If you're looking for a challenging situation to practice your English, pick up the phone. Not being able to see the other person and the body language can make the chatting difficult. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Here are some tips to guide you through an average phone conversation in English.

1)．Greetings

    Every phone call should begin with a polite greeting such as “Hi, how've you been？” or “Nice to hear from you”. Even if you're calling a business contact for a specific purpose, it'd be rude to jump right into business.  {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

2)．Getting to the point

    There always comes the point where you want to move on from friendly chatting and get down to business. What should you do in this situation? {#blank#}3{#/blank#} However, if you are waiting to find out why someone called you, you can guide the conversation by saying “So what can I do for you？”

3)．Interrupting without offence

    Sometimes you may happen to be speaking with a very talkative person. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Keep in mind when you'd like to interrupt, and be sure to do it politely. For example, begin with “I'd like to say something here”．

4)．Closing the call

    This can be the trickiest part of the conversation! It may be the time to offer good wishes if it's appropriate. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Sometimes it's easiest to just say you enjoyed speaking to the other person. Also remember cleverly saying the word well at the beginning of a sentence can indicate you're ready to end the conversation.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#} one of the best things you can possibly do is to start you own club. it's great fun especially if you are the sort of person who feels there's never anything to do during the school holidays.

    the first thing you need to come up with is an idea for your club. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} pets, clothes, pop music or dancing groups, sports, making things? the list is endless.

    next you need some friends to be in your club with you. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} all you need is three or four other people who are interested in the same thing as you.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} you should all sit down somewhere together with lots of pieces of paper and write down every name you can think up. that'll keep you busy for ages.

    at your first meeting you should make up a rule book. and the first rule should be no grown-ups or little/big brothers or sisters! the best clubs are always secret!

    now you have just about everything you need, except membership cards. these are very important and again you can spend a lot of time making them.{#blank#}5{#/blank#} why not leave some space for a photo of yourself? that will make the membership card really look like it.

    so there you are, get clubbing! once you get started you'll think of loads of more interesting things to do!

A.that's easy.

B.enjoy your own club!

C. invite a designer to join you.

D. what are you interested in?

E.some vacation is just around the corner.

F. then you need to pick a name for your club.

G.use a bright thick pen to make a special design.

How to Enjoy Life As a Teen

    The "best years of your life"? Maybe not, but you can learn to make the most of your high school days.

    Learn to appreciate small things. Whether it's having a computer, having friends, having a good supply of food, a bed to sleep on, family that loves you, having a decent education or simply being born in this world, value it. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Be happy, and life will reward you. Remember that these are the last few years you will be able to enjoy yourself without having to worry about the responsibility of an adult, but make sure you prepare yourself for when you do become one. When you actually become an adult, you'll learn to love that responsibility and you probably never want to go back.

    Choose your friends wisely. Unlike what many articles state, you don't have to be popular and have a gazillion friends to be happy. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Try to have friends that like you who you are, not just because you are wearing a certain brand of shoes or something like that. These are people who shop at the same store as you; not someone who will sympathize with you when your dog dies.

    Keep your grades up. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} This also sets you up to get into a college you want to go to, which in turn prepares you for a career you will enjoy, improving your quality of life in the future. You'll get cheap car insurance as well if you have at least a B or A average.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Participating in clubs, activities, and sports increases your chances of meeting new friends. While you only need 4 or 5 close friends, that doesn't mean you shouldn't try to meet new people. Participating gives you something to do instead of sitting bored at home and wallowing in self-pity.

    Work at a job you can enjoy. Working is a great way co gain experience and to meet other people. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} This will look great on your resume. If you can't find work, especially in this hard economic time, volunteer or make your own job.

A. Be sociable.

B. Remember the point of life is for you to enjoy it.

C. Find a hobby that is meaningful or practical.

D. In fact, many of the "friends" you have when you are popular are not true friends.

E. When you do get out of college, interviewing companies will look at your previous work experience.

F. Even though you want to enjoy your teen life as best as possible, don't idle away your time in school.

G. There is nothing more satisfying than seeing your hard work pay off in the form of A's and B's (but mainly A's).

How to Make Friends

    Having friends may well keep you healthier and help you deal with difficulties better. It is not very hard to make friends. Continue reading to find out how to make friends.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#}There are many ways to do this--talking about the weather (”At least it's not raining like last week!”), asking for help or saying words of praise (“I love your shoes.”)

