You may use banknotes every day. But did you know that there is a lot of science behind the money? {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Australia was the first country to use polymer(聚合物）banknotes in 1988. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

They can stop water from making them wet. They are also cleaner because bacteria don't grow easily on them.

Now, the Australians have improved their banknotes again by creating a new 5-dollar note. The new one has a clear window in the middle in which there are pictures of an Australian bird and a building. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    Tilt (倾斜）the note a little and you will see the bird flapping its wings as if trying to fly away. Turn the note from side to side and you will notice the building come to life and spin. While these features are impressive and entertaining, that was not the reason why the Australian Government spent ten years perfecting them. Their primary purpose was to make it impossible to fake a banknote.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} The new $ 5 bill now has a raised bump alongside the two long edges, enabling the blind or those with limited vision, to quickly determine its value.

The Australian government will give the new 10-dollar note the same features in a year's time. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. Note makers still have a long way to go.

B. Other notes will have them in the future.

C. The magic of the new features lies in them.

D. They have many advantages over paper notes.

E. The new Australian 5-dollar note is a good example.

F. The new note is also the first touchable Australian banknote.

G. Their material and pattern set them apart from ordinary banknotes.

    English has been called one of the most difficult languages for non-native speakers to learn. One reason is that English has so many rules.{#blank#}1{#/blank#} Sometimes, this leaves learners confused(混淆). For example, the order of words in a sentence can be tricky.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} The pronunciation of English words cannot always be judged by their spelling. For example, there are at least six ways to pronounce the group of letters spelled o-u-g-h. And, maybe the worst thing of all is that there are many idioms, or expressions, in English.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    So, it is comforting to know that learning root words can help a non-native speaker use English.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} Root words can help you to break down large, new words into smaller units to discover their meanings.

    Learning just one root word can help you understand several words in English.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}Then where can a root be found? A root can be any part of a word that carries meaning: the beginning, middle or end. Prefixes, bases, and suffixes are types of roots. The prefix appears at the beginning of a word, the base in the middle and the suffix at the end.

A. A root word is the most basic form of a word.

B. The English have always been fond of all kinds of rules.

C. You could say we use idioms like they're going out of style.

D. And there are almost as many exceptions(例外)of those rules!

E. Most English root words came from the Greek and Latin languages.

F. Another reason why English is hard to learn is the pronunciation of its words.

G. So, by learning 20 or 30 root words, you can increase your vocabulary to hundreds of more new words.

    Curiosity is an important characteristic of a genius. I don't think you can find an intellectual giant who is not a curious person. Thomas Edison, Leonardo da Vinci, Albert Einstein, Richard Feynman, they are all curious characters. Richard Feynman was especially known for his adventures which came from his curiosity.{#blank#}1{#/blank#} Here are four reasons:

    It makes your mind active and strong.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}Their minds are always active. Since the mind is like a muscle which becomes stronger through continual exercise, the mental exercise caused by curiosity makes your mind stronger and stronger.

    It makes your mind observant of new ideas.

    When you are curious about something, your mind expects new ideas related to it. When the ideas come they will soon be recognized.{#blank#}3{#/blank#} This is because your mind is not prepared to recognize them. Just think, how many great ideas may have lost due to lack of curiosity?

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    By being curious you will be able to see something new that is normally not visible. They are hidden behind the surface of normal life, and it takes a curious mind to look beneath the surface and discover the unknown.

    It brings excitement into your life.

    The life of curious people is far from boring. It's neither dull nor routine. There are always new things that attract their attention and there are always new “toys” to play with.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. So is curiosity that important?

B. But why is curiosity so important?

C. It leads you to a new and exciting life.

D. It opens up new worlds and possibilities.

E. Curious people always ask questions and search for answers.

F. Rather than get bored, curious people have an adventurous life.

G. Without curiosity, the ideas may pass right in front of you and yet you miss them.

    It's not easy to talk with teens about their relationship with screens.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Open with a discussion of young children's tech use

    Rather than asking teens to put down iPads, introduce a discussion on babies' tech use. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}When I had my eighth graders read an article about banning iPads for children under two, the class were interested.

    Admit your tech problems

    One of my students wrote that she would like to prevent the whole family from using tech facilities. Clearly, someone in her home was having some tech use problems. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}We can't tell kids to put down their devices if we continue to use them.

Keep a balanced opinion

    We adults wouldn't be able to live in today's society without screens, so we shouldn't expect teenagers to do so either. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}It's improved our lives in many ways. Before we start talking about its challenges, we need to realize its opportunities, too.

    Deal with the topic like you would nutrition (营养)

    If children weren't making good food choices, we would never take their lunches away and make them stay hungry. We would teach them how to eat healthy and help them learn to set new habits: {#blank#}5{#/blank#}Instead of taking their devices away, we should help them keep a balance with technology.

A. The same should go for technology.

B. Technology isn't a bad habit to be got out of.

C. This will invite teens to talk about the subject.

D. Teens need face-to-face communication with adults.

E. One of teens' fears is that we'll take their devices away.

F. So we need to be open about our own tech habits as well.

G. Here are a few ways that will make the discussion easier and more productive.

How to Make Sure You Enjoy Your Trip

    A trip is a planned destination where one arranges in advance in which the main purpose is to search for adventure and to create a memorable moment. Here are the steps on how to make sure your trip is enjoyable.

    Plan it well. Trips are ideally planned for it to go well. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}A check list is helpful, making sure you've got all your needs.

    Pack necessities. Bring what you need. Trips are short journeys and belong to the sub-level of traveling. Pack only the things you need.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    Be safe. To be cautious is smart. No matter what you are up to, surfing, cliff diving, snowboarding, scuba diving...,it is always recommended to be safe.{#blank#}3{#/blank#} Don't be stubborn and put yourself in harm when there are precautions.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}You may see delays, a different culture, lifestyle, food, and even a shortage of cash sometimes-this is all what travel is about-experiencing things with a new perspective. Once you expect to experience new things, you'll be a happy traveler and free from stress.

    Save the memory. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}This is not one of those regular days so you ought to save the moment. It will make your trip more enjoyable after all that craziness; you get something to review the good times.

A. Travel with an open mind.

B. Get prepared for everything new.

C. This is all we expect from a trip.

D. Seize the moment by taking pictures.

E. It is important to wear protective equipment when advisable.

F. It is easy to get tired if you have too many things in your package.

G. Take your time, a day or a week ahead to make a plan for your trip.

    We know that choosing a college major can be extremely hard. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}. However, it is a challenge to pick one when it feels as if the rest of your adult life is riding on that choice. It is a big commitment, but it's not a life sentence. Many graduates pursue careers that aren't directly related to their college majors, or change careers after several years. You may choose to base your decision on any of these factors:

    Dream job

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}. Maybe you already know that you want to be a nurse, a day trader, a physician, or a web developer. Before you declare, take a class or two in the relevant discipline, talk to students in the department of your choice.

    Great ambition

    According to PayScale.com, the majors that lead to the highest salaries include just about any type of engineering, actuarial mathematics, computer science, physics, statistics, government and economics. Keep your quality of life in mind, too.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}.

    Some students choose a major simply because they love the subject matter. If you love what you're studying, you're more likely to fully engage with your classes and college experience. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}. If your calling is philosophy, don't write it off just because you're not sure about graduate school, or what the job market holds for philosophers.

A. Love project

B. The academy of the School

C. Many schools offer hundreds of choices

D. Science is a specific subject that college students specialize in

E. That can mean better grades and great relationships with others in your field

F. That seven figure salary may not be worth it if you're not happy at the office

G. Some students choose a major because it will prepare them for a specific career path or advanced study