Easy Ways to Keep Your Brain Sharp

    Everyone is forgetful, but as we age, we start to feel like our brains are slowing down a bit — and that can be a very annoying thing. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Read on for some techniques worth trying.

    ⒈ {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    People who regularly made plans and looked forward to upcoming events had a 50 percent reduced chance of Alzheimer's disease (早老性痴呆症), according to a recent study. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Something as simple as setting a goal to have a weekly coffee date with a friend will do. There's evidence that people who have a purpose in life or who are working on long or short-term goals appear to do better. In other words, keep your brain looking forward.

    ⒉ Go for a walk.

    Mildly raised glucose (葡萄糖) levels can harm the area of the brain that helps you form memories and physical activity can help get blood glucose down to normal levels. In fact, exercise produces chemicals that are good for your brain. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    ⒊ Learn something new.

    Take a Spanish class online, join a drawing club, or learn to play cards. A study found that mental stimulation (刺激) limits the weakening effects of aging on memory and the mind. But the best thing for your brain is when you learn something new and are physically active at the same time. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Or go dancing with your friends.

A. Focus on the future.

B. This can be especially harmful to the aged.

C. It should be something like learning gardening.

D. So take a few minutes each day to do some reading.

E. But don't worry if your schedule isn't filled with life-changing events.

F. Luckily, research shows there is a lot you can do to avoid those moments.

G. In other words, when you take care of your body, you take care of your brain.

    Winter running is the best way to lose winter weight. But before heading out, make sure you have a solid plan. You don't want to come across accident along the way. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Wear the Right Shoes

    The right shoes will depend on the road. You want shoes that are made for the kind of surface you run on. For example, if you are running on slippery surfaces, you want shoes with great friction(摩擦力). {#blank#}2{#/blank#} When trying out a pair of running shoes, check the fit, feel and ride of the shoes. These elements(要素) are important once you take your new shoes out for a run.

    Warm Up

    Warm up is an important part to keep fit. Especially if temperatures drop and your muscles are stiff(僵硬的) from the cold! {#blank#}3{#/blank#} It also prepares the muscles for the intense (激烈的) activity ahead. The cold climate won't feel as cold when you do warm ups. This is because blood flows much faster after a good warm up!

    Deal with Wind

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}The key is to run into the wind and finish by running against it. This keeps icy wind from blasting(用力撞击) your face. To prevent any injuries or accidents, break your run into small parts. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} You can use certain creams on the nose and cheeks to prevent frostbite(冻疮).Don't skip your sun-block if you're running during the day. UVB(紫外线)passes through the clouds. Running for an extended period on a cloudy day will still damage the skin!

A．Don't run in the wind.

B．Running makes you warm.

C．Warming up prevents injuries.

D．It's hard to run if it's too windy.

E．Your shoes should fit very well so you don't slip.

F．Here we are giving you important tips to remember.

G．It also helps to keep the skin protected from the wind.

                                                                                     How to Forgive Yourself

    Kelly came home fired and discouraged from her job. She started yelling at everyone in the house. When she calmed down, she started to feel guilty and wanted her family to forgive her.

    Does this story sound familiar? What about you?{#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    We sometimes make some mistakes.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}When you hurt someone and start feeling guilty, the first thing yon need to do is forgive yourself before you ask others to forgive you. Whether you screamed at your child, hurt your partner or lied to your friend, it is necessary to forgive yourself for your benefit.

    To learn how to forgive yourself, follow the guide below:

    ◆{#blank#}3{#/blank#} If it is something simple such as screaming at your child or your partner, then work on understanding yourself and emotions. It is also necessary to understand why you took this action for which you have to forgive yourself now.

    ◆After you have known about your mistake, you need to learn your lesson from it, so you won't repent it. Ask yourself, what can you learn from what you have done?{#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    ◆Realize that you are a human and everyone makes mistakes or does things they are not proud of.{#blank#}5{#/blank#} All it will do is to cause you pain, sorrow, stress, and could lead you into low spirits. Therefore, it is better to make a decision to forgive yourself.

    Always remember the saying, "We achieve inner health only through forgiveness, the forgiveness not only of others but also of ourselves.”

A. Recognize your behavior and what you have done

D. It is of great help if you just ignore what led to the situation

C. If you stay upset and angry at yourself, this will not benefit you.

D. Have you done something you feel you can't forgive yourself for?

F. Do you hate yourself so much that you feel life is corning to an end?

F. We also hurt others intentionally and unintentionally now and then.

G. Do you have to change some habits or behavior to avoid such experiences?

How to read more and learn more

    These days, more and more Chinese people enjoy sending and receiving messages on the phone. It can help them to get the latest news and communicate with friends. But I think I should read more books besides the textbooks, the more, the better. It can broaden my mind and improve my language skills. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Here are some tips for you.

    Clear your purpose for reading.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Most people read for two main reasons, pleasure or knowledge. Clearing about your reading purpose can not only help you choose the books you really need to read, but also remind you why reading the book is important to you, so you will keep reading and complete the book faster.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    No matter what you arc reading, it is important to enjoy what you read. Your friends you the books they love, but those books might not necessarily be the ones you enjoy.

    Give up books that you don't enjoy.

    You may have chosen books that you are interested in, and they are right purpose. But while you are reading them, there may still be some books that you don't enjoy reading. Whenever you realize that you aren't enjoying the book you are reading, give it up.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    Set a reading goal.

    It is interesting that I read the books borrowed from libraries faster than than those I bought. The reason is the books I bought don't have a due date! I don't need to return those books. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Before you read each book, ask yourself what time you need to complete this book by.

A. Remember reading shouldn't be a chore.

B. Read the books borrowed from others.

C. Read only what you are interested in.

D. Of course, it also can help me to get good grades.

E. We need to get the latest news and communicate with friends.

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

G. Before you start reading, ask yourself why you are reading this book.

How to Learn A Foreign Language

    Spend the time!

    By far the most important factor（因素） is how much time you spend in learning the language. The more time you spend with the language, the faster you will learn.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Focus on words and phrases!

    To build up your vocabulary, you'll need lots.{#blank#}2{#/blank#} Learn these words and phrases through your listening and reading. Read online, using online dictionaries, and make your own vocabulary lists for review. Gradually（渐渐地）you will be able to use them.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    Listen wherever you are on your MP3 player. Read what you are listening to. Listen to and read things that you like, things that you can mostly understand. If you keep listening and reading, you will get used to the language.

    Take responsibility for your own learning!

    If you do want to learn the language, take control. Choose content of interest that you want to listen to and read. Seek out（找出）the words and phrases that you need to understand in your listening and reading.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} Discover the language by yourself. Talk when you feel like it. Write when you feel like it.

    Relax and enjoy yourself!

    Do not worry about what you cannot remember, or cannot yet understand, or cannot yet say. It does not matter.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}The language will gradually become clearer in your brain, but this will happen on a schedule（计划）that you cannot control. Just make sure you spend enough time with the language.

A. Listen and read every day!

B. You are learning and improving.

C. That is the greatest guarantee（保证）of success.

D. Do not wait for someone else to show you the language.

E. Start to notice words and how they come together as phrases.

F. Soon you will run into your new words and phrases elsewhere.

G. This means spending time enjoyably connected to the language you are learning.

    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