Crossword puzzles and exercise are just a few of the habits that improve memory best. But to {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(true) give your brain a push, you might want to take a simple tip to heart-and it's nothing you learned in school.

    So far, researchers from Waterloo University in Canada {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(discover) what may be the easiest way to improve your memory ever. Their research, recently {#blank#}3{#/blank#}( publish) in the journal Memory, suggests that reading out loud to yourself can increase your recall skills {#blank#}4{#/blank#}up to 15%.

    In the study, scientists asked 95 participants to test four {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(method): reading, silently, hearing someone else read, reading aloud and listening to a recording of oneself reading. Their result? The people{#blank#}6{#/blank#}read the information out loud showed the best retention(保持)rates—about 15%{#blank#}7{#/blank#}(high) in learning speed, in fact. You may want to add these brain-boosting foods that can improve memory to your diet, too.

    “Read{#blank#}8{#/blank#} needs to be remember out loud, and you'll remember it better. Yes, it's shat simple!” psychologist and study co-author Colin Macleod said.

    So next time when you're preparing for a big exam, spend some time{#blank#}9{#/blank#} (read) loud. Trust us. It might make you{#blank#}10{#/blank#}genius.

    Every year thousands of tourists visit Pompeii, Italy. They see the sights that Pompeii is famous for —{#blank#}1{#/blank#}(it) stadium, theatres, shops and restaurants. The tourists do not, however, see Pompeii's people. No one has lived in Pompeii for almost 2, 000 years.

    Once, Pompeii was a busy city of 22, 000 people. It {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (lie) at the foot of Mount Vesuvius, a grass-covered volcano. Mount Vesuvius had not erupted for {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (century), so the people of Pompeii felt that they were in {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (safe).

    In August of AD 79, Mount Vesuvius erupted. The entire top of the mountain exploded, {#blank#}5{#/blank#} a huge black cloud rose into the air. Soon stones and hot ashes began to fall on Pompeii. When the eruption ended two days later, Pompeii 6{#blank#}6{#/blank#} (bury) under 20 feet of stones and ashes. Almost all of its people were dead.

    From then on, Pompeii remained under stones and ashes. Then an Italian scientist {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (name) Ginseppe began to uncover Pompeii. {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (slow) and carefully, Ginseppe and his men dug.The city looked almost the same as it had looked in AD 79.There were streets and fountains, houses and shops.There was a stadium {#blank#}9{#/blank#} 20, 000 seats.Perhaps the most important of all, there were everyday objects,{#blank#}10{#/blank#} tell us a great deal about the people who lived in Pompeii. Ginseppe has died, but his work continues.

    What on earth does happiness mean? I can't give you its exact definition, but I'm sure if you love and help others, you'll get it.

    I'll never forget {#blank#}1{#/blank#}old lady. She lives in a small house alone. It is said that her husband and her son died in a road accident years ago. Her life is bitter, {#blank#}2{#/blank#} she often helps others with a smile. Whenever{#blank#}3{#/blank#} snows, she is always the first to clean the paths. She looks after several children {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (live) nearby. I am one of them. I often remember the stories she told us and her kind smile. Perhaps she is unlucky, but I think she is a happy person. Her life is full of{#blank#}5{#/blank#} （laugh）and love.

    But I'm sad to see some people getting their happiness {#blank#}6{#/blank#}bad ways. They talk {#blank#}7{#/blank#}（noisy）in cinemas and meeting rooms; they destroy trees to enjoy themselves and they laugh at others' shortcomings. Perhaps they feel happy at that time, but they will never get true happiness because they {#blank#}8{#/blank#}（lose）their personality already.

    Now I know {#blank#}9{#/blank#} happiness is. It means kindness, love and unselfishness. Above all, I have come to understand that bringing happiness to others {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (be) getting ourselves happiness.

    There was a young flower in the desert{#blank#}1{#/blank#}all was dry and sad looking... It was growing by itself,{#blank#}2{#/blank#}(enjoy) every day and saying to the sun, "{#blank#}3{#/blank#}shall I be grown up?" And the sun would say "Be{#blank#}4{#/blank#}(patience) ! Each time I touch you, you grow a little." She was so pleased,{#blank#}5{#/blank#}she would have a chance to bring beauty to this corner of sand. And this is all she wanted to do - bring a little bit of beauty to this world.

    {#blank#}6{#/blank#}one day the hunter came by and stepped on her. She was going to die and she felt so sad, not because she was{#blank#}7{#/blank#}(die), but because she would{#blank#}8{#/blank#}(ever) have a chance to bring a little bit of beauty to this corner of the desert.

    The great spirit saw her, and was listening. - Indeed, he said... She should be living... So he reached down and touched her -- and gave her{#blank#}9{#/blank#}second life.

    Finally she grew up to be a beautiful flower. And this corner of the desert also became so beautiful because{#blank#}10{#/blank#}the little flower.