Choosing the right job is probably one of the most important decisions we have to make in life, and it is frequently one of the hardest decisions we have to make. One important question that you might ask yourself is: “How do I get a good job?” {#blank#}1{#/blank#}.

    There are people who can answer an insignificant advertisement in the local paper and land the best job in the world; others write to all sorts of places all over the country, and never seem to get a reply at all. Still others believe that the in person, door-to-door approach is by far the best way to get a job; and then there are those who, through no active decision of their own, just seem to be in the right place at the right time. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}. He used to spend a lot of his free time down by the sea watching the tall ships, but never thinking that he might one day sail one of them. His father was a farmer, and being a sailor could never be anything for the boy but an idle dream. One day, on his usual wandering, he heard the captain of the ship complaining that he could not sail because one member of his crew was sick. Without stopping to think, the lad (少年) offered to take his place. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}. If the lad had gone home to consider his decision for a week, he may have missed his chance. It is one thing to be offered an opportunity; it is another thing to take it and use it well.

    Sometimes we hear stories about people who break all the rules and still seem to land good jobs. When you go for a job interview or fill out an application, you are expected to say nice things about the company to which you are applying. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}. And within a year this person had become general manager of the company.

A. This story also illustrates the importance of seizing an opportunity when it presents itself.

B. People find jobs in an infinite number of ways.

C. it's almost impossible to find a good job by answering advertisement in newspapers

D. Take for example the young man who wanted to be a sailor.

E. But there was one person who landed an excellent job by telling the interviewer all the company's faults.

F. He spent the rest of his life happily sailing the ships he had always loved.

G. It is very important to seize an opportunity when it presents itself.

    Our character, basically, is made up of our habits. "Sow a habit, reap (收获) a character: sow a character reap a destiny (命运)," as the saying goes.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#}Because they are often unconscious patterns, they constantly daily affect our character and produce our effectiveness or ineffectiveness.

    As Horace Mann, the great educator, once said, "Hahits are like a cable. We weave a rope of it every day and soon it cannot be broken. "Habits can be learned. But we know it isn't a quick fix.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    Many of us have watched the lunar voyage of Apollo 11.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}But to get there, those astronauts had to break out of the tremendous gravity pull of the earth. More energy was spent in the first few minutes of lift-off, than was used over the next several days to travel half million miles.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}Getting rid of bad habits really requires great willpower and some changes in our lives. Lift-off takes tremendous effort, but once we break out of the pull of gravity, we can enjoy great freedom.

    Like any natural force, gravity pull can work with us or against us. The gravity pull of some of our habits may currently be keeping us from going where we want to go. But it is also gravity pull that keeps our world together and keeps the planets in their orbits.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}We can use the gravity pull of habit to create the order necessary to establish effectiveness in our lives.

A. It involves a process and a great effort.

B. Habits are powerful factors in our lives.

C. Habits, too, have tremendous gravity pull.

D. It is a powerful force if we use it effectively.

E. We should try our best to get rid of our bad habits.

F. To break out of the pull of gravity needs great efforts.

G. We were surprised to see the first men walk on the moon.

    When I was younger I was fascinated with stories of magic．I was absorbed in books where wizards(法师)and fighters battled the powers of darkness in strange worlds．I was delighted when they won bringing peace and happiness to their lands{#blank#}1{#/blank#}I wanted to be able to magically make my pain disappear，to make my problems go away，and to have power over this world that so often has power over us．

    As I got older，however，I realized that there was no such thing as magic{#blank#}2{#/blank#} I had daily pain from a back injury that never healed(治愈)right．I still sometimes dreamed of magic but in time even that faded away．

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} This magic grew stronger in my heart，soul，and mind day by day．It was called LOVE．This magic connected me to my own highest self and to all of the other souls in this world．It didn't abolish my poverty but it made every day of my life feel richer{#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    There is such a thing as magic in this world．There is such a thing as magic in each one of us．This magic is called LOVE{#blank#}5{#/blank#} Also，I hope you use it to help others，to heal this world，and to build a bridge to souls of everybody．

A．I struggled through a long period of poverty．

B．I was not eager to have any power that controlled the world．

C．Then one day I started to discover a different kind of magic．

D．May you choose it，share it，and live in it every single day of your life．

E．It didn't get rid of my pain but it helped me deal with it so much better．

F．It helped me see them as the beautiful，loving and joyful souls they truly are．

G．Most of the readers like me secretly wished for magical powers for themselves．

Five ways to improve creativity

    Creativity is the ability to go beyond traditional rules, ideas or relationships and create something new through imagination or progressiveness. There are many ways to improve your creative mind.

