How strong are you?

    That is a hard question to answer, whether you are a man or a woman. But, really , I want to ask how do you define(给...下定义)your strength? How do you know your limits?{#blank#}1{#/blank#} When push comes, we often discover that we are much stronger than we think.

    What is Strength?

    Strength is not always about pure physical strength.{#blank#}2{#/blank#} It is about the ability to get things done. I know some people who are intellectually strong, but they get very little done in their jobs. And I know others who find work challenging, but they make it by strong drive and hard work. They possess inner strength.

    Self-Imposed Limits

    What I have observed is that most people set their own limits. They limit their output based on self-framed limits (自我设定的限制) of their abilities and strengths. Sometimes these boundaries are based on past experiences. Sometimes they are based on self-imagined abilities.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}So, how do we break through these limits? How do we get stronger?

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    If you want to be stronger, you have to push your boundaries. Pushing it is what it takes to increase your limits. In the gym, bodybuilders discovered this long ago. The same principle is true when it comes to inner strength.

    Want to test your limits? Push yourself. Test your self-framed limits to see how accurate they are. Make sure your goals are slightly beyond what you think can be achieved.

    You Are Stronger Than You Think

    Most people underestimate(低估) their strength.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}Test your limits. Push yourself to find your true boundaries and define your strength.

    When you discover how much you've really got, you may surprise even yourself.

A. Certainly, it is about willpower.

B. Sometimes these limits are based on nothing.

C. How do you know just how much you've got?

D. Pushing It

E. As you go through your day, challenge your ability.

F. How can we train our mind and make it stronger?

G. Strength is a combination of physical and mental ability.

    Have you ever tried to write a poem? It's easier than you might think. Poems are a lot like song lyrics(歌词). A good poem conveys an honest feeling about something. Follow these steps to write a poem.

First, pay attention to the world around you—--little things, big things, people, animals, buildings, events, etc.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}You can do just about anything in a poem. That's why poetry writing is so wild and free: there are no rules.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}What would you like your poem to be about? Your poem will be more powerful if you choose a topic you feel strongly about.

    Now free-write for 5 minutes about your topic. Then go back and read it.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}Circle these to use in your poem.

    Write your poem. Remember, a poem doesn't have to rhyme. It doesn't have to use sentences.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}  And it should sound nice to you.

    Have a friend read your poem aloud to you. Do you like the way it sounds?{#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    I believe that poetry is the most exquisite(优美的) form of writing. And anyone can write a poem if they want to.

A. Then, choose your topic.

B. Explore different types of poems.

C. Do any words or phrases stand out?

D. What do you see, hear, taste, smell, and feel?

E. But it should show your feelings about the topic.

F. If not, go back and rewrite the parts you don't like.

G. Choose a paragraph from a favorite book and turn it into a poem

    If anyone had told me three years ago that I would be spending most of my weekends camping. I would have laughed heartily. Campers, in my eyes, were people who enjoyed insect bites, ill-cooked meals, and uncomfortable sleeping bags. They had nothing in common with me. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    The friends who introduced me to camping thought that it meant to be a pioneer. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} We sleep in a tent, cooked over an open fire, and walked a long distance to take the shower and use the bathroom. This brief visit with Mother Nature cost me two days off from work, recovering from a bad case of sunburn and the doctor's bill for my son's food poisoning.

    I was, nevertheless, talked into going on another fun-filled holiday in the wilderness.{#blank#}3{#/blank#} Instead, we had a pop-up camper with comfortable beds and an air conditioner. My nature-loving friends had remembered to bring all the necessities of life.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} We have done a lot of it since. Recently, we bought a twenty-eight-foot travel trailer complete with a bathroom and a built-in TV set. There is a separate bedroom, a modern kitchen with a refrigerator. The trailer even has matching carpet and curtains.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} It must be true that sooner or later, everyone finds his or her way back to nature. I recommend that you find your way in style.

A.This time there was no tent.

B.Things are going to be improved.

C.The trip they took me on was a rough one.

D.I was to learn a lot about camping since then, however.

E.I must say that I have certainly come to enjoy camping.

