Smiling is a great way to make yourself stand out while helping your body to function better. Smile to improve your health, your stress level, and your attractiveness.

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    We are drawn to people who smile. There is an attraction factor. We want to know a smiling person and figure out what is so good because anxieties can push people away, but a smile draws them in.

Smiling changes our mood

    Next time you are feeling down, try putting on a smile. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}Smiling can trick the body into helping you change your mood.

Smiling relieves stress

    Stress can really show up in our faces. Smiling helps to prevent us from looking tired or worn down. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}The stress should be reduced and you'll be better able to take action.

Smiling lowers your blood pressure.

    When you smile, there is a measurable reduction in your blood pressure. Give it a try if you have a blood pressure monitor (血压计) at home. Sit for a few minutes and take a reading. Then smile for a minute and read it again while still smiling. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

Smiling lifts the face and makes you look younger.

The muscles we use to smile lift the face, making a person appear younger. Don't go for a face lift, just try smiling your way through the day — you'll look younger and feel better.

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    Try this test: Smile. Now try to think of something negative without losing the smile. It's hard. When we smile, our body is sending the rest of us a message that “Life is good!"

A. Smiling helps you stay positive.

B. Smiling makes us attractive.

C. Do you notice the difference?

D. Smiling can bring you luck and sorrow.

E. When you are stressed, take time to put on a smile.

F. There's a good chance that your mood will change for the better.

G. As long as you try smiling daily, it can make you look younger.

    When Ava McCarver was in kindergarten, her class visited a nursing home (疗养院). Ava learned that many of the residents (住户) there receive few visitors. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} “I asked my mom if I could visit them,” she says. Soon, Ava and her mom became volunteers at Birchwood Health Care Center.

    That was six years ago. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} She enjoys hanging out with Mary, Shirley and other residents during her twice-monthly visits. “I paint their nails, and I talk to a lot of them,” she says. Sometimes she helps lead craft (手工艺) projects. Other times they play card games. “It's good for the residents to see little kids,” Ava says. “That makes them really happy.”

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} She has raised money for the nursing home by making refrigerator decorations and selling them at a craft fair. She has also collected used puzzles from garage sales and donated them to Birchwood.

    Ava wrote a book called The Squirrel Family. In the book, two squirrels raise a family and eventually move into a place called Birchwood where they live happily. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Ten stores in her city agreed to display the books, along with a can to collect money. Ava's project raised about $750. Birchwood used that money to buy furniture for the residents.

    Ava says she enjoyed the look of “pure joy” on a resident's face after a hug from her. That's why she started visiting Birchwood — to bring happiness to others. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} “It's really fun,” she says. “They have good stories, and I enjoy my time there.”

A. She decided to take action.

B. But she has gained happiness for herself, too.

C. Since then, Ava has made many friends at Birchwood.

D. Ava used her book to raise money for the nursing home.

E. Birchwood needs more volunteers for its craft project.

F. Ava has found some creative ways to help her friends at Birchwood.

G. Ava's book has achieved a great success and earned a large amount of money for her.

    Helen Keller once wrote, "The unselfish effort to bring cheer to others will be the beginning of a happier life for ourselves."{#blank#}1{#/blank#} The UN has set December 5 as International Volunteer Day to give recognition to these people.

    Nineteen-year-old Andrew Makhoul was a communications major at the University of Pennsylvania. It was coming up to spring break, but unlike his classmates, Makhoul wasn't planning on spending the break relaxing. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    He traveled to Guatemala. He went to an orphanage(孤儿院)in one of the most violent and poor parts of Guatemala city. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Although he didn't speak much Spanish, he found communication wasn't a problem: "You communicated with love." And what he gave out, he got back: "You could see love when you looked in their eyes."

    Makhoul's first time as a volunteer only lasted a week, but by the end of that week, he knew he'd be back in the future.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}The UN highlighted the case of Palestinian women who are survivors of breast cancer. As part of the UN's Aid and Hope Programme for Patient Care, the women have been volunteering their time to create low-cost breast prosthetics(假体)to be distributed to women for free, among whom Shahd El-Swerki is a brilliant example. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}By the end of her time there, she admired these women who are "not only survivors but also volunteers".

    About 2,400 years ago, Greek philosopher Aristotle said, "The essence(本质)of life is to serve others and do good." Volunteers all around the world are making these words come true, each and every day.

A. These words certainly prove true for the millions of volunteers all over the world

B. Here, we tell two volunteering stories from around the globe.

C. He decided to spend his time doing something useful for people.

D. Volunteers want to do their best to make the world warmer and more beautiful.

E. She worked with the women as part of the programme.

F. Sometimes, volunteers themselves live with huge challenges

G. It depends upon volunteers to stay open. 

    Parents usually teach their children how to cross the street safely, by looking both ways for cars.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}The city of Honolulu, Hawaii wants everyone to learn that lesson.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}Beginning on October 24, you will be fined from $15 to $99 if you step into a Honolulu street while looking at your phone. Honolulu is the first major U.S. city to ban what is called "distracted walking". It recently passed a law in a seven to two vote. The law says, "No pedestrian shall cross a street or highway while viewing a mobile electronic device."{#blank#}3{#/blank#} 

    The law includes all electronic devices with screens: cellphone, tablets, gaming devices, digital cameras and laptop computers.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}Pedestrians may use such devices in the street to call emergency services and rescue workers, such as firefighters and police officers.

