How to Prepare for an Exam

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#} There's no need to be tense (紧张的) or cram (死记硬背). By doing a couple simple things ahead you can ensure that you are confident and ready for anything that comes up on the test.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} After you have taken notes from studying all of your material including the book and your notes, use that information to make flash cards. Turn statements into questions

    Quiz yourself. Once everything is written down on flashcards, quiz yourself with the cards. Keep reviewing the questions that you get wrong until you get them right. You can carry flashcards around with you and quiz yourself when you're on the subway or riding in the car.{#blank#}3{#/blank#} Definitely continue to quiz yourself until you get them all right.

    Do practice questions.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} Practice doing the questions in the book that you were assigned for homework. Do extra questions in the back of the book. Re-do questions that you got wrong, and try to figure out why you got them wrong. Do practice questions until you feel more comfortable with subject matter.

    On the day of the exam, set your alarm at least two hours before the test. Scientists believe that a good night's rest is the key to better test scores. An hour and a half before the exam, start running through all the themes and sub-topics in your head. Like always, check your notes if you get stuck. Use your flashcards to help you commit all the tiny details to memory if they're not already memorized.{#blank#}5{#/blank#} If you're given yourself enough time to study, you should feel well prepared and relaxed.

A. Goon a balanced diet.

B. Take exercise and keep it up.

C. Make flash cards.

D. This is especially helpful for subjects such as math.

E. You might quiz yourself for a half hour or so, then take a break

F. Stop studying at least 15 minutes before the exam, but an hour is preferable.

G. Preparing for an exam can be stressful and time-consuming, but it doesn't have to be.

    Ways to make a great first impression

    You've heard it a million times already, but it really does take but a few seconds to make that all-important first impression (印象). Here are some easy ways for you to impress your classmates or teachers.

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Before you shake hands with somebody, make sure that your hands are clean. The handshake should not be too strong or weak. Most people use their right hands, unless they have a reason to use the left.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    Be on time

    When meeting someone for the first time, arriving on time is as important as breathing. You may have an excuse, but that will leave the person who hardly knows you with a bad impression.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}It's better to be hanging around the place than be stuck in traffic.

    Introduce yourself and ask for names

    Make sure you properly introduce yourself. Ask for their name in a polite way.  {#blank#}4{#/blank#}This will increase the chances of their remembering your name in the future. Always remember to stand up when greeting someone and be sure to introduce them to anyone you're with.

    Make good conversation

To get the most out of your discussion, try to find something common between the two of you. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}A person will feel more comfortable with someone they can relate to (产生共鸣).

A. Use body language

B. Have a proper handshake

C. Repeat the name and use it later in conversation.

D. As a general rule, plan to arrive about 30 minutes early.

E. It could be a similar taste in clothes or a common hobby.

F. You'll be in serious trouble if you leave them with a bad impression.

G. However, don't have your left hand in your pocket because this appears impolite.

How to Recognize a True Friend

Sometimes it can be hard to recognize a true friend. Hopefully this article will help you recognize which friends are the keepers.

Be able to trust your friends. You should be able to trust true friends and they should return this trust. Do your friends tell you secrets that no one else knows? Ask you for advice? {#blank#}1{#/blank#} However, if your friends hide things from you and act secretly, then this is a sign that they may not trust you.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Think about it. How comfortable are your friends when they are around you? Are they being themselves around you? Are they acting fake or perhaps hiding something? True friendships can take a while to develop, but if your friends are true they should feel comfortable around you, and vice versa (You with them)

Think about loyalty(忠诚). {#blank#}3{#/blank#} If you are in need of a helping hand, your true friends should be there to offer it to you. True friends don't try to get one another into trouble. A true friend will always be loyal to you and will not reveal secrets.

    Think about nicknames. A lot of true friends love to give each other nicknames！ If your friend is giving you nicknames, then this is a great sign. Think of the nickname your friend has given you, does it suit you well? {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

Look at how you fight. Nearly all best friends fight. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} True friends will find their way through a fight, no matter what the size is. True friends will remain “faithful” to each other even during a fight. They will not tell each others' secrets, and they still care about each other.

