How to Be Interesting

    Everybody tries hard to be interesting and well-liked in his or her life. If you feel like you are boring or dull, don't fret (苦恼)! {#blank#}1{#/blank#}Read this article to learn how.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} The more you know about what is going on in the world, the more you can contribute to conversations. Interesting people are the ones who can bring something new to a conversation and share fun facts rather than just sitting there nodding. The more you learn, the better conversationalist you will become. So keep yourself educated by reading books and staying up-to-date with current events in the news and pop culture.

    Create more stories to share. Interesting people always seem to have a lot going on in their lives. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}. The best way to accumulate interesting stories is by travelling, constantly meeting new people, and putting yourself in new and interesting situations.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}. Expand（扩展） your social circle by starting conversations with anyone and everyone. You never know when a stranger can turn into one of your new best friends! Give everybody you meet a chance to show you who they are, and welcome them into your life.

    Be yourself. Remember that even though you may feel uninteresting, you are one-of-a-kind. Don't try to get attention by pretending to be somebody you are not, because eventually the truth will come out and you will seem like a dishonest person. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}.Instead, learn to highlight (强调)your positive qualities and downplay（轻视）your negative ones.

A. The more you do，the more stories you will have to share with others.

B. Everyone has the potential to be interesting, regardless of how unexciting your life may seem.

C. Get to know new people.

D. Be busy with what you do.

E. Be educated.

F. Accept yourself.

G. Don't hide who you are.

    Do you remember the last time you read a book, or a magazine? Is checking e-mails or updating microblog your daily reading habit? If you're one of those who don't make a habit of reading regularly, you might be really out.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Stress Reduction

    No matter how much pressure you have at work, in your personal relationships, or other issues in daily life, it all just slips away when you lose yourself in a great story.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    Knowledge

    Everything you read fills your head with new information, and you never know when it might come into use.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}Besides, you might lose everything else—your job, your money, even your health, but knowledge can never be taken from you.

    Vocabulary Expansion

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} As a result, this will gradually enlarge your everyday vocabulary. Then you might become more knowledgeable and well-spoken, which can increase your self confidence and even help you get promotions more quickly.

    Better Writing Skills

    Exposure to well-written work has a great effect on your own writing. In other words, writing styles of other authors will influence your own work.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    Now that reading has so many benefits, step away from your computer and go hunting for something new to read!

A. Here are some benefits of reading.

B. Here are some suggestions for your health.

C. The more you read, the more words you gain exposure to.

D. This goes hand-in-hand with the expansion of your vocabulary.

E. A well-written novel can bring you pleasure, and allow you to relax.

F. The more knowledge you have, the better-equipped you are for your life.

G. That is why beginners always learn how to write by reading the works of others.

    Many parents would like to teach their children English at home, but don't know how to start. It doesn't matter if your own English is not perfect. The most important thing is that you give your children lots of encouragement and praise.{#blank#}1{#/blank#} They will need some time to learn the language.

Make it a rule

    Try to do certain activities at the same time every day.{#blank#}2{#/blank#} For example, you could read an English story with your children before bedtime. Repetition (重复) is important — children often need to hear words many times before they say them themselves.

Playing games

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Cards are a great way to teach words and there are many different games which you can play with cards, such as Memory and Happy Families.

Using everyday situations

    The advantage of teaching English at home is that you can use everyday situations to practice the language naturally. For example:

    Talk about clothes when your child is getting dressed (＂Let's put on your blue socks＂, etc.).

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}When you go to the supermarket, give your child a list of things to find.

    Using songs

    Songs are a really good way to learn new words. Songs with actions are especially good for very young children because they are able to join in.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. Fifteen minutes is enough for very young children.

B. Children learn naturally when they are having fun.

C. Teach food words when you are cooking or going shopping.

D. The actions often show the meaning of the words in the song.

E. With younger children, there is no need to teach grammar rules.

F. Don't worry if your child doesn't start speaking English immediately.

G. Children feel more comfortable and confident when they know what to expect.

    Nobody can live without money. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} However, money cannot buy everything. You can't buy the following things only relying on money you have.

