than buying a colorful sofa, small color choices bring with them the significant benefit of being easily changeable.

    Medium color choices are generally furniture pieces such as sofas, dinner tables or bookshelves. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}. They require a bigger commitment than smaller ones, and they have a more powerful effect on the feeling of a space.

    The large color decisions in your rooms concern the walls, ceilings, and floors. Whether you're looking at wallpaper or paint, the time, effort and relative expense put into it are significant. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}.

A. If you're experimenting with a color.

B. While all of them are useful.

C. Whatever you're looking for.

D. It's not really a good idea to use too many small color pieces.

E. Small color choices are the ones we're most familiar with.

F. So it pays to be sure, because you want to get it right the first time.

G. Color choices in this range are a step up from the small ones in two major ways.

    It can be difficult to meet new people and make friends, especially when you move to a new city or find yourself out of your comfort zone. How will you deal with the situation?{#blank#}1{#/blank#} There are several ways that you can meet people that you might not have considered in the past.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}You probably have several acquaintances that you see on a daily basis or a weekly basis. If you get along well with certain people, you can see if this acquaintance would like to go out and do something socially with you. If you have common interests, you might suggest that the two of you do something together that involves your interest.

    Make an effort to accept invitations. Sometimes people that you know may be having a barbecue or other types of social gathering. Try to ensure that you are able to attend and then show up at the appointed time.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}If you meet people that you click with, you can make a plan to see them again in the future or you can invite your friends to your own event and ask them to extend the invitation to the friends that were at their gathering too.

    Go out, even when you don't feel like it. It turns out that when people invite someone to join them for dinner or a movie or something else, they really want to hang out with you.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} But once you have used the same methods a few times you will know exactly what works and what does not. Don't give up, everyone is different and it just takes time to get to know people.

A. Expand on current relationships.

B. Trying to make new friends can be annoying at first.

C. Do you work with people that you get along well with?

D. But don't call them several times a day or even several times per week.

E. Be more social and you'll make your life more exciting and fulfilled.

F. If you tend to say “no” often, people will eventually stop asking you to go with them.

G. These types of gatherings often lead to meeting different people who are friends of friends.

    It's great fun with your favorite four-legged friend outdoors. But unfortunately for humans and pets alike, spending an abundance of time outdoors can have a troublesome downside: tick (扁虱) bites. "Tick season" actually takes up most of the year. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} The following safety tips may help you protect your pet from harmful tick bites.

    Lessen Your Pets Exposure to Ticks

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Usually they are particularly fond of tall grasses and brush. If possible, clear your yard regularly to create a safer environment for your pet to play in. If you think that your pet may be exposed to ticks, speak to your vet to discuss safe, effective products that may be able to prevent the attachment of ticks.

    Check Your Pet for Signs of Ticks

    Check your pet for ticks daily, especially if he or she has been playing outside or in a wooded or grassy area.{#blank#}3{#/blank#} Run your hands along your pets body, feeling for small bumps (肿块) and looking for dark spots. Ticks can be black, brown, and can range in size.

    Know How to Safely Remove a Tick from Your Pet

    Removing a tick from your pet can be a terrible task, but it's important to act quickly if you find evidence of a tick on it, as diseases can be spread from the creatures within a few short hours. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Among them using the tick remover is the most commonly used one.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    A single bite from a disease-carrying tick can spread disease to your unsuspecting pet. Symptoms of diseases include fever, loss of appetite and reduced energy. If your pet shows any of these signs, seek veterinary (兽医的) help as soon as possible.

A. Know the Symptoms

B. Ticks can live in all types of environments.

C. Wash away the ticks you've removed in the toilet

D. Areas to check include most parts of the body.

E. And summer months tend to see an increase in bites.

F. After removing a tick from your pet, always clean the wound.

G. There are varieties of removal methods that can be found online.