F. After the trip, my family became quite interested in camping.

G. There was no shade as the trees were no more than 3 feet tall.

    Are you truly happy? Do you ever know what it means to be happy and what it takes to achieve happiness? {#blank#}1{#/blank#} The following are a few tips that I follow to create happiness in my life. Make a plan for achieving goals that you believe will make you happy. Your moods will very likely increase（增加） if you are going after something you value.

    Surround yourself with happy people. It is easy to begin to think negatively（消极的）. When you are surrounded by people who think that way. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}When something goes wrong, try to figure out a solution instead of being absorbed in self pity.

    Truly happy people don't allow setbacks（挫折）to affect their mood because they know that with a little thought they can turn the things back to their favor.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} These few minutes will give you the opportunity to focus on the positive things in your life and will lead you to continuous happiness.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}  Whether you treat yourself to lunch, take a long, relaxing bath or simply spend a few extra minutes on your appearance, you will be putting yourself in a better mood.

    Finding the humor in situations can also lead to happiness. Find a way to make light of a situation that would otherwise make you happy.

    Keeping healthy is another way to achieve happiness. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. There are some tips in life that lead to happiness.

B. It's also important to take some time each day to do something nice for yourself

C. On the contrary, if you are around people who are happy, their emotional state will be easily passed to you.

D. Being overweight or not eating foods containing nutrition have a negative effect on your mood.

E. What makes one person happy may be very different from what makes someone else happy.

F. These are important questions for anyone who is seeking happiness to ask themselves.

G. Spend a few minutes each day thinking about the things that make you happy.

How to Pass Final Exams

    If you're a student, exams are an important part not only of any class, but also your final grade. Preparing throughout the semester is the most effective way to do well on your final exams. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}There are things you can do to help you pass your exams.

    Attend class regularly. You cannot successfully pass a class or exams if you do not attend the class. This will allow you to hear important lectures and take notes. It also helps you understand your readings and assignments. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}Teachers usually discuss what is on an exam during classes. If you aren't in class, you can, t get this important information.

    Start studying early. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}A month before the test date is a good time to begin your preparations. You can study simply by reviewing your notes for 20­30 minutes a day. If you have questions, ask the teacher.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}Practice exams are a highly effective way to study for tests. They will help you relax and point out any weak areas you may have going in to the final exam date. If you test yourself just twice, you will remember 75% ­ 80% of the material two weeks later. With no practice tests, that figure is just 20%.

    Reduce your anxiety. You wouldn't have anxiety if you weren't worried about passing your final exam. However, research shows that anxiety blocks your ability to focus, which can really put a damper （抑制）on your studying and test performance. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. Do a practice exam.

B. Understand how you can study best.

C. Every individual learns differently.

D. Most exams are based on what happens in class.

E. It is never too early to start studying for a final exam.

F. Basically, there's just no shortcut for knowing the material.

G. Try some relaxation techniques when you're feeling worried.

    Americans use many expressions with the word "dog". People in the United States love their dogs and treat them well. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}However, dogs without owners to care for them lead a different kind of life. The expression, to lead a dog's life, describes a person who has an unhappy existence.

    Some people say we live in a dog-eat-dog world. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}They say that to be successful, a person has to work like a dog. This means they have to work very, very hard. Such hard work can make people dog-tired. And, the situation would be even worse if they became sick as a dog.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}This means that every person enjoys a successful period during his or her life. To be successful, people often have to learn new skills. Yet, some people say that you can never teach an old dog new tricks. They believe that older people do not like to learn new things and will not change the way they do things.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}People who are unkind or uncaring can be described as meaner than a junkyard dog. Junkyard dogs live in places where people throw away things they do not want. Mean dogs are often used to guard this property. They bark or attack people who try to enter the property. However, sometimes a person who appears to be mean and threatening is really not so bad. We say his bark is worse than his bite.

Dog expressions are also used to describe the weather. The dog days of summer are the hottest days of the year. A rainstorm may cool the weather. But we do not want it to rain too hard. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. Some people are compared to dogs in bad ways.

B. Dogs are people's loyal friends all the time.

C. Still, people say every dog has its day.

D. They take their dogs for walks, let them play outside and give them nice meals.

E. That means many people are competing for the same things, like good jobs.

F. Sometimes, morning rain can light up the day.

G. We do not want it to rain cats and dogs.