Volunteering at a nursing home is an often overlooked volunteer area and yet one of the most needed. Statistics show that only 50 percent of nursing home residents have no close relatives and 46 percent have no living children. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}However, the self gratification and relationships you will receive is too unusual to be replaced.

    Make a list of nursing homes you are able to volunteer at on a regular basis. When doing this, use any resources from family members, friends, or even use an online search engine to find nursing homes. When choosing your home, also keep in mind your schedule; make sure that you can be fully committed to any obligations that the nursing home may give you. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}Before calling, choose your times wisely, anytime between 9am-11am and 2pm-5pm would be a good option. By avoiding meal times or later at night, you'll have a better chance for getting information and finding people who are free to talk with you.

    Ask for an application form. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}This step is also where your applicant process begins. They will hand you all necessary applicant information. Most nursing homes will conduct interviews, do background checks, and may even have you receive vaccines and take drug tests.

    Become a "volunteer in training" at the nursing home. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}Because of the wide variety of possible areas, you may experience variations in your training length and the content may vary.

A. Expect to attend training if your application is approved.

B. Call or visit the top three of your chosen nursing home options.

C. Volunteering at a nursing home can be a really wonderful experience.

D. From your list, choose the top three that cater to what you are looking for.

E. You will be taken into training depending on the area you are assigned to train in.

F. The process of becoming a volunteer at a nursing home can often be a little too long.

G. The activity director or volunteer coordinator will handle all of your information from here.

    The First Americans

    There was a time long ago when a land bridge connected Asia and North America. The first settlers in North America crossed this land bridge from what is now Siberia to Alaska. The people who made this initial crossing were probably following the animals they used for food.

    Finally, the oceans rose and the land bridge between the continents disappeared. The settlers, who I shall call the “First Americans”， could not return to their homeland.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    For the next few thousand years, the First Americans moved south and east throughout North and South America. They made the journey all the way from Alaska to the southern tip of South America, a distance of more than 10,000 miles.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    In the far north, above the Arctic Circle, the First Americans became hunters of the ocean.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}In the summer, they gathered berries and other plants. In the winter, they stayed in lodges much of the time preparing for the next summer. It was a hard life, but they learned to survive in these terrible conditions.

    Farther south, in what is now Arizona, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico, the First Americans became cliff dwellers. They began by living in caves that already existed in the cliffs.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}The dwellings they built in many ways resembled today's apartment buildings.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} They built a system of dams and canals so they could store and use water almost any time of the year. They were so successful that they could raise fruits and vegetables that were not found naturally in the desert.

A．They also discovered foods like corn and potatoes.

B．Along the way, they established many different civilizations.

C．They discovered how to add to the caves by building structures of wood and stone.

D．People living near each other tended to share similar environments and customs.

E．They built boats of animal skins and hunted or fished for their food.

F．They would have to survive in the New World they had discovered.

G．The First Americans of the Southwest learned to water the desert.

    More than 40 million Americans move each year, but not always by choice. Whether you're moving because of work or schooling or for better chances, adjusting to（适应）the life in a new place can be difficult. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Here are some tips to help you adjust to your new home.

Treat it as an adventure

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} So stay positive and get out there and explore! Taste the local food and visit famous places and museums. Try local activities that aren't popular in your former city, such as skating if you come from a beach town or surfing if you lived in the mountains. You may discover a talent or interest you never knew you had.

Get involved with（融入）your neighbors

    Introduce yourself to neighbors and everyone else you meet. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} This is the best way to get advice about living in your area, and to make new friends. Attend local events that interest you, visit the markets or yard sales, take classes and so on. All of these things will help you meet people come and feel connected.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} It takes time to get to know a new place, so don't expect to feel comfortable right away. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} To help make the process easier you can meet new people, find a support group near you. A fresh move is also a fresh start. It is therefore a great time to start fulfilling a dream you've had, whether it is going back to school, starting a new career, or finishing a novel.

