In the age of the keyboard,some people seem to think handwriting lessons are on the way out.

    Steve Graham, a literacy professor at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, has been hearing about the death of handwriting for the past fifteen years. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} He said, "If the results of a survey we have published this year are accurate,it is being taught by about ninety percent of teachers in grades one to three."

    Ninety percent of teachers also say their are required to teach handwriting. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    Professor Graham says one study published this year found that about three out of every four teachers say they are not prepared to teach handwriting. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}others teach it for sixty to seventy minutes a day.

    Many adults remember learning that way—by copying letters over and over again. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Many experts also think handwriting should not be taught by itself. Instead ,they say it should be used as a way to get students to express ideas. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    Teachers commonly report that about one-fourth of their students have poor handwriting.Some people might think handwriting is not important anymore because of computers and voice recognition（辨认）programs.

A.After all,that is why we write.

B.Nowadays teachers pay more and more attention to their students' writing.

C.So is it still being taught?

D.But who cares if people know how to write well?

E.But studies have yet to answer the question of how well they are teaching it.

F.Today's thinking is that short periods of practice are better.

G.He says some teachers teach handwriting for ten or fifteen minutes a day.

    Developing good teacher-student relationships

    We all have our favorite teachers-those who seem truly interested and treat us as intelligent beings. But what about teachers we don't know as well (or even don't like much)?{#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    First, do the obvious stuff: show up for class on time, with all assignments completed. Be polite, be respectful, and ask questions.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Obviously, your teachers are really interested in their subjects or they wouldn't have decided to teach them! Showing the teacher that you care sends the message that you are a dedicated student.

    You can also schedule a private conference during a teacher's free period. Use this time to get extra help ask questions, inquire about a career in the subject, or talk about your progress in class.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    What to do if you don't get along

    Before you try to get out of a class to escape a teacher you don't like, here are a few things you can try to make a difficult relationship work:

    Ask yourself, “What can I learn from this teacher?” Even if you don't worship his or her personality or lectures, dig deep until you find a subject in which your teacher is very knowledgeable.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    Talk to students who are doing well in the class and ask them for tips, tools, and a plan of action to get along with the teacher better.

    If your relationship problems can't be solved in school, then it's time to tell your parents. Let them meet with your teacher and try to work it out.

    Teachers are there for more than just homework, and they know about more than just their subject matter.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}Undoubtedly, there will be a few teachers along the way who you'll always remember-and who might change your life forever.

A. Show an interest in the subject.

B. Teachers sense when your only motivation is to get special treatment.

C. They can help you learn how to function as an adult and a lifelong learner.

D. You can do lots of things to get a good connection going with your teacher.

E. Focus of that part of the teacher's personality, and use it as a tool for learning.

F. Here are some things to avoid when trying to establish a relationship with your teacher.

G. You may be surprised to learn that your teacher is a bit more relaxed one-on-one than when lecturing in front of the whole class.

                                                                     How to Grow Vegetables at Home

    Many people choose to grow their own vegetables for healthy food. You'll enjoy the fruits of your labor if you give your plants the care they require.

    Step 1

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Consider how much produce you can use. Also consider your space. Your gardening area will need at least six hours of sunlight per day.

    Step 2

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} If the leaves are yellow or have holes that is a sign the plant is diseased. Look for plants with strong green stems and a shiny appearance.

    Step 3

    Prepare your soil. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Add manure(肥料).

    Step 4

    Dig a hole as deep as the plant's root ball and a little wider. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}Checkthe instructions on each plant to see how much space to leave between plants. Water thoroughly(彻底地) when the planting is over.

    Step 5

    Maintain your vegetable garden by watering and weeding regularly. Your garden needs about an inch of water a week. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Weed by hand or with a tool.