    Exercise the mind. Exercising your mind is an ideal way to boost creativity. Like the body, the mind needs exercise to work the creative muscles and make them stronger. Exercise your brain by learning new subjects, getting into a debate about politics and talking to other creative and intelligent people.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Be passionate. One aspect of creativity is passion.{#blank#}2{#/blank#} Find your internal motivation and follow your passion to improve your creativity.

    Change your routine.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}To boost your creativity, consider changing one to two elements of your daily routine. If you are working on a certain project, consider stopping one project to work on another project at regular intervals throughout the day or week.

    Read. While reading provides many intellectual benefits, reading is also beneficial for boosting creativity, exercising your brain and provide creative inspiration.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}Consider reading about subjects that were previously uninteresting to you. This change in the norm might spark your creative interest.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Our packed schedules have no room for creative thinking. Take a certain amount of time every day to quiet, refresh and clear the mind while relaxing the body. This quiet time can consist of a yoga workout, meditation or simply sitting still in a dark and quiet room, in a peaceful garden or on a beautiful beach.

A. Schedule quiet time.

B. It can become weak due to stresses

C. Creativity is a natural quality

D. Often, creativity is blocked due to a too familiar routine

E. These activities will encourage a flow of creativity.

F. Read as much as possible about several different subjects.

G. Typically, students will do well in subjects they are interested in

    More than 40 million Americans move each year, but not always by choice. Whether you're moving because of work or schooling or for better chances, adjusting to（适应）the life in a new place can be difficult. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Here are some tips to help you adjust to your new home.

    Treat it as an adventure(冒险)

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} So stay positive and get out there and explore! Taste the local food and visit famous places and museums. Try local activities that aren't popular in your former city, such as skating if you come from a beach town or surfing if you lived in the mountains. You may discover a talent(才华) or interest you never knew you had.

    Get involved with（介入）your neighbors

    Introduce yourself to neighbors and everyone else you meet. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} This is the best way to get advice about living in your area, and to make new friends. Attend local events that interest you, visit the markets or yard sales, take classes and so on. All of these things will help you meet people and feel connected.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    It takes time to get to know a new place, so don't expect to feel comfortable right away. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} To help make the process easier you can meet new people, find a support group near you. A fresh move is also a fresh start. Therefore it is a great time to start realizing a dream you've had, whether it is going back to school, starting a new career, or finishing a novel.

A. Find what you love.

B. Be patient and go after your dream.

C. Give yourself time to adjust.

D. Tell them you're new in the town.

E. It is especially true when you don't love your new city very much.

F. Show others the photos of your favorite places in your old town.

G. Living in a new place is a great opportunity to experience new things and grow up.

    The art of growing dwarf(矮小的)trees, or "bonsai"(盆栽)as their Japanese planters call them, is increasing in popularity in the United States. Growing bonsai can make a fascinating hobby for anyone who enjoys plants and creating beautiful effects with them.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    In growing bonsai, in fact, one must be careful in choosing the type of tree, as the growing conditions are unusual.{#blank#}2{#/blank#} Varieties of pines with small needles and hardwood trunks are especially suitable.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}This is necessary because the major growth of bonsai is kept confined(被限制) to the tree's trunk and leaves, not its root system-a process quite unlike what is done with other plants.

    Another thing the bonsai-grower must do is to trim(修整)the roots and branches of the tree periodically (定期地). Unless this is done, the plants will not have the proper proportions(比例) and will look unnatural.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    The last thing one must do is to be careful to keep the tree well-watered. Because bonsai are grown in smaller-than-usual containers, they often need more water than ordinary houseplants do.

    As can be seen from the above, the art of bonsai-growing is one which requires a certain amount of time and effort.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}Imagine having such a tree in your living room and passing it down through several generations of your family. That is exactly what bonsai-growing is all about: establishing a tradition of beauty which lasts for years and years and is a symbol of the beauties of the natural world.

A. Then one must be careful in choosing the size of the container.

B. How can we meet the goal of making such a kind of art?

C. Why do so many people take a fancy to the art of bonsai-growing.

D. But one must get well prepared before starting bonsai-growing.

E. The satisfactions that growing bonsai brings can be great, however.

F. The ideal for bonsai plants are trees just like normal trees in everything but size.

G. Not all species of trees can be made into bonsai.