How to Pick the Perfect Watermelon

    I love watermelon, but what I don't love about watermelon is picking them out. There is nothing worse than cutting into a watermelon and having it taste not sweet.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Evaluation: You need to evaluate your watermelon to make sure that the watermelon is symmetrical. Irregular shapes typically indicate the watermelon received inconsistent amounts of sunshine and water.

    Color and Appearance: The color of the surface is extremely important.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}If it's shiny, it's not ripe yet. Another important thing is to look for the field spot. This will be a yellow spot on the underside of a watermelon. It should be a creamy yellow color.{#blank#}3{#/blank#} Don't take the watermelon if the field spot is white or non-existent.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} For a sweeter and riper watermelon, there shouldn't be a visible stem (茎) on the surface. If there's a stem, it indicates that the watermelon doesn't fall off the vine on its own.

    Knock on it: Gently knock on the watermelon, and listen to the sound it makes. A ripe watermelon should have a full, deep, and hollow sound.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}Make sure of the firmness of the melon when you knock on it. You want the surface to be hard and firm.

A. Look at the stem.

B. The darker the yellow, the sweeter the melon.

C. Watermelon can help you increase your brain power.

D. While an under ripe melon will make a more dull one.

E. The perfectly ripe watermelon should be dark green in color.

F. Here are some helpful tips on how to pick the perfect watermelon.

G. Watermelon is one of the most popular summer fruits that almost everyone loves.

                                        Wrong Reasons for Going to College

    A college education can be priceless{#blank#}1{#/blank#}If any of these following factors had a big influence on your decision, you're probably right to second-guess yourself.

    Because all your friends are going.

    In only a few weeks' time, the whole friend group will be scattered to a half dozen different colleges in a half dozen different places. Not to go will set yourself apart{#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    Because someone else expects it from you.

    Perhaps you come from a family where everyone goes to college. Or maybe, you're the kid that everyone is proud to believe will be the first to get there{#blank#}3{#/blank#} It's become so much a part of the air you breathe that you've never stopped to consider whether you want to go or whether you're ready to go.

{#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    It's been tough to find even a summer job. You don't have an alternative plan. Everyone else is doing it(see above). You think you might as well go to school. That is the lamest(无说服力的) of reasons to spend $20,000 or more in the next year.

    Because you are afraid you'll regret it if you don't go.

    Your uncle tells you that his one regret in life is that he didn't go to college. Others tell you that they could have gone so much farther in their career if only they had a college education{#blank#}5{#/blank#}So this is not a persuasive reason for you to go to college.

A. Because you don't know what else to do.

B. It seems that for years everyone has just assumed that of course you'll go.

C. Because you don't want to work.

D. But maybe in your heart you know that you are going for the wrong reasons.

E. Friends will wonder what's wrong with you

F. Everyone seems more excited than you are.

G. Whatever the story is, there are always people who regret decisions they've made.

What Teenagers Can Do To Earn More Respect

    As teenagers continue to grow and develop into young adults, the transition(过渡) into adulthood has begun. With so many physical and emotional changes going on, certain manners are often forgotten and other adult traits(特点) are not yet accepted as a way of life. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}By doing the following things, you will earn more respect.

Contribute to the household(家庭)

    At the very least, clean up after yourself. As a teenager, you are old enough to clean up after yourself. When you make a mess, clean it up. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} All chores(家务) that you do help to reduce the load of the person who did them before. Now that you're old enough and capable, why shouldn't you contribute to the household? {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

Be responsible

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Whether they are basic things, like brushing your teeth or doing your homework, or more involved chores that contribute to the household, simply fulfill (履行) your responsibilities on time. When adults know that they can rely on you, their trust and respect for you will increase.

Solve more of your own problem without asking for help

    Instead of taking the easy approach and asking for help, make an effort to solve your problems on your own first. The "easy way" is only easy for you, but it is an extra task for the person from whom you are seeking help. Seek help only after you have make an honest effort to solve your own problems. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} When you become a good problem solver, you increase your valve to the community.

