Learning a second language

    Nowadays, more and more people are learning a second language. So why should we invest time in learning a second language? Is it worth it? What are the benefits of learning a second language? Let us see.

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    If your work involves regular contact with speakers of foreign languages, being able to talk to them in their own languages will help you to communicate with them better. It may also help you to make sales and to negotiate and secure contracts. Knowledge of foreign languages may also increase your chance of finding a new job, getting a promotion or a transfer overseas, or of going on foreign business trips.

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    Needless to say, being able to speak a foreign language, for example, the Japanese, would benefit you a lot when you are travelling to Japan. Being able to speak the language of the target country will save you a lot of communication trouble and inconvenience. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

Education

    If you are a high school student or a college student who is interested in going abroad for further education, then you will, in all possibility, have to learn the language of the country where you wish to move to, for further studies. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

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    Learning a second language can help in broadening one's horizon, it can help in learning about the culture of that particular country and it can pave the way for new interests and hobbies. Not only can you enjoy forms of art and literature connected with the new language, but you can also meet new people, make new friends and develop long-lasting relationships…all on the basis of learning a new language.

    Have you ever felt a sudden feeling of joy because you heard a favorite song playing? Then you know that music can have a strong effect on your emotions.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}It can help get you out of a bad mood (心情) or stay in a good one, says Alicia Ann Clair, professor at the University of Kansas. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    To cheer up, listen to Latin music or anything with a strong beat or a fast speed {#blank#}3{#/blank#} When you want to relax after a busy day, music with a slower speed can calm you down.

    Listen to calming music before you start any stressful activities, advises Dr. Clair. "Once you' re in a good state of mind, it' s easier to keep it." You can lower stress at work with music, too, by playing relaxing tunes (曲调).{#blank#}4{#/blank#}"If you listen to them all day long, you' 11 stop noticing them," Dr. Clair explains. Then the music won't have any effect.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}"To feel energetic, start with something relaxing, and then gradually increase the speed and beat," says Dr. Clair. For example, first play some nice slow love songs, and then listen to something more energetic. When you want to calm down after a busy week at work, just do the opposite.

A. Music can also help you relax and feel active.

B. Try to take advantage of this power of music.

C. But only play them when you really need them.

D. Loud and fast music can fill you with energy.

E. There are different kinds of music around the world.

F. Put on your favorite song, but only if it is one that can lift your spirits.

G. You can change your mood by changing from one kind of music to another.

    Everyone, from homeless people to billionaires, is likely to be influenced by stress; there's simply no way to avoid it{#blank#}1{#/blank#}Here are five powerful tips for ways to kill stress in almost any situation.

    Eat Healthier

    Though a lot of stress is psychological, there are also plenty of physical factors that lead to this natural human response to noticed danger, In order to relieve stress, make sure you're treating your body right. A big part of this is eating healthier{#blank#}2{#/blank#}Anyway, adopting an alkaline(碱性的）diet instead of an acidic (酸性的）one is recommended.

    Wake Up Earlier

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}However, waking up 15 or 20 minutes earlier each morning may have more benefits than sleeping in. By giving yourself some extra time, you won't feel quite rushed in the morning, which leads to better preparation and more confidence.

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    Since you are never going to remove 100 percent of the stress in your life, one of the best things you can do is let it be one of your motivations. This is what stress is designed to do, after all. The psychological and physical reactions brought on by stress are supposed to heighten our senses and empower us to fight off a threat.

    Watch a Funny Video

    Here is a simple and practical tip: watch a funny video on You Tube, Research shows that seeing something amusing activates the part of the brain that produces calm physiological(生理的）responses. This can lead to less anxiety and more happiness.

    Take Walk Outside

    Whenever possible, make sure you take your walk outdoors{#blank#}5{#/blank#}It can improve energy levels and memory by as much as 20 percent.

A. A number of studies are two important keys to good health.

B. Diet and relaxation are two important keys to good health.

C. There are no magic”anti-stress”foods.

D. However, there are ways to reduce the amount of stress you suffer from.

E. Keep Positive Relationships

F. Let Stress Motivate You

G. It is certainly true that the more sleep you get, the less stressed you'll be.

    Rather Public speaking and critical thinking

    What is critical thinking? To a certain degree, it's a matter of logic (逻辑) — of being able to spot weaknesses in other people's arguments and to avoid them in your own, it also includes related skills such as distinguishing fact from opinion and assessing the soundness of evidence .