    Time

    Money is a tool for trade. We spend most of our time in getting, spending, worrying and fantasizing（想象）about money. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Instead, money takes away your time that could have been spent playing with your children or having a long walk with your friends. When the sun sets, a day goes away from our life forever. No money has power to bring that back to life.

    Self-respect

    There are a lot of examples to prove that no money can buy self-respect. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} If you are your worst enemy, gods of money can't save you from the self-destruction（自毁）you add to yourself.

    Health

    As I write this, I find that one of my best friends has brain cancer, and it is in the last period. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} But no money can buy insurance for his life. We buy insurance for just about everything including our life but money can never bring our life back.

    Happiness

    This is doubtful. Money can buy happiness if it is spent bringing greater financial safety for the family. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Going after money every day can never find its destination（目的地，终点）with great eagerness（渴望）to get more.

A.Show your respect for others.

B.Self-respect is got from within.

C.Money can buy a lot of things.

D.You can't buy time or save it in your storeroom.

E.Of course money can give him the best health care.

F.So you should not try your best to earn money without caring about your health.

G.But money can't buy happiness if the purpose is to make much more money.

    We are told that 'a family that eats together stays together'. We even follow it by making the whole family sit in front of the television while eating, right? Wrong. Television does nothing to help make the family relationships better. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} It's thus better to give the TV a break and to sit at the dinner table. Family dinners need another important part－conversations that bring in a pleasant atmosphere.

    It often serves well to start the conversation right before dinner so that setting the table and doing other things may become less boring. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} as a result, there are no embarrassing moments when people are actually eating. Also, you can change the topic if you feel that it might start arguments.

    Children aren't usually very good at sharing information and don't know how to reply when you ask them questions like 'How was your school today?' {#blank#}3{#/blank#} For this, you can ask them about the after-class activities that they might be taking part in.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Therefore, all controversial (有争议的) topics should not be talked about. Actually, if you have had a funny incident in your day at the work, share it with others. What's more, it serves well if you share your childhood memories with your family. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} In a word, it is always important to choose the right topics for the family dinner conversations.

A. Try to know more about them than just their school life.

B. It's often difficult to start a conversation at a family dinner.

C. But try to keep in mind some family dinner conversation ideas.

D. Doing things together can make family members feel interested.

E. In fact, it only increases the distance between members of the family.

F. They, especially your kids, will feel excited to hear about what you did as a child.

G. Conversations during dinnertime should encourage family members to eat well.

In recent years, more Chinese students have been choosing art school as their first choice when applying for universities overseas, according to the Report on Chinese Students' Overseas Study in 2018. Anyone applying to art school should know that one's portfolio (资历证明材料) is a crucial part of the application process.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}

Focus on original, recent work. Admissions officers see so many portfolios on a regular basis, so it's important to make yourself stand out as an individual.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}Presenting work that you've done within the last one or two years also provides a more relevant and accurate portrayal (描述) of your skills.

{#blank#}3{#/blank#}You don't want to spread yourself too thin, but working with a variety of media and different techniques can convey that you are able to express yourself in diverse ways.

Unless the school requires that only finished work be included in your portfolio, you should include images that reflect the progress of your work.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}It gives admissions officers insight into the thought that has gone into the work.

Make sure that your work shows your true talent.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}Remember never try to make up some merits, which will in turn be a mirror of your dishonesty. However, it is always helpful to look at samples of other art portfolios to see their approach.

A. Prepare your portfolio in different languages.

B. Show a wide range of work in your portfolio.

C. Be proud of what you submit and your own strengths.

D. Why is a good portfolio important to your successful application?

E. This may include images from a workbook behind the finished product.

F. Here are some tips to help you through this process and put your best work out there.

G. It's more impressive to express your personal opinion rather than copying another's work.