Curiosity is an important characteristic of a genius. I don't think you can find an intellectual giant who is not a curious person. Thomas Edison, Leonardo da Vinci, Albert Einstein, Richard Feynman, they are all curious characters. Richard Feynman was especially known for his adventures which came from his curiosity.{#blank#}1{#/blank#} Here are four reasons:

    It makes your mind active and strong.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}Their minds are always active. Since the mind is like a muscle which becomes stronger through continual exercise, the mental exercise caused by curiosity makes your mind stronger and stronger.

    It makes your mind observant of new ideas.

    When you are curious about something, your mind expects new ideas related to it. When the ideas come they will soon be recognized.{#blank#}3{#/blank#} This is because your mind is not prepared to recognize them. Just think, how many great ideas may have lost due to lack of curiosity?

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    By being curious you will be able to see something new that is normally not visible. They are hidden behind the surface of normal life, and it takes a curious mind to look beneath the surface and discover the unknown.

    It brings excitement into your life.

    The life of curious people is far from boring. It's neither dull nor routine. There are always new things that attract their attention and there are always new “toys” to play with.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. So is curiosity that important?

B. But why is curiosity so important?

C. It leads you to a new and exciting life.

D. It opens up new worlds and possibilities.

E. Curious people always ask questions and search for answers.

F. Rather than get bored, curious people have an adventurous life.

G. Without curiosity, the ideas may pass right in front of you and yet you miss them.

    It's important to prepare for rainy days. Similarly, it's important to save money. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}Why? It's because they've got used to spending all the money they make. Sometimes, the hardest thing about saving money is just getting started. Here are some tips to help you save money.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}The first step in saving money is to know how much you're spending. For one month, keep a record of everything you spend money on. Once you have your data, organize these numbers by category(类别) and get the total amount for each.

    You can make a budget. Now that you have a good idea of how much you spend in a month, what can you do now? {#blank#}3{#/blank#} To plan your spending, you can build a budget. In this way, you can limit over-spending and make sure that you put money away for unexpected situations.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}Doing so make it much easier to get started. Begin by deciding how long it will take to reach each goal. Some short-term goals include starting a fund to cover 6 months to a year of living costs and saving money for a vacation. Long-term saving goals are often several years or even decades away and can include saving for retirement and putting money away for a child's college education.

    Make saving money easier with automatic transfers (自动转账). Automatic transfers to your savings account are very helpful. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}By moving money out of your checking account, you'll be less likely to spend money you plan to use for savings.

A. You can keep a record of what you do. .

B. You can record your costs.

C. You can plan your spending.

D. You can set savings goals

E. You can move money out of your savings account.

F. However, some people find it hard to save money.

G. They can make saving money much easier.

Some Advice for Freshmen

    As you enter a university, you turn to a new page where life is quite different from before. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} As far as I can see, there are several aspects you should pay special attention to.

Manage your free time well.

    Since there's plenty of spare time every day, a good time-management becomes vital. When free, you can devote yourself to studying or going out to visit some scenic spots nearby. If you have special skills or interests, there are various clubs for you to join. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} At the same time you get the chance to make friends with other students.

    Develop self-discipline (自律).

    College life is nearly completely up to yourself instead of the teachers compared to the high school. So self-discipline makes much more significance. In university the teachers' job is to give classes. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} It is your choice to do them dependently or copy. You're supposed to hand in the assignments punctually. You're also expected to stick to your timetable, keep a balanced diet, etc.

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

    This is the person who will help you with course conflicts, adding or dropping courses, scheduling of classes for future terms and deciding on majors. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} He/ She should be the person you turn to with any academic issues or conflicts. And don't be afraid of requesting another adviser if you can't contact the first one.

    Bear these tips in mind and I'm sure it can be beneficial to you in the long run.

A. Find a perfect place to study in.

B. It's where to show your talent.

C. Get to know your academic adviser.

D. This person is a key resource for you.

E. As for the assignments, it is your work.

F. Buy a calendar to know when assignments are due.

G. To well adapt yourself to the new environment is of great significance.

    Have you ever wondered how the trainers at Sea World get the 19,000-pound whale to jump 22 feet out of water and perform tricks? They get that whale to go over a rope farther out of the water than most of us can imagine. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}.

So how do the trainers at Sea World do it? The first thing they do is reinforce(强化) the behavior that they want repeated — in this case, to get the whale to go over the rope.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}, in a position where the whale can't help but do what's expected of it. Every time the whale goes over the rope, it's given positive reinforcement and gets fed with fish. But what happened when the whale goes under the rope? Nothing — no criticism, no warning and no feedback. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}.

    Positive reinforcement is the key of that simple principle that produces such splendid results. And as the whale begins to go over the rope more often than under, the trainers begin to raise the rope. It must be raised slowly enough so that the whale doesn't starve.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}. Make a big deal out of the good and little stuff that we want consistently. Secondly, under-criticize. People know they need help when they mess up. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}, people will not forget the event and usually will not repeat it.

    So we need to set up the circumstances so that people can't fail. Over-celebrate, under-criticize…and know how far to raise the rope.

A. This is a great challenge

B. And the whale stays right where it is

C. If we figure out a way to motivate the whale

D. They start with the rope below the surface of the water

E. If we under-criticize, punish and discipline less than expected

F. Whales are taught that their negative behavior won't be acknowledged

G. The simple lesson to be learned from the whale trainers is to over-celebrate

    Do you remember those times when your mother told you to avoid talking to strangers? But now you're not a child anymore. In fact, there are advantages of talking to strangers.

    You can meet a really great person.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#} You can meet a person who'll become your best friend in future. You can also meet someone who'll give you a chance to get your dream job or somehow help you in life.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    You have some opinion about different subjects and you know your friends' and relatives' points of view about them too. But there are millions of other people who think differently and can give you unpredictable yet smart ideas that'll broaden your horizons.

    You improve your social skills.

    Whatever social skills you have, you can make them better when talking to strangers. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} You can better these skills when talking to a stranger.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    If you belong to that shy type of people, talking to a stranger may seem to be a real challenge for you. I'm also extremely shy but I realize it's not an issue at all. You can overcome your fear of being judged by others by talking to strangers and become more confident.

    You can cheer someone up.

    The thing you'll definitely like about talking to strangers is that you can make someone's day better. Smile and people will smile in return. Compliment people and they'll think something pleasant about you. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    With busy schedules and limited hours of daylight, some runners find their only me to run is in the darkness of early morning or evening.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}. But if you have to run at night or in the early morning, make sure to follow these guidelines. Choose a Well-lit Route.

    It might not be your favourite route to run, but the most well-lit route is your first choice. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} and you'll always be able to see the road and avoid potential hazards.

    •Always Run Against Traffic

    It's easier to avoid cars if you can see them coming. Avoid busy roads and those with no shoulders or sidewalks.

    Run With a Friend

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}. If possible, try to never run alone. If you're running alone, let someone know the route you're running and approximately how long you will be out.

    •Watch Out for Bikes and Runners

    Even if you're running on a path or in a park with no cars, always be aware of other runners and cyclists. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}. This advice applies to running in both daylight and darkness.

    •Put Away Your Music

    Make sure you leave your radio, MP3 player, or iPad at home. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}. You can't hear oncoming cars, cyclists yelling to move, dogs, or any other potential threat.

A. Oncoming cars see you better

B. There's strength and safety in numbers

C. Running in daylight is always a safer choice

D. A headlamp is also an essential item for runners

E. Before you stop or turn around, make sure your path is clear

F. Cutting off your sense of hearing leaves you at a disadvantage

G. Put your driver's license in your pocket or wear an ID tag on your shoe