A“Gap Year” is a period of time when a student takes a break before going touniversity.It is often spent traveling or working.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}.The advantagesof taking a gap year are as follows：

{#blank#}2{#/blank#}.Althoughyou don't have to go abroad to experience gap years，most gap year students catch thechance to travel abroad.You are able to work out who you are and what you arefor.The experiences of different cultures offer you interesting lessons.

FaceChallenges and Have Fun.A gap year is not only a time to take a vacation，but also a time to face challenges.Gapyear students usually work，volunteeror take service projects.You have to learn how to get along in the realworld.This process isn't always easy，butit is an important part of growing up.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}.

            Save Money and Improve Your College Admission Chances.There's a common thought thatgap years are only for rich students，butit isn't true. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}.Gap year students often take a part－time job.Besides，at the end of a gap year，students are much more likely to knowwhat to study in college.Clear learning goals can keep the students workinghard instead of wasting time and money playing.

Imaginean admission officer trying to admit only one between two students.Both of themare excellent and have high grades.However，onestudent has much practical experience or has volunteered in his vacation.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    I had an experience once which taught me something about the ways people made a bad situation worse by blaming themselves. One January, I officiated (主持) at two funerals for two elderly women.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}At the first home, the son of the deceased (已故) woman said, “If only I had sent my mother to Florida and gotten her out of this cold and snow, she would be alive today. It's my fault that she died.” At the second home, the son said, “If only I had not insisted her going to Florida, she would be alive today.{#blank#}2{#/blank#} It is my fault.”

    When things don't turn out as we would like them to, we tend to assume that had we done things differently, the story would have had a happier ending. Any time there is a death, the survivors will feel guilty. Because the course of action they took turned out bad, they believe that the opposite course, for example, keeping mother at home, would have turned out better.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    There seem to be two elements involved in our readiness to feel guilty. The first lies in our belief that the world makes sense—there is a reason for everything that happens.

    The second is the thought that we are the cause of what happens, especially the bad things that happen.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}A baby comes to think that the world exists to meet his needs, and that he makes everything happen in it. He wakes up in the morning and calls the rest of the world to its tasks.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}When he is hungry, people feed him, and when he is wet, people change him. Very often, we do not completely abandon that childish thought that our wishes cause things to happen.

A. That long airplane ride was more than she could take.

B. After all, how could it have turned out any worse?

C. Life and dead is an unsolved mystery.

D. The roots of this feeling may lie in our childhood.

E. He cries, and someone comes to attend to him.

F. Both died a natural death.

G. They believe that they are responsible for what has happened.

Ways to make your bedroom unique

    Tired of your room looking the same all the time? Here are some ideas to make it match your own unique style.

    See the transformation as a process，not a quick change.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}You don't have to follow all the suggestions in this article but if you do, it'll probably take you a while, Try to be patient.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Before decorating it's important to make sure your room is organized. Small drawers and dividers can make it easier to be organized and quicker to put stuff away.

    Evaluate what you already have. Look around your house and see what materials you already have on hand. Cool holiday lights, lengths of fabric, paint, unwanted furniture, bulletin boards, pillows, and mirrors can all be fun additions to your room that your family might have sitting around unused. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}Throw away stuff you do not need.

    Develop a theme. A theme can be as simple as a color or a mood, or it can center on a certain time period or fictional character {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    Rearrange your furniture.{#blank#}5{#/blank#} Think about ways to maximize(使最大化)your space and leave more room open in the middle. If you're out of ideas, check out IKEA or other department stores, and pay attention to how they arrange furniture to maximize space.

    Get some different comforter and pillows. Change the way your bed looks by finding a different comforter and some new pillows for it. Shop online or at a store or browse through a thrift store. If you're feeling industrious(勤勉的)，you can even sew your own.

A. Organize your room.

B. Put away your furniture if possible.

C. Redecorating a room can take a lot of work.

D. It's better to think about where to put your bed before decorating.

E. Pick out some items that you might want to include in your new room.

F. Changing the positioning of your room can help it feel different and more unique in very little time.

G. Whatever you choose, it should make your room feel like your own, individualized space.

    How to become a better reader?

