China is the biggest market in the world, and many countries such as Germany, the USA, the UK and Russia do a lot of business in China. Let's have a look at some important tips to help you be successful when dealing with these nationalities.

    First, you must be punctual (准时的) with Germans. Even 5 minutes late makes a bad impression. Being punctual is also very important in the USA. In the UK, it's important to be punctual for business meetings, but nobody expects you to be on time for a social event. Half past seven really means a quarter to eight, or even eight o'clock! With Russians, you should always be on time, though it is not unusual for them to be one or even two hours late!

    It is best to dress formally and wear dark colours when you meet people from all the four countries. In Russia, designer clothes are very common. Don't be surpri if you go to an office in the UK on a Friday and find everyone wearing jeans. Many companies have “dress down Friday”, when people wear casual (随便的) clothes.

    In Germany, first names are only used by family members and close friends, so be prepared to use titles and last names. In the USA you will usually be invited to use first names almost immediately. The British are quite informal and using first names in business is more and more common, especially among younger people. In Russia, however, nobody uses first names, so use titles and last names.

    In conversation, the British and the Americans value humour, and both like to talk about sport. The weather is also a good topic of conversation with the British and the Americans, but avoid talking about politics. In Russia, say positive（肯定的） things about their country, but avoid making complaints. The Germans, however, prefer to get straight down to business!

    So, use these tips, and you will be on your way to a successful international business career!

    We know that sometimes studying a new language can be hard work but it can be fun too--and if we can make our learning experience fun, then we will learn better. So here are some more of our top tips for making studying fun.

    Firstly,{#blank#}1{#/blank#}—make sure your chair is suitable and it's at the right height for the desk. Make sure you have good ventilation(空气流通) and light and the space you're in isn't too hot--you don't want to fall asleep! And put away anything that might distract you, like your smartphone.

    Rather than just staring at books and being passive,{#blank#}2{#/blank#}. Why not record yourself and listen back to yourself speaking or reading out information. Or you could turn facts into songs and sing them out loud--this is sure to make information stick in your head!

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}—lashcards are very useful because they provide visual clues that help you remember things. You could also stick words, grammar rules and other bits of information on notes around your study space or other places around your house--so for example, you can read them when brushing your teeth!

    Don't feel daunted by the amount of studying you have to do.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}. Study in small bursts and vary the topics you study so you don't get bored and you stop retaining information. If you can, choose a time of day that best suits your natural preference. Some people work best at night while others work best early in the morning.

    Finally, don't overdo it--know your limits--if you study too hard it won't be fun and you won't absorb information.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}—and give yourself a small reward when you do.

A. try to become an active learner

B. So care your mental and physical health

C. get comfortable

D. So take regular breaks

E. Also be creative

F. And don't try to study continuously all day to fit it all in

G. But you can focus on some entertainments

    Did you know that, in 2016, over 18 million people attended classical concerts in Germany? That's more people than those who went to main league football matches! Earlier this year, Germany continued its celebration of classical music with the opening of a new concert hall in the heart of Hamburg. Germans are incredibly proud of it and it's the first thing I show to my friends when they come to visit.

    Known as the 'Elphi' by the locals, the Elbphilharmonie is a beautiful tower of glittering glass sitting atop an old warehouse by the banks of the river Elbe. The plaza(露天广场)is open to the public an from the middle of the city's tallest building, you can gaze across the harbour, miles of rooftops and passing ships below.

    The main concert hall seats over 2000 people and is one of the most advanced music venues in the world. Two smaller concert halls are used for jazz, world and contemporary music. In addition, if you're unbelievably rich, you can buy one of the 45 luxurious apartments lying within the building.

    Construction began in 2007 with a budget of €241 million and a two-year period. Fast forward ten years, the building eventually opened with a final price tag of over 800 million!

    I consider myself very lucky that the Elbphilharmonie opened during my time living in Hamburg, but unfortunately I haven't yet been able to attend a concert. Everything is sold out for six months! For now, I'm content to visit the plaza to enjoy the impressive view over the docks and see the innovative architecture up close. Hopefully one day soon, I'll be lucky enough to grab a last-minute concert ticket!

