NBA basketball players devote much of their lives to preparing for games. This preparation, which includes studying game films, practicing skills and treating injuries, is essential because of the pressure-packed nature of their profession.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Generally, on the day of a game, players get together in the morning for an hour shooting and also to review films of the opponent of that night. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Players receive treatments for injuries, put on their uniforms, discuss strategies(策略) with coaches and warm up during the remaining time before the game gets underway. As thousands of people cheer them on, a team's best players will play 40 or more minutes during the game. After the game, some players stick around to lift weights before showering and heading home.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} They must leave their families at home, spend hours on planes traveling around the country and try to stay rested while sleeping at a different hotel every night.

    The NBA's 82-game regular season is tiring. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} So many players focus on recuperating(恢复) for at least part of the off-season. Other players, may work on recovering from surgery to correct injuries.

    Weeks before the training camp, NBA basketball players start getting back in shape for the upcoming season. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Younger players often take part in developmental leagues during the summer months to increase their chances of getting onto an NBA team.

A．Trips can be difficult for NBA basketball players.

B．The league was founded in New York City on June 6, 1946.

C．It can even make the best-conditioned athletes tired.

D．It consists of 30 teams, 29 in the US and 1 in Canada.

E．The preparation may involve practicing basketball skills and lifting weights.

F．Following lunch, many players take a nap and eat a pre-game meal before arriving at the field.

G．An NBA basketball player's typical workday routine varies based on his team's schedule of games.

    How do you get a good night's sleep?

    You may put your pillow (枕头) at the proper height, drink a glass of hot milk or maybe listen to some light music before bedtime. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}When World Sleeping Day falls on March 21, it will be a good time to explore a long-ignored fact that may make you feel tired after you wake up. Scientists have discovered that the position of your spine (脊椎) is very important when you sleep.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}Let's have a look at the advantages and disadvantages of each position.

On your back

    Sleeping on your back is the ideal (理想的) position to be in. First of all, your spine is in the best position.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}The downside is the greater likelihood of snoring (打鼾) and sleep apnea (窒息).

Lying on belly

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}Dr Vaclav Vojta, a US child development specialist, said this is bad for your back because it takes away the natural curve (曲线) of your lumbar (腰部的) spine. But he also noted that this helps to prevent some snoring and sleep apnea.

On your side

    Sleeping on our sides happened naturally while we were in the womb (子宫).{#blank#}5{#/blank#}Plus, sleeping on your side (the left side in particular) has been reported to reduce troublesome digestive problems like heartburn. The downside is the “dead arm” and finger numbness (麻木) from this position.

A. Lying face down with your legs straight and your arms right by your sides is a bad idea.

B. Sleeping on your side can be a quick fix for snoring and can help to improve breathing.

C. Do you and your friends ever talk about your sleeping position with each other?

D. And a new study suggests that the sleeping position has something to do with it.

E. Of the three sleeping positions, which one do you usually go for?

F. You are also less likely to have digestive (消化的) problems.

G. But one thing you may tend to ignore is sleeping positions.

    We all wish we had just a bit more time. Just think what you could do with an extra hour or two each day: you could finally stick to an exercise routine, or spring­clean the house, or write your novel, or learn the guitar and so on.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#} But I can help you find more hours in your day for the things that really matter.

    Get Out of Bed Earlier

    If you normally get up at 7：30 a．m., try getting up at 7：00 a．m. That half­hour might not sound like much, but it could be time that you use to exercise, to read that book you've been meaning to finish. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    Do the Important Tasks First

    Once you get to work, get the important ones done first (not the easy ones, or even the urgent ones). You can afford to spend at least an hour working on big, important tasks rather than on all those little urgent ones.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} The urgent tasks will still get done, and you won't miss the important ones.

    Reduce Interruptions

    If colleagues have a habit of hanging around your desk to chat, or if the phone is constantly ringing, you might find that it takes you half the day to finish a simple task like writing a letter. Constant interruptions don't just eat up time, they also break your concentration.

    When you've got a big task to focus on, let your calls go to voicemail. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Wearing headphones makes it less likely that people will try to strike up a conversation.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    A few minutes' chatting, browsing the web, and so on, can easily turn into hours of wasted time over the course of a day.

    When you're working, work. If your concentration is slipping, take a proper break: go and get a glass of water, or stretch your legs a bit. And if you're facing a difficult task, try breaking it into small steps or stages so that it's easier to deal with.

A．Stay Focused on Your Work

B．Take Breaks When Necessary

C．If you have an office door, close it.

D．If you work like this, you'll usually save time.

E．Would you want me to make your day longer?

F．I can't magically make all your days 25 hours long.

G．Or simply to get your day off to a calm and organized start.

    One of the big challenges that students face in applying to universities abroad is writing the application essay.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Admissions officers(招生负责人) attempt to get at what type of person you are, what motivates you, and what you feel passion for. In a single 500-word piece of writing, they attempt to gather all about you. So your task is to put the stamp of your personality on the essay and make yourself special.

    You can try and guess what the admissions officers like. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} The essay will sound empty and become another dull piece of writing, which admissions officers get thousands of each year.

    It is true that admissions officers aren't exactly looking for anything.{#blank#}3{#/blank#} If they ask for someone who has inspired you, it could be anyone. It could be a grandmother, a teacher, or even a character from a movie. A lot of people will say their dad. But since you really feel it, you'll have a lot to write about.

    There are some important things to remember. These admissions officers want good writers. You don't have to be Ernest Hemingway, but you have to be able to form an interesting story. That means revision and editing, cutting out stupid grammar mistakes, reading it over several times, leaving it for a few days and looking at it again.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    Also, you should use exciting language and really make the reader feel the same passion as you do. It also means finding something unique about your point of view, something that other people might not think of. For example, if you want to write about your dad, you can focus on a specific anecdote(趣闻) about him.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. The essays you are required to write differ from university to university.

B. The answer is just as open-ended as the question itself.

C. Admissions officers love personal stories that ring true.

D. The essay topics all have something in common.

E. You can turn to famous writers to polish your essay.

F. Whatever you do, make sure the essay is as good as possible.

G. But that won't work.

    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.

    May the first is an important date in the college admission process in the United States. This is the last day for high school seniors to accept or reject offers of admission in the fall. But according to a recent report, there is a great change. Acceptance rates at the top colleges this year were lower than ever. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    These days, college applicants are applying to more colleges because online and common applications make the process easier. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}On the other hand, deciding students for top colleges to accept can be difficult because it takes much time. Students may not like being put on waiting lists. Also, common colleges work more to get the students they accept to accept them. Some colleges hold visiting days that offer a chance to attend classes and stay overnight. Some universities send gifts. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    For many families, the most important thing colleges can do is show them the money, especially this year; the weak economy makes parents nervous. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}The recent problems that spread from the housing market to credit markets have even affected student's loans. So lately, top schools have to spare lots of money to increase their financial aid for students. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} The Education Department expects the number of high school graduates to start to go down. This will happen as the last of the children of the baby boom generation finishes high school. The number is not expected to start rising again until 2019.

A. What contributes to it?

B. Besides, top colleges are facing changes in the population.

C. But a mistake can be costly if it happens.

D. It can mean several acceptances to choose from.

E. They have international students who know English.

F. But top colleges ignore them.

G. They cannot afford college as planned.