    Language and literacy(读写能力) are among mankind's greatest inventions. Evolving and even dying over the course of human history, languages are a reflection of our cultural and societal attitudes. Most humans acquire language in early childhood and speak fluently when they are about three years old, but our continued relationship with language gives shape and meaning to our lives. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    ⒈Take it slow

    Many readers feel that they read too slowly, especially compared with others but the truth is that the faster you read, the less likely you are to comprehend fully what you're reading. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Reading is a lifelong process; learning to read closely and slowly will help you become faster over time without missing anything.

    ⒉{#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    When humans first began reading written words, it was unusual to read in silence. Though general inappropriate for commuters or for late-night adventurers, reading out loud is one of the best ways to improve your reading ability. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} If so, you will begin to read more accurately and with better vocal expression. Try listening to the author reading their own work-you'll be surprised to find how clearly it comes through on the page.

    ⒊Write

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} How and what you read affects how and what you write, and the best readers often make the best writers. But while much can be learned from close, repeated readings, there are many secretive pleasures to language that can only be experienced through the practice of writing.

A. Read aloud.

B. Get into the rhythm of the authors voice.

C. Here are 3 ways to become a better reader.

D. Writing and reading go hand -in-hand.

E. Try writing every day for a month; you will never read the same again.

F. The ability to read is important to form an identity and express one's feelings.

G. In that case, do not hesitate to re-read the passage.

    You have probably heard the saying, "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade." Lemons are considered not tasty while lemonade is considered sweet. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    But when something bad happens, it's common for most people to complain about life, " Why me?" That's like getting a bag of lemons and thinking, "Lemons taste bad! I just want chocolate!" {#blank#}2{#/blank#} But what if you did something with them? What if you made lemonade? Isn't it possible to do something similar in a bad situation?

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Let's say you're about to go to the movies, but you discover you have a flat tire(瘪了的轮胎). You consider this a terrible thing. After all, you're really looking forward to spending some time with your favorite film stars. Now you're very worried, hating the tire, the car, and your life. But what if you called AAA(美国汽车协会) to get your tire fixed or caught up on things that you' d been meaning to do? {#blank#}4{#/blank#} A bad experience can be turned into something good. Almost everything can work itself out into something better. You can't change what has happened, right? So make the best of it. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} The easy thing to do is to be disappointed about what has happened and not consider what it could be turned into.

    Next time when some bad things happen, stop and think, "How can I turn this around? How can I make it a positive experience?"

    One of the easiest and most pleasing ways to express your creativity (创造力) is by drawing. In addition, drawing can calm you down in many ways. It can help keep you away from negative thoughts and clear your mind. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Draw something that makes you comfortable. Content (内容) does not matter as much as the meaning you connect with whatever you choose to draw. If you find mountains or trees relaxing to be around, try your hand at drawing. You can also draw things like pets or buildings. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} For example, draw a dog's head on a pig's body with a horse's legs and tail.

    Just draw. Experiment on drawing with different color patterns (色型) and emotions. Believe it or not, drawing can help realize physical relaxation by lowering your blood pressure. Color your drawing with bright, exciting colors. Draw patterns. Start with changes of circles, as they're easier to draw. Simply cover a page in a pattern. Keep your subjects smile. Whether you are drawing mountains, humans, or animals, add a face with a smile. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    Go somewhere where you feel calm. Choose some quiet places. Turn off your phone, and avoid areas with television or computers. Some private (私人的) places are best, as your drawing will not be forbidden by the presence of others, and you will be less likely to be bothered. Get outside. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}. Drawing outside can also give you ideas of things to draw.

    Have fun. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Don't worry about the final product. And don't judge your artistic abilities. Lose yourself in the experience of creation! Sitting down to draw for just a few minutes can brighten your feelings. You'll feel energetic and may feel even more open­minded for the rest of the day.

A. Let yourself enjoy the process.

B. Listen to music when you draw.

C. Simply being outside will calm you down.

D. Sure, it's silly but you'll probably smile back.

E. Hang up your work somewhere it will catch your eye.

F. You can even try combinations of different animal parts.

G. And the enjoyment of drawing can help keep your stresses away.