    In the broad sense, critical thinking is focused, organized thinking – the ability to see clearly the relationships among ideas{#blank#}1{#/blank#}The greatest thinkers, scientists, and inventors have often taken information that was really available and put it together differently to produce new ideas. That, too, is critical thinking.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} As the class goes on, for example, you will probably spend a good deal of time organizing your speeches. While this may seem like a purely mechanical (机械的) exercise, it is closely connected with critical thinking. If the structure of your speech is loose and confused, chances are that your thinking is also disordered and confused. If, on the other hand, the structure is clear, there is a good chance your thinking is too. Organizing a speech is not a matter of arranging the ideas your already have{#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    What is true of organization is true of many aspects of public speaking.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} As you work on expressing your ideas in clear accurate language, you will improve your ability to think clearly and accurately{#blank#}5{#/blank#} As you learn to listen critically to speeches in class, you will be better able to assess the ideas of speakers in a variety of situations.

    If you take full advantage of your speech class, you will be able to develop your skills as critical thinker in many circumstances. This is one reason public speaking has been regarded as a vital part of education since the days of ancient Greece.

A. Rather, it is an important part of shaping the ideas themselves.

B. This may seem like a lot of time, but the rewards are well worth it.

C. It may also help you to know that there is no such thing as a perfect speech.

D. As you study the role of evidence and reasoning in speechmaking, you will see how they can be used in other forms of communication as well.

E. The skills you learn in your speech class can help you become a more effective thinker in a number of ways.

F. If you are wondering what this has to do with your public speaking class, the answer is quite a lot.

G. It has often been said that there are few new ideas in the world, only reorganized ideas.

Ways to make your bedroom unique

    Tired of your room looking the same all the time? Here are some ideas to make it match your own unique style.

    See the transformation as a process，not a quick change.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}You don't have to follow all the suggestions in this article but if you do, it'll probably take you a while, Try to be patient.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Before decorating it's important to make sure your room is organized. Small drawers and dividers can make it easier to be organized and quicker to put stuff away.

    Evaluate what you already have. Look around your house and see what materials you already have on hand. Cool holiday lights, lengths of fabric, paint, unwanted furniture, bulletin boards, pillows, and mirrors can all be fun additions to your room that your family might have sitting around unused. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}Throw away stuff you do not need.

    Develop a theme. A theme can be as simple as a color or a mood, or it can center on a certain time period or fictional character {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    Rearrange your furniture.{#blank#}5{#/blank#} Think about ways to maximize(使最大化)your space and leave more room open in the middle. If you're out of ideas, check out IKEA or other department stores, and pay attention to how they arrange furniture to maximize space.

    Get some different comforter and pillows. Change the way your bed looks by finding a different comforter and some new pillows for it. Shop online or at a store or browse through a thrift store. If you're feeling industrious(勤勉的)，you can even sew your own.

A. Organize your room.

B. Put away your furniture if possible.

C. Redecorating a room can take a lot of work.

D. It's better to think about where to put your bed before decorating.

E. Pick out some items that you might want to include in your new room.

F. Changing the positioning of your room can help it feel different and more unique in very little time.

G. Whatever you choose, it should make your room feel like your own, individualized space.

If you text often, you likely have a "texting style". Do you often use emojis? Or what about using correct punctuation (标点)? What do all these texting habits say about you? To help you understand yourself, here are some texting styles that can tell you a lot about your personality.

Do you always use emojis when you're texting? You're most likely someone who is open to showing your emotions and is truthful. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} To make sure the other person doesn't get the wrong idea about your messages, you make sure to express the tone of messages with an emoji, which can be often used as effective signals in modern social communication.

If you like to respond in one-word texts like a quick "Good", then you most likely have a more reserved personality, and aren't as open with your true thoughts and feelings. Because you are not as open with your emotions in texts, you may not care how lengthy your response is. But be careful. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} 

Do you value punctuation and grammar in your writing? This love of grammar goes straight into your texts as well as your emails. This seems like a great thing, doesn't it? But in texting, people seem to think otherwise. Simply placing a period at the end of sentences in texts can make you come across as untrustworthy to others. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} With this texting style, you are rooted in logic and always pay attention to the little details.

Are your texts lengthy and thoughtful? {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Similar to someone who texts with perfect grammar, you are a thoughtful and detail-oriented person, who enjoys deep conversations and likes things that are controlled and stable.

{#blank#}5{#/blank#} Which texting personality are you? Are you a mix of several types? It's important to note that everyone has different ways of texting in different situations. Everyone texts their colleagues in a different style from their family or their friends. If you ever think someone may have left you an unclear or rude text, it's better to just ask them in-person what they meant or what they were feeling.

A. Do you relate to any of these texting personalities?

B. Do you know that you and your friends may have different styles?

C. Such texts may also be rated as less sincere than those that do not.

D. You may be the busy type who doesn't have a lot of time to respond.

E. You're the type of person who understands the importance of context.

F. You want others to know how you're feeling when you're using a message.

G. If you're texting someone with a different text personality, they may view your text as negative.