    Pedestrian deaths have been increasing as the use of cellphones rises. The Governors Highway Safety Association, or GHSA, says pedestrian deaths in the United States increased 25 percent between 2010 and 2015. That trend continued in 2016 with the number of pedestrian deaths rising to almost 6000, 11% higher than in 2015.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}The state of Washington was the first to outlaw distracted driving back in 2007. Now, 46 other states as well as D. C. Puerto Rico, Guam and the U. S. Virgin Islands, have laws against texting while driving.

    If you still want to text while walking, you could avoid being fined in Honolulu by using a voice-controlled digital assistant such as Siri or Google Assistant. Or you could just wait until you are again, safely, off the street.

A. The law does permit an exception.

B. Other U. S. cities may follow Honolulu.

C. But do they also teach them to put away their cellphones?

D. Texting while crossing the street will soon be banned in the city.

E. Do you like Honolulu's new law that bans texting while walking?

F. In other words, do not look at a screen when you cross the street or you could be fined.

G. The law's creator hope it will lower the number of people hit and killed by cars in the city.

5 Ways to deal with anxiety

    Everyone has feelings of anxiety, nervousness, tension, and stress from time to time. Here are 5 ways to help manage them:

    Become a relaxation expert.

    We all think we know how to relax. But chilling out in front of the TV or computer isn't true relaxation. (Depending on what you're watching or doing, it could even make you more tense.) The same is true for alcohol, drugs, or tobacco. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}. What the body really needs is daily practice of a relaxation technique — like deep breathing, tai chi, or yoga — that has a physical effect on the mind. For example, deep breathing helps to relax a major nerve that runs from the diaphragm to the brain, sending a message to the entire body to let go and loosen up.

    Get enough sleep, and nourishment.

    Want your mind and body to feel peaceful and strong enough to handle life's ups and downs?

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}. Eat well: Choose fruit, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains for long-term energy (instead of the short bursts that come from too much sugar or caffeine).

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}.

    Spend time with friends or family. Organized activities are great, but just hanging out works too. Doing things with those we feel close to deepens our bonds, allowing us to feel supported and secure. And the fun and sharing that go with it allow us to feel happier and less upset about things. If you feel worried or nervous about something, talking about it with someone who listens and cares can help you feel more understood and better able to cope. You'll be reminded that everyone has these feelings sometimes. You're not alone.

    Get close to nature.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}. (Choose somewhere you feel safe so you can relax and enjoy your surroundings.) Walking, hiking, trail biking, or snowshoeing offer the additional benefit of exercise. Invite a friend or two — or a family member — along and enjoy feeling connected to people as well.

    Pay attention to the good things.

    A great way to keep our minds off the worry track is to focus our thoughts on things that are good, beautiful, and positive. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}. Allow yourself to dream, wish, and imagine the best that could happen.

A. Connect with others.

B. Appreciate the small, everyday blessings.

C. There are many safe, drug-free remedies (补救措施) for anxiety

D. They may seem to relieve anxiety or stress, but it's a false and temporary state of relaxation.

E. Get the right amount of sleep for your needs — not too much or too little.

F. Some start working right away, while others may help lessen anxiety over time.

G. Heading out for a walk in the park or a hike in the woods can help too.

Nowadays, the term "superfood" has become the nutritional buzzword. Simply put, these superfoods are those that provide large amount of nutrients through minimal calories. 

The term "superfood" may have taken the modern food scene by storm. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Although only popular in recent years, the concept of certain foods with special nutritional qualities has been around for a long time. The nickname "superfood" gained widespread popularity in the early 2000s as health enthusiasts and the food industry sought to identify and market foods with special health benefits. Today, it is a trend in diet. 

In an age when we share all kinds of superfoods on social media, ignoring the phenomenon is impossible. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} It's easy to understand. These nutritional superheroes offer a perfect combination of substance and style, tailored for the digital generation. Their lively colours, exotic origins and impressive nutrient profiles make them candidates for the next viral food trend. 

{#blank#}3{#/blank#} They offer a lifestyle that reflects the global shift towards a more healthconscious society. As the world wrestles with an increasing burden of diseases and the fast pace of modern life, people are seeking dietary solutions from superfoods. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} They are rich in vitamins and minerals that can strengthen your immune system, avoid chronic diseases, and improve your overall wellbeing. Another remarkable benefit is their potential to promote heart health, helping you build a strong heart. Don't forget their role in skin regeneration. The antioxidants(抗氧化物) can provide a natural glow, reduce skin ageing and fight against skin conditions. 

{#blank#}5{#/blank#} Superfoods, while nutritionally dense, should be part of a comprehensive diet rather than the only guarantee of our health.