A. Everyone has certain responsibilities.

B. By being aware of these manners and traits, you can manage them sooner.

C. The people doing the chores before will greatly appreciate the help.

D. This includes, but is not limited to, your dishes and your room.

E. It will make your life more pleasant.

F. Depending on the problem, 15 minutes of effort is usually a good guideline.

G. When speaking to a group, speak loud enough.

    Are you often upset about your failure in daily life? In fact everyone has gone through failure. In most cases you fail because of a lack of persistence(坚持不懈). Being persistent is a skill that can help you reach a dream more easily, get what you desire and even be a way in which you defend your idea or right before difficult people. Being persistent is a kind of quality most people who are successful have.

    Failure is often used as an excuse or reason not to go after a goal. Yet, getting over failure is a good way of being persistent. So to be persistent, you should accept that we all experience failure in life. The most successful people in life have ever failed. The difference between them and people who fail is that successful people face the failure, learn from it and use it fully and wisely to inspire their next attempt.

    You should keep on trying at the first sight of difficulty. Anything that is worth doing or achieving is sure to be difficult. Treat that as the challenge and as something that will test your courage, shape you for the better, and make you stronger and wiser. If at first you do not succeed, try it again and again.

    More importantly, you need to learn to give up where necessary. If the constant facts tell you that you should let go of an realistic goal despite your efforts, be wise about devoting your energies. Don't waste time and energy, for you have just learned what does not work and is not worth persisting with.

    In addition, it is also important to be persistent when refusing or demanding something. So you have to be persistent in what you say so that other people truly understand your meaning and know that you mean it. Whether it that will be remembered by others. Thus, when making your request or refusal, make eye contact with the person you are talking with, and this shows you are serious. Avoid saying sorry unless it is necessary because an apology usually is a sign of guilt, uncertainty or fear. Always state what you want to do or what you refuse to do clearly and exactly.

Finding time for yourself

    Few people, these days would disagree with the theory that it's vital to take time for yourself. Creating some space for enjoyment and restoration each day or at least every week, is a win-win proposition. It'll make you both happier and more effective in fulfilling your responsibilities at work and home. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}. Here are some useful suggestions.

    Don't wait until it feels right. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}, so you want to tell yourself that you'll only relax once everything is under control. But since both work and family life generate an infinite number of to-dos, that strategy is doomed (注定要失败的). As time-management writer Laura Vanderkam points out, it's far more useful to learn to tolerate the discomfort of knowing your email inbox is filling up, or that the living room is still a pigsty.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}. It's all too easy to fill 'me time' with things you think you should enjoy, above all exercise. If you genuinely love such activities, they're perfect. But if the truth is that you don't, you'll only get angry. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}, even when the person doing the telling is ourselves. Make sure at least a small part of your week is spent doing something you can honestly say you enjoy for itself.

    Pay attention to good feelings. Once you do get some restorative time, borrow a Buddhist technique for making it count: when you realize you're enjoying yourself, spend half a minute consciously paying attention to the feelings of pleasure. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}.

A. Choose true enjoyment

B. We hate being told what to do

C. Make commitments in advance

D. It's unpleasant to have unfinished tasks bother you

E. So, you'll often find that those feelings increase as a result

F. Making a plan in advance can create the space you need for your own happiness

G. Making sure you actually get a moment to yourself requires a shift in perspective

Top 3 Self-Discipline Techniques

    Self-discipline is the key to leading a healthier, happier and more successful life,{#blank#}1{#/blank#}. We have shared some self-discipline techniques below. Follow these self-discipline techniques to start living a better life.

    ⑴Start small

    The journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step as the proverb goes.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}. Instead, stamina (耐力) is built up by doing a little more than the previous day's target.

    The same goes for discipline. Start by trying to carry out self-discipline techniques little by little every day for big results. Increase your goals over time.

    ⑵{#blank#}3{#/blank#} 

    Staying self-disciplined requires motivation. It can be hard to stay motivated if you feel like you haven't made any progress so far. Tracking progress makes you aware of how much you've done and encourages you to keep going.

    ⑶Exercise your willpower

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}. Some days, sticking to the task is going to be difficult but by reminding yourself of the end in mind and how much the goal means to you, you will be able to ignore temporary temptations for long term gain.

    The above-mentioned self-discipline techniques have been proven to be extremely effective.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}, and it is the key to living a happy and fulfilling life.

A. Build a support system

B. Measure your goals

C. Willpower and self-discipline go hand in hand

D. Self-discipline is a feature found in many successful people

E. Self-discipline is linked to effective time management

F. However, it is easier said than done

G. You don't train for a marathon by running 10 kilometers on the first day