    Each of our experiences impacts us, either in a positive way or a negative way. Negative experiences can leave us in trouble and make us upset. However, positive experiences can greatly improve our daily motivation.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}Here are some ways to increase your daily motivation and you can achieve so much more in your life:

    Having goals is vital. They are the key motivator that drives you to succeed.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}Important and meaningful goals motivate you to take inspired action toward achieving what you desire and keep you focused and driven when you come across challenges and difficulties.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}Breaking a goal down into small steps will prevent you becoming overwhelmed and help maintain a positive attitude to keep you moving forward.

    Life at times will be hard, but you should remember that these hard times are temporary.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}Have daily inspiration to live life to the full and achieve all you can. A desire and motivation to live life to the full is the least you can give in return.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}Your dreams and goals will never be realized unless you acquire a continuous drive and daily motivation to take inspired action that keeps you moving forward.

A. Your mind is extremely powerful.

B. Good times are always just around the corner for you.

C. They help us achieve our goals and become better people.

D.A life without goals is like a boat without a compass moving aimlessly.

E. Feed your mind with positive thoughts and you will gain whatever you want.

F. After setting a goal, you must take small progressive steps toward achieving it.

G. If you want to achieve more in life, you have to do whatever you can do to make it happen.

    You are given many opportunities in life to choose to be a victim or creator. When you choose to be a victim, the world is a cold and difficult place. “They” did things to you which caused all of your pain and suffering. “They” are wrong and bad, and life is terrible as long as “they” are around. Or you may blame yourself for all your problems, thus internalizing(内化)your victimization. The truth is, your life is likely to stay that way as long as you feel a need to blame yourself or others.

    Those who choose to be creators look at life quite differently. They know there are individuals who might like to control their lives, but they don't let this get in the way. They know they have their weaknesses, yet they don't blame themselves when they fail. Whatever happens, they have choice in the matter. They believe their dance with each sacred moment of life is a gift and that storms are a natural part of life which can bring the rain needed for emotional and spiritual growth.

Victims and creators live in the same physical world and deal with many of the same physical realities, yet their experience of life is worlds apart. Victims relish (沉溺)in anger, guilt, and other emotions that cause others—and even themselves—to feel like victims, too. Creators consciously choose love, inspiration, and other qualities which inspire not only themselves, but all around them. Both victims and creators always have choice to determine the direction of their lives.

    In reality, all of us play the victim or the creator at various points in our lives. One person, on losing a job or a special relationship, may feel as if it is the end of the world and sink into terrible suffering for months, years, or even a lifetime. Another with the same experience may choose to first experience the grief, then accept the loss and soon move on to be a powerful creative force in his life.

    In every moment and every circumstance, you can choose to have a fuller, richer life by setting a clear intention to transform the victim within, and by inviting into your life the powerful creator that you are.

    On my first day of high school, I asked an eleventh grader where my class was. And he told me it was "on the fourth floor, next to the pool." I found out five minutes later that we don't even have a fourth floor and there's no pool either! Besides that, I didn't have any trouble with the older kid.

    I think the biggest difference between middle and high school is the homework load (工作量) and size of the school. I went from maybe fifteen minutes of homework a night to several hours, so I had to learn how to make full use of time! Our class size is around 550, but joining in clubs, sports, music, and other activities at school makes it easier to get to know people in every grade.

    The best advice I can give about the years you spend in high school is to learn things for yourself, not just to get a good grade. There have been so many tests that I've prepared for the night before, gotten an A, and not remembered anything later. I've changed that this year, and I enjoy school so much more. Don't take easy classes just to have a simple year. If you have a choice between chemistry and sports, the first will prove to be a lot more useful!

    While drinking and smoking might be present in some middle schools, they're also around in high school. I have a lot of friends who promised they'd never drink or smoke, but are now partying every weekend. If you have "fun" and spend your nights wasted instead of studying, you will regret it when you're applying for (申请) college. The "friends" who say you're a loser for not partying are really not your friends at all. It's hard to see your closest friends grow apart and go in different directions, but don't follow their footsteps. Create your own path in life and make your own decisions.