Here are some tips on listening. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}.

  Relax yourself

{#blank#}2{#/blank#}. You need to relax. This will help you with your listening.

  Listen carefully to the first sentence

  The first sentence tells a lot about the whole passage. For example, if, at the beginning, you hear “Many shops in many parts of China have decided to take away all kinds of Japanese goods off their shelves, but some people say it's not a good idea. Our reporter says……”, {#blank#}3{#/blank#}.

  Think when you're listening 

{#blank#}4{#/blank#}. For example, you can think of the following questions：What happened? When，where and how? What was the result and what did the speaker want to tell us? In this way, you may understand the passage better.

{#blank#}5{#/blank#}

  It's important for you to remember some important facts. For example, if the passage is a science report, you should try to remember its findings, and how the scient ists got their results. This is also helpful to your listening.

A. Listen to important facts. 

   B. Pay attention to key words.

   C. Maybe they can help you in one way or another.

   D. When you're listening, try to do some thinking.

   E. This is especially helpful to improve your listening skills.

   F. Before you start listening to something, don't get excited or nervous.

   G. you know you will hear a piece of news, not a children's story, or a science report.

    Many times we tend to use our hands to explain our needs and thoughts.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}So you must be cautious when using hand gestures in communication.

    Hand gestures are a way of communicating with others and conveying your feelings. These gestures are most helpful when one is speaking to someone with no language in common. The meanings of hand gestures in different cultures may translate into different things.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}Former President George W. Bush had to face a major faux pas（失礼） during a visit to Australia. He tried to signal a peace sign by waving the two-finger or V-sign at the crowd.

    You may think of this as a simple gesture, but he committed a major error.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}The meaning of this hand gesture in Australia was asking the crowd to screw themselves, a rude expression used to show you're very angry!{#blank#}4{#/blank#}Therefore, it is very important to understand the meanings of gestures before you travel to different countries.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}Those considered as good gestures in one country may be termed as offensive gestures in some countries. So, if you are a frequent flier to different countries, improve your communication skills by learning the meaning of hand gestures.

A. Here is a very common example.

B. Instead of his palm facing outwards, it faced inwards.

C. The great man received warm welcome by the Australians.

D. We communicate not only by words, but by hand gestures as well.

E. A serious error committed by the then most powerful man in the world.

F. But the same hand gesture may mean something quite offensive to a person from a different cultural background.

G. Before you communicate with people in different cultures, you need to understand the meaning of gestures.

    Do you have a hobby? Something you look forward to spending your time with? Something you love to do?{#blank#}1{#/blank#} Or making model airplanes. Sketching. Or making useful things out of waste material. It could be a musical instrument that you love playing. Or singing and dancing.

    There are many things that a hobby can give you, apart from an enjoyable time. Sashay was a shy boy but through his interest in model airplanes he learned the value of sticking to a task until it was finished. His model airplane club brought him to get into touch with similar souls.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    Having a hobby helps you relax and get away from the routines of school.{#blank#}3{#/blank#} You really need this well deserved one, too! It gives you focus, self dependence, confidence and builds your personality. This is an opportunity to lose yourself in an enjoyable activity, away from the pressure of school, so at the end of it, you feel relaxed and yet, mentally charged.

    Your hobby defines you.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}And it also shows you what you are good at, and how far you can go, when you apply yourself.

    So go ahead.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}.For a hobby is: Happiness: something which you look forward to doing. Opportunity: to nurture and develop your special and unique skills and celebrate them. Believe in yourself: makes you understand your strong advantages and improves your confidence. Best in you: brings out your best—for in each one of us there is a best that is only ours. YOU gives you a unique character, and makes you YOU!

A. Develop a hobby.

B. It gives you a break.

C. It proves your ability.

D. Hobbies show your character.

E. It showcases your special skills.

F. It could be collecting something.

G. He learned to make friends for the first time.

    In the spring and summer months, thunderstorms are common. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} In thunderstorms, lightning can strike (击中) people and buildings and is very dangerous.

It was reported that a man was struck by lightning when he was making a phone call under a tree. He died at once. You may not know it, but nearly 1,800 thunderstorms are happening at any moment around the world. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} So what should you do during a lightning storm? Scientists say that a person's chances of being struck by lightning are 1 in 600,000. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

If you are indoors during a thunderstorm:

    Stay away from anything that is metal because lightning can come into the house through it.

    Don't stand near the windows.

    Don't take a shower or bath. Lightning can travel through water.

    Never use the phone. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    If you are caught in a thunderstorm outdoors:

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} If there's no building around, try to find a low place to stay in.

    Do not go under a tree because the lightning could hit the tree and travel through the tree to hit you.

    Never use a cell phone.

A. Try to get home as soon as possible.

B. Since they happen often, some people don't take them seriously.

C. Lightning could travel through the phone line and hit you.

D. In fact, many people are killed by lightning every year.

E. But you can reduce (减少) those chances by following these safety rules.

F. But it is very important for us to learn about lightning.

G. Go into a nearby building or car right away.

    Kids love to go online. There is so much to explore and learn. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}The answer to the question is as difficult as determining at what age a child can be left at home by themselves, since all children are different. Here are some questions to ask yourself to determine what is right for your child.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    Of course when you are trying to determine if you can let him or her go online, your child has probably already said, "I'm ready; I can handle it." But are they? {#blank#}3{#/blank#} How would they handle the material if they ran across it by accident?

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    Does your child question other people's actions? Do they easily believe anything that is presented to them? It is an important question to ask to determine if your child is ready to go online alone.

    Have you taught them what the dangers are?

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Have you explained to them that there are people out there that might want to do them harm? It is a dangerous world out there. If you are going to let them wander around in the online world, they need to be prepared for what they might see or run into.

A. You may be thinking this is a strange question to ask yourself.

B. Is your child easy to cheat?

C. There are a lot of dangers online.

D. Are they ready to go online by themselves?

E. Is your child skilled in using a computer?

F. Unfortunately there is a lot of unpleasant material online.

G. At what age should you allow your child to go online alone?

    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 (才华) or interest you never knew you had.

    Get Involved with 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 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. Therefore it is a great time to start realizing 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.