With more and more cars on the road, traffic jams are inevitable(不可避免的）. Traffic jams can lead to increased accidents as there are more cars. It's impossible to avoid traffic jams altogether.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Check for traffic jams before you leave.

    You can listen to the radio for traffic news, or check on the Internet to get up-to-minute information on traffic. If the route you want to take is heavy with traffic, you can choose another.

    Look for a different route all the time.

    Most traffic jams happen on busy roads.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}Although the distance you may have to travel is further, it can work out quicker.

    Set your car radio to receive traffic bulletins.

    Many new car stereo systems (汽车音响系统) are equipped with a radio system by which you can hear the traffic channel.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    Most traffic jams usually occur during rush hour, so try to avoid this time period if possible. Some jobs offer flexible working hours so that you can travel to work outside of rush hour. Some jobs even allow you to work at home so as to avoid moving altogether. Ask your manager to see what you can do if traffic is a problem for you.

    Use public transport alternatives where available.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}Not only will you avoid traffic jams but you will most likely be saving money as the cost of motoring rises.

A. Try traveling at different time.

B. What should we do to prevent traffic accidents?

C. The easiest way to avoid traffic jams is to take buses or the underground instead of driving your own car.

D. Public transport is so important in our life that we should use it at any time.

E. This way you can get the latest traffic information and change your journey if necessary.

F. Using country roads could let you avoid a lot of traffic.

G. There are some tips you can follow to reduce the amount of time on the road.

How Teens Can Stay Fit

    Any type of regular, physical activity can improve your fitness and your health. Doing physical exercise is easy, but the difficult thing is that you keep moving! {#blank#}1{#/blank#}, like brushing your teeth, eating, and sleeping. It can be in gym class, joining a sports team, or working out on your own. Keep the following tips in mind:

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}. A good mental attitude is important. Find an activity that you think is fun. You are more likely to keep with it if you choose something you like. A lot of people find it's more fun to exercise with someone else, so see if you can find a friend or family member to be active with you.

    Take it one step at a time. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}. For example, walk or ride your bike to school or to a friend's house instead of getting a ride. Get on or off the bus several blocks away and walk the rest of the way. Use the stairs instead of taking the elevator or escalator.

    Get your heart pumping(跳动). Whatever you choose, make sure it includes aerobic(有氧的) activity that makes you breathe harder and increases your heart rate. This is the best type of exercise because it increases your fitness level and makes your heart and lungs work better. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}. Examples of aerobic activities are basketball, running, or swimming.

    Don't forget to warm up with some easy exercises or stretching(拉伸) before you do any physical activity. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}. Stretching makes your muscles and joints more flexible too. It is also important to stretch out after you exercise to cool down your muscles.

A. It also burns off body fat

B. Stay positive and have fun

C. Physical exercise can help prevent diseases

D. Small changes can add up to better fitness

E. Exercise should be a regular part of your day

F. This warms your muscles up and may help protect against injury

G. Do the activity as often as possible, but don't exercise to the point of pain.

    Scientists say eating less can slow the aging process of cells in the body. The researchers studied mice, not people.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#}One group was able to eat as much as it wanted. The other animals in the other group are limited to eat. Their diet had 35 percent fewer calories than the first group of mice.

    The mice with the diet restrictions(限制) were more energetic and suffered fewer diseases. They were not just living longer, they seemed to stay younger for a longer period of time. When you restrict calories (in mice), there is a direct increase in lifespan - the average age of the animal{#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    But how? The researchers found that fewer calories slow down a natural mechanism in cells called ribosomes (核糖体). Ribosomes are responsible for making important proteins in the cells. But with fewer calories, they slow down.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}This, in turn, keeps cells and the entire body functioning well.

    Earlier studies have suggested a link between calorie restrictions and slowed aging{#blank#}4{#/blank#}Calorie restriction as a way to slow aging has not been tested in humans. But the main finding for people is the importance of taking care of our bodies{#blank#}5{#/blank#} And this may help us make better decisions about what we eat.

