How to become a better reader

    Language and literacy (读写能力) are among humans' greatest inventions. Evolving（演变）over the course of human history, languages are a reflection of our cultural and societal attitudes. Today, surrounded（包围）by social media, television, movies, and, of course, books, the ability to read and write is important to expressing one's feelings. 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#}

    Take it slow. Many readers feel that they read too slowly, especially compared with others.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}The best readers are flexible（灵活的）— slowing down when needed — and always have a dictionary at hand.

    Read aloud. When humans first began reading written words, it was unusual to read in silence.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}Try listening to the author reading their own work — you'll be surprised to find how clearly it comes through on the page.

    Write. Writing and reading go hand-in-hand: 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 pleasures to language that can only be experienced through the practice of writing.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    Tell your friends. All of the literature is essentially communication from an individual's inner voice to an audience.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}It's a good way to see the world from someone else's eyes and, in the process, carefully examine your own reaction to what you're reading.

A. But the truth is that the faster you read, the less likely you are to understand fully what you're reading.

B. Can you remember the first piece of writing that transported you to another world?

C. There is something magical about sharing books with friends or a book club.

D. Try writing every day for a month, and you will never read the same again.

E. Reading out loud is one of the best ways to improve your reading ability.

F. Here are 4 ways to become a better reader.

G. In no time, you'll be appreciating novels like fine wine.

    It's nice being nice to others; it's also great to give people a hand. However, if you start to hurt yourself by doing so, then this is not so healthy.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}If you fear that you might fall into this category, the following tips will help you to stand up for yourself and regain your self-confidence.

{#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    Although you may often stay silent if something is wrong or bothers you, it is better to speak your mind right away. You don't have to be rude, but you do have to be firm and direct. Don't do things for others if you don't really want to. Speak up, and soon others will be seeing you in a whole new light.

    Start small.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}This will allow you to practice being brave and self-confident. Tell a person who has cut in line in front of you to move to the back of the line, or tell a salesperson to do that. Before long, you will be confident enough to stand up to your friends and family members.

    Judge well.

    When dealing with others, you have to exercise good judgment. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}If a colleague isn't doing his part, you should rightfully demand that he start doing so. However, if a taxi cuts you off in traffic, just let it go.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}Rome wasn't built in a day. If you want to get back again after having been a pushover(耳软心活的人), it's best to take one step at a time.

A. Express yourself.

B. Regain your confidence.

C. Start by speaking up for yourself with strangers.

D. Everyone has the right to live without being judged.

E. If you slip back into the pushover mode every once in a while, don't blame yourself.

F. Sadly, some people are so easily pushed around that they come to be seen as pushovers.

G. It's one thing to be confident, but quite another to forcefully say no to an unreasonable request.

    Confidence is a skill that many folks want to master, but have a hard time acquiring. Have you ever wondered why? Possibly you were born confident. You were talked to negatively as a child or maybe you were rejected many times. Whatever the case is, {#blank#}1{#/blank#}.

    But how to boost your confidence?

    Act as if .Begin to act as if you are confident. Act as the person you would want to be like. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}. Surround yourself with people who you think are confident and have high value. You will learn so much from observing other confident folks.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}. One of the most areas that you need to pay attention to is your self-talk. Your thoughts about your capabilities and self-worth need to be positive and encouraging. Whenever you notice you think negatively, pause and take a moment, and shift your focus to something that can help you feel better about yourself.

    Go after your goals. If you are really serious about building self-confidence, you need to identify your goals and go after then. The more you add to your accomplishments, the more confident you will feel about your abilities and skills. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}.

    By using these steps to boost your confidence, {#blank#}5{#/blank#}.

    It's a dream come true for many fans to get a close view of their favorite stars and take pictures with{#blank#}1{#/blank#}However, sometimes their enthusiasm can cause troubles for others.

