The First Americans

    There was a time long ago when a land bridge connected Asia and North America. The first settlers in North America crossed this land bridge from what is now Siberia to Alaska. The people who made this initial crossing were probably following the animals they used for food.

    Finally, the oceans rose and the land bridge between the continents disappeared. The settlers, who I shall call the “First Americans”， could not return to their homeland.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    For the next few thousand years, the First Americans moved south and east throughout North and South America. They made the journey all the way from Alaska to the southern tip of South America, a distance of more than 10,000 miles.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    In the far north, above the Arctic Circle, the First Americans became hunters of the ocean.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}In the summer, they gathered berries and other plants. In the winter, they stayed in lodges much of the time preparing for the next summer. It was a hard life, but they learned to survive in these terrible conditions.

    Farther south, in what is now Arizona, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico, the First Americans became cliff dwellers. They began by living in caves that already existed in the cliffs.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}The dwellings they built in many ways resembled today's apartment buildings.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} They built a system of dams and canals so they could store and use water almost any time of the year. They were so successful that they could raise fruits and vegetables that were not found naturally in the desert.

A．They also discovered foods like corn and potatoes.

B．Along the way, they established many different civilizations.

C．They discovered how to add to the caves by building structures of wood and stone.

D．People living near each other tended to share similar environments and customs.

E．They built boats of animal skins and hunted or fished for their food.

F．They would have to survive in the New World they had discovered.

G．The First Americans of the Southwest learned to water the desert.

    Do you want to be at the top of your class? Add these tips to your life and you should be on your way to being a top student!

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#} I cannot stress how important it is to pay attention to what your teacher is teaching you. Take part in class discussions if you have something worthwhile to add. Pay attention during class, especially during lectures.

    Taking notes is important. You don't need to write down every single word your teacher says but write down what he/she writes on the board, or any special fact you think you might need for a test. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} This way it will help you learn more effectively by actually thinking about what you are writing.

    Don't skip school. You will be missing out on stuff. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} However, you will have more work and you have missed lectures and in-class movies. Also, try not to be late for class. It's most likely that your teacher won't appreciate it and you will get yourself behind.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} If you have an "I don't care about school or this class" attitude, then teachers will be less willing to help you with problems or offer you extra credit. The same goes for lazy attitude. Have a respectful attitude to the teacher and other students. Try not to laugh when other students make a mistake.

    Always ask questions.{#blank#}5{#/blank#} If you don't understand, ask someone. Read your textbook and notes, and then if that fails, seek help. Ask a teacher, friend, classmate, parent, etc. Get a tutor if you need one.

A. There is no shame in needing some help.

B. Staying organized will be helpful.

C. Be prepared.

D. Pay attention to everything the teacher says.

E. Write in your own words.

F. Keep a good attitude towards things.

G. It is true that you could make up the work.

    The most universal facial expression is the smile --its function is to show happiness and put people at ease. A smile says, "I like you. You make me happy."

    That's why dogs make such a hit. They are so glad to see us that they almost jump out of their skins. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}.

    A baby's smile has the same effect. Have you ever been in a doctor's, waiting room and looked around at all the sad faces waiting impatiently to be seen? There were six or seven patients waiting when a young woman came in with a nine-month-old baby. She sat down next to a gentleman who was more than a little impatient about the long wait for service. The baby just looked up at him with that great big smile that is so characteristic of babies,{#blank#}2{#/blank#}. Soon he struck up a conversation with the woman about her baby and his grand-children and then the entire reception room joined in, and the boredom and tension were changed into a pleasant and enjoyable experience {#blank#}3{#/blank#}. Telephone companies throughout the US have a program called "phone power" which is offered to employees who use the telephone for selling their services or products. In this program they suggest that you smile when talking on the phone. Your "smile" comes through in your voice.

    You don't feel like smiling? {#blank#}4{#/blank#}. If you are alone, force yourself to whistle or hum a tune or sing. Act as if you were already happy, and that will tend to make you happy.

    Your smile is a messenger of your goodwill.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}.To someone who has seen a dozen people frown or turn their faces away, your smile is like the sun breaking through the clouds Especially when someone is under pressure from his bosses, his customers, his teachers or parents or children, a smile can help him realize that all is not hopeless that there is joy in the world.

A. He smiled back at the baby

B. Your smile brightens the lives of all who see it

C. Smile gets much easier with practice

D. So, naturally, we are glad to see them

E. Well, force yourself to smile

F. We should give others a real smile, a smile that comes from within

G. The effect of a smile is powerful, even when it is unseen

    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.

Four Habits to Help You Succeed

    Nobody would like to experience failure. We all want to succeed. For those who have tried and failed, success seems difficult to understand. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Know your values.

    Finding your values is in line with creating motivation. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}Pick a handful of things and write them down. Remind yourself of your values every day and reflect on whether you are honoring those values through your work.

    Pick a goal and focus on it.

    Choose one goal to start something large enough that will give you a sense of achievement, while adjusting well to your values. If you want to achieve your goal, focus is the key here. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}If you perform many tasks at a time, you might never finish your projects because they will take far too long.

    Set a time for success.

    Set a date for success. Know when you hope to realize your goal. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}By setting a time limit, you are making the process realistic.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    Failure can't be avoided when you take risks. By its very definition, the desire to succeed means you are risking failure. Many people tend to give up far too early. Don't fall into this trap! Use failure. Treat it as a good thing, and go on.

A. Make the right decision.

B. The more focused you are on one goal, the higher chance you have of success.

C. I have made a list of four habits to help you set goals and realize them.

D. Keep it realistic, while not giving yourself too much time.

E. Don't give up because of failure.

F. Sit and reflect on what you value most.

G. Push yourself to be courageous, and take that next step.

Are you too responsible？

Taking responsibility is an essential element of strong leadership. But when the scales tip to over-responsibility, both the leader and their team suffer. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

Define what you're truly responsible for. When it feels like the weight of the world is on your shoulders, try the following pie-chart exercise.{#blank#}2{#/blank#} Draw a circle on your paper and allocate responsibility for the situation to each person on your list. Add up those amounts and determine the remaining percentage. The amount left over is your actual share of responsibility.

Examine your assumptions. To start overturning your over-responsibility habit, examine the beliefs and fears that keep it alive. Are they really true? Reframe the release of responsibility and consider that you're empowering others. Allow them to struggle with a task, solve their own problem, or own up to a mistake. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

Give responsibilities back. Whether you willingly assumed a given responsibility or it was placed on you, it's time to return it to its rightful owner. Identify one responsibility you can return to a specific person. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Expect a few discomfort at first, but resist the temptation to jump back in.

Accept help. If you're overly responsible, you likely say "yes" whenever others ask for help but don't ask for any yourself. It's time to rebalance your give-accept proportion {#blank#}5{#/blank#} If someone asks if they can take something off your plate or offers to do something for you, say "yes."

Rightsizing your responsibility is not about escaping what is yours to own but finding a more appropriate balance. By taking 100% of your responsibility, but not more, you will avoid unnecessary stress and help others grow.

A.Practice accepting offers of help. 

B.Grab a piece of paper and list everyone involved. 

C.It may be a simple task that someone else should be doing. 

D.The following strategies may help you find a more appropriate balance. 

E.In this way，you help them develop greater competence and confidence. 

F.Leaders who ask for help increase the feelings of connection on their team. 

G.If so，these could be signs that you have an overactive sense of responsibility.