A. Plan your garden.

B. Consider the place.

C. Choose plants that look healthy.

D. Remove grass and weeds from the soil.

E. Place the plant in the hole and fill it in with dirt.

F. The biggest mistake is trying to do too much too soon.

G. Water once or twice a week to help your plants develop strong roots.

    As is known to everyone, we all care about what others think of us and want to be liked, {#blank#}1{#/blank#}However, there are also many smaller, simpler things you can do, which can affect how others view you.

    Prove you are paying attention.

    To really show someone your interest in him or her, try bringing up a topic the person mentioned earlier. Did your co-worker talk about working with his son on a science fair project last week? Follow up and ask how it went. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}In fact, sometimes it says more that you can recall and show interest in even the small happening in another person's life.

    Handle criticism in a wise way.

    While you want to be generous with your praise, be careful with your criticism. For example, if someone makes an error, don't call that person out in front of a group. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}Anyhow, be always gentle with criticism and only offer it when it's truly needed.

    Ask for advice.

    Asking someone for advice is a great way to get people to like you. It shows that you respect the other individual's opinion.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} When you make someone feel better about himself or herself, that person will most certainly end up liking you for it.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    Most people love to talk about themselves. If you are asking questions and getting people to talk about themselves, they'll leave the conversation thinking that you're the coolest.

A. Try to be confident and respectful.

B. Everyone likes to feel needed and important.

C. It doesn't have to be a big, life-changing event.

D. Ask other people about their lives and interests.

E. Always use an individual's name in a conversation.

F. You can discuss your own mistakes before digging into someone else's errors.

G. The basics of getting people to like you are obvious—be nice, considerate and polite.

    It is not as simple as opening the door and hitting the track in winter. There are a few things you can do to ensure you are getting the most out of your run, and, importantly, not doing more harm than good.

    Warm up, cool down

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Your muscles need some time to warm up when it's cold  so take it easy when you set off and do a few stretches (伸展) once you're finished.

    Drink water

    You might not feel hot, but that's because sweat evaporates (蒸发) more quickly into the chilly, dry air. So be sure to drink water before, during and after cold-weather workouts. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} A belt bottle conveniently attaches to your waist so you don't have to carry it and can have a drink whenever you feel like it.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    Running in cotton is a bad idea. Wear thin, breathable layers of synthetic (合成的) clothing that help protect you from the wind and snow, but still let out heat and moisture (水分).Thirty percent of your body heat escapes through your hands and forty percent through your head. Wear a hat, or beanie (无边小便帽), and gloves so your circulatory system can distribute warm blood to the rest of your body. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    Run into the wind

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Obviously, it will be an easier passage home with some extra help from Mother Nature. But, more importantly, you won't have the wind in your face for the second half of your run, when you are more likely to be sweating and catch a chill.

    ●Does failure really exist? If you believe you have failed, then you have. If you believe you don't have the ability to succeed, then you don't.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}The moment you decide to give up or stop working toward your goals, failure is born.

    ●{#blank#}2{#/blank#}Most people give themselves an out without even realizing it. They are willing to work hard on reaching their goals, but only until the going gets too rough or their energy dies down. Don't do that!{#blank#}3{#/blank#}Never quit, never admit failure, and never lose heart.

    ●Don't believe in a clear finish line for goals. It's a good idea to set a general timeline, but remember that something will be beyond your control.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} If you lock yourself into a given timeline, you might make yourself feel like a failure! Instead, get a general idea of when you'd like your goal to be completed. Then take it one day at a time and focus on making progress instead of reaching the finish line in as little time as possible.

    ●Be sure that you don't see difficulties as failures. Difficulties mean only one thing: it's not time for your goal to be completed yet. That's it! It doesn't mean you failed; it doesn't mean you're weak; it doesn't mean you'll never achieve your goals.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}You've got to keep moving forward and find a way over, around, or through the difficulties.

A. Never give up on yourself.

B. Failure only exists in your own mind!

C. That's exactly how failure makes us feel.

D. It simply means you have not done enough yet.

E. You can never say exactly when your goal will be reached.

F. Instead, make up your mind to make your goal happen, no matter what!

G. Work hard towards your goal, and you will be likely to get good results.