    At Hong Kong International Airport on Dec. 15, three young Chinese people boarded a Korean Aircraft.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    The three people -two from the Chinese mainland and one from Hong Kong — were fans of Wanna One, a Korean band, who were on the same flight. However, immediately after taking pictures with their "idols (偶像),the fans asked to get a repayment and got off the plane.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}They had to go through security checks again, which delayed the flight by over an hour.

    According to the flight regulations, all passengers need to get off and go through security checks once again even if only one passenger gels off the plane before takeoff.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    Cases of crazy fans buying flight tickets just to follow and get a close view of their idols are common nowadays, reported CGTN. A series of rules were issued in July in order to stop crazy fans from disturbing public security at the airport.

    "{#blank#}5{#/blank#}However, it shouldn't go too far and hurt the public interest. To obey public rules is the best way to follow idols," commented People's Daily.

A. To make up for the loss, a sizable amount of money went to 357 passengers.

B. As a result, all the remaining 360 passengers had to get off the plane.

C. This is in case any dangerous things have been left on the flight.

D. It's not unusual for fans and stars to share the same flight.

E. Some fans will do anything they can lo realize the dream.

F. It wanted to fly from Hong Kong to the capital Seoul.

G. There's nothing wrong with going after idols.

    Really organized people are not born organized people.{#blank#}1{#/blank#} ,which then help them stay organized. Here are four habits they use to keep their lives in order.

    Write things down. A pen and a notebook are needed to record things. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} .You will only further make your life complex(复杂的) by trying to contain important dates and messages in your head.

    Make schedules and deadlines. By leading a cluttered(杂乱的) lifestyle, you will not have the time or space to make your deadlines or achieve your goals. Organized people don't waste time.

    They recognize that keeping things organized goes hand in hand with staying productive(富有成效的). They make and keep schedules for the day and week. They make deadlines and set goals.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}.

    Don't put off doing what you should be doing .{#blank#}4{#/blank#}.If you want your life to be less stressful, then take action as soon as you can. Put in effort to get things done as soon as possible.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}.People who live organized lives only keep what they need and what they really want .Have you ever felt like you don't have the space to keep all the things you own? Instead of buying a larger house, get rid of some.

A. Give everything a home

B. Keep only what you need

C  They have to develop some habits

D. And most importantly, they stick to them.

E. You can also use a computer or a smart phone

F. Organized people find time every week to organize their things

G. The longer you wait to do something, the more difficult it will be to get it done

    Let's face it, most of us are really busy. So busy that we don't make time for creativity. Even those who work in creative fields are probably at a point where true creativity is being pushed behind more pressing tasks. This doesn't necessarily have to be so. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Schedule It

    Put your creativity tasks into your calendar-you have a very important meeting with yourself! {#blank#}2{#/blank#} All you really need is about 15 minutes a day and that can really start to swing the pendulum (钟摆) in the other direction. I find that 15 minutes in the morning after a fresh cup of coffee is an ideal time for some creative work. You can plan a day to go out and explore something new to get inspired, whatever you feel is going to fuel your creative energy. Schedule these into your month, as well.

    Shift Your Mindset

    Like I mentioned, sometimes it has to start with your own belief. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}, then it's not going to happen. I found that once I redesigned my business to free up more time for me, I was able to really let go of guilt and realize that creativity is self-care. Even if it's not going to better your career, it's likely going to "better" you, and that makes it all worthwhile.

    Make Space

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}, but how about physical space? Is there a place in your home that you can devote to your creativity? Maybe it's in your office. You can have a spot with your art utensils, musical instruments, your favorite books. Or maybe it's in your backyard and you have a spot where you drink tea and practice writing. Sometimes it may be a corner of pillows in your bedroom that you snuggle in and listen to music. Having a devoted spot helps to foster it as a daily practice that you look forward to.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    Just like all your good habits, you have to make them routine. Once you get used to carving out time and space for your creativity, you will wonder how you ever lived without it!

A. Be Curious

B. Make It Routine

C. It can be such a waste of time

D. But seriously, this really helps

E. We've talked about mental space

F. If you're not valuing your creative time

G. Here are some easy tips for making it a priority