A. The less we eat, the healthier we are.

B. Researchers studied two groups of mice.

C. This finding is good news if you are a mouse.

D. This gives the cells more time to repair themselves.

E. The findings help to explain how exactly our bodies age.

F. However, this is first to show how the ribosomes can influence aging.

G. Calorie restriction caused real biochemical changes that slowed down the rate of aging.

    You've seen news reports about people who need assistance after a natural disaster, or TV programs about how lonely and isolated older people can get. Maybe you've walked past people who are living on the streets.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}The answer: you can volunteer. Volunteering gives you an opportunity to change people's lives, including your own. Helping others in need is such an important part of life. So how do you go about it?

    Find what's right for you.

    Volunteering isn't school.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}You can choose what really interests you and who or what is most deserving of your time.

{#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    After you've discovered what interests you, decide how much time you want to spend and what fits into your schedule.

    Expand your mind.

    Volunteering is a great way to learn new skills — from working as part of a team to setting and reaching goals.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}And it can help you develop a new understanding of people who are different from you — people with disabilities, people in financial problems, sick kids, or the elderly.

    Feel good.

    Volunteering helps people feel they make a difference — that they do have the power to change things for the better. When people depend on you, it can change the way you look at yourself.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}Volunteering is also a great way to get a view on your own life.

A. It can give you a chance to discover what kinds of things you're best at and enjoy most.

B. Instead of having the choices made for you, you've got to pick.

C. Doing something for others helps people to change the world.

D. So what can you do about any of those things?

E. You can feel proud of what you've achieved.

F. Find what fits your schedule.

G. Change things for the better.

A Few Active Listening Guidelines

    Listening is arguably the most important element of interpersonal communication. Our ability to listen well impacts the quality of all of our relationships, and not just at home with our family and friends—it can also affect our relationships and interactions on the job, as well as the effectiveness and quality of our work.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Instead, it is a skill that must be cultivated and practiced. Active listening means the difference between simply hearing, and listening with the intent to truly understand. It is a subtle but important distinction.

    ①Give focused attention

    Try to minimize external (外部的) distractions. Turn down the noise, and put down or step away from what you're doing if possible. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Don't watch the clock, fidget (坐立不安) or go over your to-do list for later.

    ②{#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    Direct eye contact shows your attention and intention to listen. This doesn't mean stare, though. Be reasonable, but try not to let your eyes wander to whatever is going on around you.

    ③Reflect back

    Restate, but don't repeat verbatim. Paraphrase what you think the other party is saying with responses such as: "What I'm hearing is…" or "Let me see if I'm following you…"{#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    ④Respond appropriately

    Be open and honest in your responses. Share your thoughts, insights and feelings in a clear, but respectful and considerate manner if you disagree.

    Active listening is a model for good communication. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} It takes practice to develop active listening skills, and it's a habit that has to be reinforced (加强). Remind yourself that the goal of conversation is not merely to trade words, but to truly understand what the other party is saying and to be understood in turn.

    Eyesight is the sense that you rely upon the most. Since we live in a world that requires your eyes to routinely stare at the small type and images on cell phones, computer screens, and televisions, it is important for you to improve and protect your eyesight. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Eyes are just like any other part of the body. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}Similar to other organs, a diet high in fruits and vegetables and low in sugar and fatty foods will go a long way in maintaining healthy eyes.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}Plan to exercise your eyes when you wake up, before going to bed, or when your eyes are tired. Make sure your hands are clean so that you do not hurt your eyes and your mind is relaxed before starting.

    Since you use your eyes every waking moment, give them lots of rest and relaxation by taking breaks throughout the day and getting enough sleep every night to fully rest, repair, and recover your vision. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} In the short term, it can cause eye strain (疲劳) or dry eyes. In the long term, it can lead to damage to the optic nerve (视觉神经), which can cause pain and damage your vision.

    Besides, most jobs nowadays involve some degree of computer usage, meaning almost everyone will be spending time in front of a computer. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}To avoid this, you'll have to properly try to limit your screen time by routinely taking breaks and exercising your eyes.

A. They need nutrition to function well.

B. Close your eyes when exercising your eyes.

C. A lack of sleep will weaken your vision health.

D. You can enjoy your vision for the rest of your life.

E. Unfortunately, this can result in eye strain or injury.

F. There are many ways to keep your eyesight healthy and sharp.

G. Exercising your eyes daily will help you maintain healthy eyes.