Ask helpful Hannah

    Dear helpful Hannah,

    I've got a problem with my husband, Sam. He bought a smart phone a couple of months ago and he took it on our recent ski vacation to Colorado, it was a great trip except for one problem. He has a constant urge {#blank#}1{#/blank#} for next messages; he checks his phone every five minutes! He's so addicted to it that he just can't stand the idea{#blank#}2{#/blank#} there may be an important text. He can't help checking even at inappropriate times like when we are eating in a restaurant and I am talking to him! He behaves {#blank#}3{#/blank#} any small amount of boredom can make him feel the need to check his phone even when he know he shouldn't. The temptation to see {#blank#}4{#/blank#} is connecting him is just too great. When I ask him to put down the phone and stop {#blank#}5{#/blank#}  (ignore) me, he say, “In a minute.” but still checks to see if {#blank#}6{#/blank#} has posted something new on the Internet. Our life {#blank#}7{#/blank#}  (interrupted). If we go somewhere and I ask him to have the phone at home, he suffers from withdrawal symptom. May this dependency on his smart phone has become more than an everyday problem.

    I recently read an article about “nomophobia,”{#blank#}8{#/blank#} is a real illness people can't suffer from the fear of being without your phone! I am worried that Sam maybe suffering from this illness because he feels anxious if he doesn't have his phone with him, even for a short time.

Who would have thought that little devices like these could have brought so much trouble!

    Sick and Tired Sadie

    “Why are you unwilling to accept this opportunity in space? Have you read the{#blank#}1{#/blank#}(describe) carefully?” Wang Ping asked me. “You will live in a {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(furnish) house with all modem equipment and robots will be able to clarify any problems. You are only needed to become familiar with the administration and rules for such a project. It will be an{#blank#}3{#/blank#} (enjoy) experience for you.”

    Many people need to be reminded of the job opportunities in space stations, which{#blank#}4{#/blank#} (constant) need space cooks, cleaners, teachers, stewards and stewardesses. You can be swiftly trained for your new job from using previous skills. At first people may find new surroundings difficult{#blank#}5{#/blank#}(tolerate). However, they will be able to overcome the difficulties if their families encourage them to take{#blank#}6{#/blank#} the job. There are lots of advantages{#blank#}7{#/blank#}come from a period of time in space. But for health reasons only one stay of three years{#blank#}8{#/blank#}(allow), because{#blank#}9{#/blank#}link between illness and length of stay may be strong. It is a little disappointing,{#blank#}10{#/blank#}the rules cannot be changed for anyone.

    Last weekend we celebrated Jacob turning nine{#blank#}1{#/blank#}his friends with an art party. Instead of hosting it at our house, we{#blank#}2{#/blank#}（decide ）to try something new to celebrate it. It cost US $50,00 to rent a small restaurant. I worked with a store manager. And I bought{#blank#}3{#/blank#}(balloon) and a few other things from him.

    On the day of the party, the tables in the restaurant{#blank#}4{#/blank#}(cover) and waiters and waitresses were ready to get to work when we arrived. We started with helping the children paint their own canvases(油画){#blank#}5{#/blank#}then create their own T-shirts. I should have advised parents {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(take)some old clothes,{#blank#}7{#/blank#} (unlucky)we did not. When one child got paint all over{#blank#}8{#/blank#}(him), I felt bad about that.

    Overall, Jacob had{#blank#}9{#/blank#}wonderful time. We were able to do the art parity for minimal cost. The smile on his face at the end of the day was all{#blank#}10{#/blank#}mattered to me.

    No one knows exactly how the earth began, as it {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(happen) so long ago. However, according to a {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(wide) accepted theory, the universe began with a “Big Bang” that threw matter {#blank#}3{#/blank#}all directions. After that, atoms began to form and combine to create stars and other {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(body). For several billion years after the “Big Bang”, the earth was still jus {#blank#}5{#/blank#}cloud of dust. What it was to become was uncertain {#blank#}6{#/blank#}between 4.5 and 3.8 billion years ago when the dust settled into a solid globe. The earth became so {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(violence) that it was not clear {#blank#}8{#/blank#} the shape would last or not. It exploded loudly with fire and rock. They were in time {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(produce) carbon, nitrogen, water vapour and other gases, which were to make the earth's atmosphere. What is even{#blank#}10{#/blank#}(important) is that as the earth cooled down, water began to appear on its surface.

    I have been learning English for the last five years and one of the things {#blank#}1{#/blank#} has helped me to improve is reading. I love reading and often read during my free time. First, I {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (start) reading easy things in English, like recipes (食谱) for cooking and short stories {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (write) especially for language learners. Then I moved onto longer stories and newspaper articles. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} first I found that reading was difficult because of the variety of vocabulary and the grammar, {#blank#}5{#/blank#} this soon became easier and I found that I could understand more and more of {#blank#}6{#/blank#} I was reading. I didn't worry if I didn't know all the words, as I could still understand the main ideas. Reading has helped improve my English in many ways. I'm not only {#blank#}7{#/blank#} better and quicker reader, but also my {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (spell), writing, grammar and vocabulary are all much better. I think I have improved faster {#blank#}9{#/blank#} some of my friends who have been learning at the same time as me. So, I would say that everyone who wants to learn a language {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (quick) should read.