A. Find what you love.

B. Be patient and go after your dream.

C. Give yourself time to adjust.

D. Tell them you're new in the town.

E. It is especially true when you don't love your new city very much.

F. Show others the photos of your favorite places in your old town.

G. Living in a new place is a great opportunity to experience new things and grow up.

    Some people learn a second language easily. Other people have trouble learning a new language. How can you help yourself learn a new language, such as English? {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Be patient.

    You do not have to understand everything all at once. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} We can learn from our mistakes.

    Practice your English.

    For example, write in a journal every day. You will get used to writing in English, and you will feel comfortable expressing your ideas in English. After several weeks, you will see that your writing is improving.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}You can practice with your classmates outside class. You will all make mistakes, but gradually you will become comfortable communicating in English.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    If you believe that you can learn, you will learn.

    Keep a record of your language learning.

    After each class, think about what you did. Did you answer a question correctly? Did you understand something the teacher explained? Perhaps the lesson was difficult，but you tried to understand it.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    Be positive about learning English and believe that you can do it.

    It is important to practice every day and make a record of your achievements. You will enjoy learning English, and you will have more confidence in yourself.

A. Write these achievements(成就) in your journal.

B. Besides, you must speak English every day.

C. Making mistakes is an unavoidable part in your life.

D. There are several ways to make learning English a little easier and more interesting.

E. Share your achievement with your parents and friends.

F. Feel confident(有自信心的) about learning English.

G. It is natural for you to make mistakes when you learn something new.

    Are you truly happy? What does it mean to be happy? What does it take to achieve happiness? {#blank#}1{#/blank#} The following are a few tips that I follow to create happiness in my life.

    Make a plan for achieving goals that you believe will make you happy. Your moods (心情) will very likely increase if you are going after something you value.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} It is easy to begin to think negatively when you are surrounded by people who think that way. On the contrary, if you are around people who are happy, their emotional state will be infectious.

    When something goes wrong, try to figure out a solution (解决办法) instead of being absorbed in self-pity. Truly happy people don't allow setbacks to affect their mood because they know that with a little thought they can.

    Spend a few minutes each day thinking about the things that make you happy. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} And this will lead you to continuous happiness.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Whether you treat yourself to lunch  take a long, relaxing bath or simply spend a few extra minutes on your appearance, you will be subconsciously putting yourself in a better mood.

    Finding the humor in situations can also lead to happiness. Find a way to make light of a situation that would otherwise make you happy.

    Keeping healthy is another way to achieve happiness. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. Surround yourself with happy people.

B. There are some tips in life that lead to happiness.

C. Eating healthy foods or being fit can have a great effect on your mood.

D. These few minutes will help you focus on the positive things in your life.

E. What makes you happy may be different from what makes someone else happy.

F. It is also important to take some time each day to do something nice for yourself.

G. These are important questions for anyone who is seeking happiness to ask themselves.

Do you ever wish you could change something about your body? If so, you're not alone. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} But when you get stuck on what you don't like, it can really bring down your self-esteem (自尊).

So, want to look and feel your best? Here are some ways:

Accept your body

Nobody's perfect. Everybody wants to be liked and accepted just as they are. Don't body-shame yourself. When you say something negative about your own body, it hurts your self-esteem. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} It hurts just as much as if someone else said it. Be kind and respect yourself.

Like your body

Find things to like about your looks. Maybe you like your hair, face, or hands. What about your shape shoulders, or legs? Your eyes or your smile?{#blank#}3{#/blank#} If you get stuck, think of what your good friends like about how you look.  Accept those things and let yourself feel good.

Take care of your body

Eat healthy foods. Learn what foods are good for you, and how much is the right amount. Eating right helps you look your best. When you treat your body right, you feel good about yourself.

Be active every day. Your body needs to move to be strong, fit and healthy. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} You can run, walk, swim or dance. Pick activities you like and have fun.

Keep to a healthy weight. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Always talk to your parents or doctor first. But don't try to diet on your own. Your doctor can suggest ways you can stay at a weight that's right for you.

A. Attend to your body's needs.

B. Tell yourself what you like and why.

C. You can be active by playing a sport.

D. You can change a thing about your body.

E. Lots of people feel unhappy with some part of their looks.

F. Being a healthy weight helps you feel good about your body.

G. That's true whether you say it out loud or think it to yourself.