    Introduce yourself at the end of the conversation. It can be as simple as saying “Oh, by the way, my name is…”{#blank#}2{#/blank#}Remember his or her name!

    Join a sports team. As long as you enjoy the sport, you don't have to be really good at playing a sport in order to make friends with others.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}If you play the guitar or sing, try joining a band.

    Be a good listener.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}Ask questions about their interests, and just take the time to learn more about them.

    Encourage your friend. A very good friend encourages their friend.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}Never make fun or laugh at your friend in front of others. If someone is making fun of them, a good friend will come to save their friend.

A. Start a conversation

B. Find out common interests

C. But a sports team isn't the only way

D. The key to being a good friend is the ability to keep secrets

E. They will remain with them in both good as well as bad times

F. Once you introduce yourself, the other person will do the same

G. Listen carefully to what people say, and remember important information about them

Four Secrets to Steve Jobs' Success

    How is it that a college dropout, who was once kicked out of his own company, became one of the world's foremost innovators?

    Carmine Gallo lists the four ways Jobs managed to succeed in the face of discouraging circumstances. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} 

    Do what you love, no matter what it happens to be.

    This is what Jobs told Stanford University graduates in a speech in 2005, Gallo says the famous talk show host Rachael Ray agrees with this advice. Rachael Ray does what she loves. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}  She did that because she loved cooking.

    Say no to 1000 things.

    Simplifying his business was the key to Jobs' success, Gallo says. In 1997, when Jobs returned to Apple, Apple was close to bankruptcy（破产）. He took 300 products and condensed them to 10 within a two-year period.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}  In his latter years, he decided he would wear the same dress every day so that he didn't have to think about it.

    Kick-start（启动）your brain by doing something new.

    Doing new things helped Jobs, in the words of Apple's own slogan, “Think differently.”

    The inspiration for the Apple Store came from the Four Seasons Hotel. That's why when you walk into an Apple Store, you will not find a cashier. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}  Walk to the back of the store and there's a bar. It doesn't serve alcohol, but it collects advice.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} 

    “For Jobs, it wasn't just about selling 29 million iPads this summer but entertaining the customer at the same time,” Gallo says. “Whether you run a multi-billion dollar tech company or a pizza restaurant, innovation means creating a new experience for your customers,” Jobs says.

A. Do what you are curious about.

B. Create fresh experiences.

C. Instead, you'll find a doorkeeper.

D. Carmine Gallo says that you can do the same.

E. She was giving cooking lessons at Macy's for free.

F. Simplicity also extends to Jobs' personal life.

G. Jobs explained that iPad was not just a phone but a lifestyle.

    Do you have the experience of digging out your suitcase, deciding what to bring and being afraid that you've forgotten something? {#blank#}1{#/blank#}. Hope they can transform the way you pack.

    Keep a Basket Handy

    Do you wait until the last minute to pack? Keep a basket in your bedroom, living room, or bath room that you can use to throw in items you'll need to pack as you come across them. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}. Besides, you can just put the contents of the basket into your suitcase if you are in a hurry to leave for the airport.

    Buy Wrinkle-free Clothing

    You won't need to worry about carefully packing your items of clothing if they're made from wrinkle-free materials. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}. You'll still look fresh and bright when you are in them at your destination.

Keep Old Packing Lists

    Chances are that you end up taking trips that require you to pack similar items. Keep old packing lists from former vacations to the beach, ski resort, and city—that way, you'll always have a list of at least the basics. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}. So you don't need to waste your effort to remember where you left your hand-written packing lists.

    Schedule a Packing Time

Time can slip away from you before a trip—you may be caught up at work, at home, or be occupied with other responsibilities of daily life. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}. That way, you will not need to do your packing crazily from the last minute to 1 o'clock on the day you leave.

A. This makes you less likely to forget the stuff.

B. The best way to do this is to save them on your computer.

C. Buy necessary stuff when you arrive.

D. Determine a night well in advance of departure to pack.

E. That's why I've distilled (提炼) the art of packing down to some essential tips.

F. Just ball them up or put them at the bottom of the suitcase.

G. Rolling your clothes is the best way to save space for the suitcase.