A. Consider comfort.

B. Choose your friends carefully.

C. True friends are always there for one another.

D. Both are sure signs that your friend trusts you.

E. If so, this shows your friend must know you quite well.

F. So if you and your friend have a little argument, don't worry!

G. An inside joke shows that you share a special connection with your friend.

    I've been keeping an English blog for many years. These practical tips have helped me over the course of my blogging.

    ●Read quality books, blogs, journals, etc. which are written in English. Blogging is not always about writing. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Reading also improves your English comprehension, grammar, spelling, vocabulary and writing.

    ●Practice helps, so continue writing. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Trying to make a perfect post (帖子) free from grammar and spelling mistakes is good but you're not making use of your time efficiently (有效地).

    ●{#blank#}3{#/blank#} Think about the main points you want to raise. I prepare an outline of my post and a list of the points I want to talk about. Doing this has helped me stay on track and focus on my main points. The outline and the list of points I want to write about serve as my guidelines when I'm writing.

    ●When writing, use simple words and sentences. Using simple sentences makes your job as a blogger easier. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Always remember this: The aim of your writing is to get your message across and the only way to become an effective writer is successfully conveying your message to your readers.

    ●Write your posts ahead of time. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} To free yourself from the pressure of making a post on daily basis, which might affect your writing, consider making your posts ahead of time.

    Friendships can bring joy or sorrow.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}, we talked to researchers, authors, and therapists to learn how to manage the common relationship difficulties we all face.

    Broken promises

    Friends are vital for our physical and mental well-being but these relationships aren't always smooth sailing. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}. And a major way this happens is through broken promises. Perhaps he canceled plans at the last minute or she declined to take part in an important party. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}, the first thing to do is remember that no one is perfect, says Jan Yager, PhD, friendship coach.

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    "Sometimes jealousy reveals our deepest desires," says Dr. Yager. "Healthy envy can motivate you to become better and be inspired by your friend's success," she says. She points out that it could be the other way around as well: Your friends might be jealous of you.

    Feeling left out

    There's no worse feeling than when you check Facebook Monday morning to find out that your friends went on a weekend getaway without you. Scott Christnelly, a therapist, says, "I encourage clients to express their feelings about it but also not to jump to conclusions." Then find someone else to talk to — maybe a family member, or a close friend (not one who went on the trip)—to explain how you feel. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}.

A. Experiencing envy

B. But while it may be painful

C. Stopping to feel jealous of them

D. Friend breakups can be just as painful as a romantic split

E. In fact, it's common to experience some serious hurt from your friends

F. Since there's no rule book on what to do when things get tense or go south

G. Maybe through that conversation, you can brainstorm how you will respond

As the world struggles to deal with the climate crisis, some companies are working to remove polluting carbon dioxide from the air. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} But two US companies have recently made important progress. 

Scientists say large amounts of CO₂ must be removed from the CO₂ atmosphere and stored. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} But there's so much CO₂ in the atmosphere that just planting trees and protecting forests won't solve the problem. And, when plants and trees die, the carbon they've stored gets released again. 

That means humans need to come up with ways of removing carbon from the air and storing it. This is called Direct Air Capture (DAC). The science of removing carbon from the air is challenging, and it's still pretty new. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}So one puzzle for these companies is how to remove carbon without creating more pollution. 

A company called Heirloom has just opened the first DAC plant in the United States. The company heats up the limestone to separate out the CO₂, which is concrete. The process is extremely expensive. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}That's a tiny amount compared to how much carbon needs to be removed from the atmosphere, but the company says it hopes to remove a billion tons per year by 2035. 

 {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Some people worry that it will take too long for DAC technology to become powerful enough to make a difference. Others worry that focusing on removing carbon could take attention away from more important climate actions, like switching from fossil fuels to renewable energy. But experts say the decision isn't to do one or the other. The world needs to end fossil fuel use and pull carbon out of the air. 

A. Plants and trees do this naturally.
B. That's a huge and challenging goal.
C. Not everyone is excited about carbon removal.
D. Graphyte is another US company working on DAC.
E. The new plant can remove 1,000 tons of CO2 a year.
F. Most DAC processes require a large amount of energy.
G. As a matter of fact, CO₂ is just a small part of the gases that make up air.